How Hot Is To Hot?
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 832
Likes: 1
From: Bagram, Afghanistan
On my 09 I notice a considerable decrease in performance once my oil temps exceed 230. I also notice reduced performance below about 170-180. I try and keep my oil temps between 185 and 220 once fully warmed up.
I have added the HD premium oil cooler, HD Heavy Breather A/C, PCV with autotune, Jackpot slip-on mufflers, and the oil temp gauge. I also run synthetic oil.
Before the mods my bike would enter heat management mode almost every time I rode in warm (70 degree) weather and stopped at a light.
With the PCV I have much more control over oil temps by manipulating the cruise range AFR's. I can raise the AFR's for increased mileage....and back them off if oil temp gets too high. By adjusting the AFR's I can keep it within my personal target range of 185 to 220 degrees and have confidence that I can ride in any conditions without over heating.
I regularly ride in both North/South Carolina and quite a bit with family in Texas and have had no heat issues since the mods.
I have added the HD premium oil cooler, HD Heavy Breather A/C, PCV with autotune, Jackpot slip-on mufflers, and the oil temp gauge. I also run synthetic oil.
Before the mods my bike would enter heat management mode almost every time I rode in warm (70 degree) weather and stopped at a light.
With the PCV I have much more control over oil temps by manipulating the cruise range AFR's. I can raise the AFR's for increased mileage....and back them off if oil temp gets too high. By adjusting the AFR's I can keep it within my personal target range of 185 to 220 degrees and have confidence that I can ride in any conditions without over heating.
I regularly ride in both North/South Carolina and quite a bit with family in Texas and have had no heat issues since the mods.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Similar to your personal guidelines I like to see my oil temps between 180-210°, and as long as I'm moving I'm there, even in our S. LA summers. I've seen 230° a few times in hot summer traffic and I would not want it higher, even though I run synthetic oil. The oil cooler is a big help to keep peak oil temps in control, and it even works to some degree at a standstill through convection. I feel that all TC engines should be equipped with a cooler.
My PCV-AT AFR's are configured near stock in the cruise range, but when oil temps begin to climb I switch from closed-loop to the richer base map (open-loop) to cool things down. This concept has worked very well thus far, so I can get good gas mileage and have the ability to switch to a richer setup when I need the extra cooling.
Last edited by iclick; Mar 20, 2010 at 02:17 PM.
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 651
From: null
On the '07, the ECM begins to retard the ignition timing after the front head temp exceeds a certain point, around 250° IIRC. It's hard to translate this into oil temp, as head-temp will usually climb much faster. This may in part be the reason performance takes a crap as temps increase.
Similar to your personal guidelines I like to see my oil temps between 180-210°, and as long as I'm moving I'm there, even in our S. LA summers. I've seen 230° a few times in hot summer traffic and I would not want it higher, even though I run synthetic oil. The oil cooler is a big help to keep peak oil temps in control, and it even works to some degree at a standstill through convection. I feel that all TC engines should be equipped with a cooler.
My PCV-AT AFR's are configured near stock in the cruise range, but when oil temps begin to climb I switch from closed-loop to the richer base map (open-loop) to cool things down. This concept has worked very well thus far, so I can get good gas mileage and have the ability to switch to a richer setup when I need the extra cooling.
Similar to your personal guidelines I like to see my oil temps between 180-210°, and as long as I'm moving I'm there, even in our S. LA summers. I've seen 230° a few times in hot summer traffic and I would not want it higher, even though I run synthetic oil. The oil cooler is a big help to keep peak oil temps in control, and it even works to some degree at a standstill through convection. I feel that all TC engines should be equipped with a cooler.
My PCV-AT AFR's are configured near stock in the cruise range, but when oil temps begin to climb I switch from closed-loop to the richer base map (open-loop) to cool things down. This concept has worked very well thus far, so I can get good gas mileage and have the ability to switch to a richer setup when I need the extra cooling.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,808
Likes: 285
From: Green Country Oklahoma
Oil cooler or synthetic will make difference in engine life but occasionally in town 250 to 300 in warm weather is not too bad but on open road above 275 I'll be concerned deeply though.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 9
From: Elk Grove, California
My California 09 with all the smog/emissions stuff runs hot. Anywhere from 239 to as high as 285 depending on traffic (based upon the LCD dipstick). Goes into heat management mode alot in traffic. But, doesn't seem to matter what the temperature is outside. I can ride in 50 degree weather at night or 100 degree weather, the engine temps are the same. I don't notice any performance issues nor weird sounds of the engine when hot. Gas mileage the same. Runs the same no matter what. I use synthetic oil (syn 3 or mobile 1 depending on price), I've got SE slip on mufflers, SE air cleaner with a K&N filter, and the Stage I download. I ride farily aggressive, but not too bad. It has never stalled or died on me even in the severe traffic. It also seems to take along time from cold to hit 230. But once it's up there, usually stays hot. Doesn't burn any oil either.
I use to worry about it, but I've had this bike since 0 miles, have almost 12k on it, and it runs better that when new. I'm thinking about an PCV, Xied's, and/or an oil cooler, but with no real issues besides "its running hot", I'm hesistant to put any money into this. My local dealers tell me that 250 is the "normal" operating range of the bike. So, I guess I'll keep thinking about it but not doing anything about it. My only quirk is that I do change the oil every 2500 to 3000 miles. That gives me piece of mind to have fresh oil in the hot engine. Which is probably overkill anyways.
So, if it makes you feel better, put an oil cooler, pcv, or whatever. Nothing wrong with that and probably does help and I would if I wasn't cheap about it. But, I think you can ride a stock hot riding bike with no problems.
I use to worry about it, but I've had this bike since 0 miles, have almost 12k on it, and it runs better that when new. I'm thinking about an PCV, Xied's, and/or an oil cooler, but with no real issues besides "its running hot", I'm hesistant to put any money into this. My local dealers tell me that 250 is the "normal" operating range of the bike. So, I guess I'll keep thinking about it but not doing anything about it. My only quirk is that I do change the oil every 2500 to 3000 miles. That gives me piece of mind to have fresh oil in the hot engine. Which is probably overkill anyways.
So, if it makes you feel better, put an oil cooler, pcv, or whatever. Nothing wrong with that and probably does help and I would if I wasn't cheap about it. But, I think you can ride a stock hot riding bike with no problems.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 4
From: SoCal
My HD Premium oil cooler was installed before there were miles on the odometer, and I put in Mobil1 15:50 every 5K miles. This is an air cooled bike, after all, and I live in SoCal. Think mountain/desert riding...