Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Question about oil level

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 11:53 AM
  #11  
Bluegrasser's Avatar
Bluegrasser
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 760
Likes: 1
From: Mesa, AZ
Default

I don't let my crankcase drain long...maybe 10 minutes or so...so I only put in about 3 qts per change. It takes me 3 dots below the top when cold and on the jiffy stand.

I learned the hard way not to put 3.5 in. It took the cold level to the point where it should be if hot so I got blow by and had to do some clean-up and change my air cleaner element.
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 12:03 PM
  #12  
hubble's Avatar
hubble
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Mcdonough, Georgia
Default

I can't put 3.5 qrts in either. If I do it comes out the breather to. Although the manual says 3.5. 3 qrts is good for me..............
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 12:23 PM
  #13  
Ultrasweet's Avatar
Ultrasweet
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Willis, Texas
Default

Just had mine serviced yesterday. The tech told me he puts in 3.5 qts. This morning I checked it and it was past full. WTF? T.
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 12:29 PM
  #14  
littlebear's Avatar
littlebear
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Hutchinson,Kansas
Default

Road king Ron, Not to steal the thread, but I too start the engine after draining oil, let her run all of 3 seconds, alot of old comes out. Saw this done on my 1000mile service at the dealer by a very good tech. I don't think 3 sec will cause any problem.
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 12:32 PM
  #15  
garyhendley's Avatar
garyhendley
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 1
From: Sunland, CA
Default

i would not run a engine even for a second with no oil in it after a couple of changes

it will be all syn and safe to-ride safe
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 12:41 PM
  #16  
Arizona's Avatar
Arizona
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
Default

The '09 RK takes 3.5 quarts with filter. I don't have an oil cooler on this bike. If it had an oil cooler I'd expect it would take a bit more - those of you running an oil cooler: what does your bike take on an '09 touring model?

My '05 EGC had an oil cooler took exactly 4 quarts with filter.
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 01:15 PM
  #17  
Ultrasweet's Avatar
Ultrasweet
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Willis, Texas
Default

My daughter called me one day and asked me what the light on her dash that looked like an oil can was for. She had already driven it 5 miles with it on. To make a long story short, the oil filter had come off and she had driven the car about 10 miles with no oil. She had just had it changed a month before with Castrol semi syn. The 07' Corolla had 35000 on it then it now has 80,000. No noise and problems. I would not have a problem with running the bike for a few seconds without oil though I don't think it would be necessary. T.
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 01:17 PM
  #18  
iclick's Avatar
iclick
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Default

Originally Posted by Arizona
The '09 RK takes 3.5 quarts with filter. I don't have an oil cooler on this bike. If it had an oil cooler I'd expect it would take a bit more - those of you running an oil cooler: what does your bike take on an '09 touring model?

My '05 EGC had an oil cooler took exactly 4 quarts with filter.
My '07 should be the same as an '09, and it takes 4 oz. over 3.5 qts. to make the fill line. Exactly 3.5 qts. shows 1/6-qt. low. I have the HD Premium cooler installed.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 02:23 PM
  #19  
UltraTheo's Avatar
UltraTheo
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 937
Likes: 5
From: Southwestern Illinois
Default

I have an oil cooler on my '09 and I add 4 quarts at every change.
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 05:04 PM
  #20  
BlueSoftail's Avatar
BlueSoftail
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: West Michigan
Default

I do something similar, however, I pull plugs so the motor don’t start and add a fresh quart of oil before I roll it off on the starter prior to putting the oil filter on. It cranks for about 10 seconds before I get clean oil out of the engine.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:22 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE