"Normal" as described by HD isn't necessarily optimal, and I wouldn't want my oil running 230° most of the time. As it is with a cooler installed I peak at 230° in summer traffic, hitting that only a few times per summer season, with normal temps staying around 200° while moving during the summer and 180° in winter. To me that's a good range that won't oxidize the oil very rapidly, as the hotter it runs above 180° or so the quicker it breaks down (oxidizes).

 

Well, I just don't know...

I figger'd if fireaxxe could waste his typin skillz without giving an answer then it would be ok for me to do it also. Now, don't confuse this with a thread hijacking because I am going to talk about engine temperatures. I just don't know what to say about them. If it feels hot, it prolly is. Or, you could be having a hot flash. Do guys have those too? Anyway, I wasted a whole lot more words than fireaxxe did and I didn't even diss anyone. That's becaue I'm a much nicer guy than fireaxxe is. He's prolly just miserable and wants everyone around him to be miserable also. Maybe he thought the internet was a good place to spread misery at a much greater chance of making it a global epidemic. Anyway, I hope you get your temperature under control. You might end up wasting time in a forum just to tell other people how they should conduct themselves there...

 

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This is from the Mobil one website in the frequently asked questions section;

"Mobil 1 V-Twin oil is designed for air-cooled, large-displacement bikes. Because of their design, these engines can generate very high localized oil temperatures and high overall bulk-oil temperatures.

As you know, a typical air-cooled V-twin's rear cylinder gets a lot hotter than the front cylinder – it's a matter of airflow. When it's hot out and you're stuck in traffic, the oil temperature in your bike climbs rapidly. Above about 250°F, conventional motor oil is going to break down. Mobil 1 V-Twin synthetic oil is good to above 300°F."

Some on here have opinions without fact basis ..

 

Even Mobil 1 wont be worth a **** at sustained temps of 300 degF. So save the sales pitch.

 

I was reading uoa's on the bitog site, and there's a item that oil is tested for called flashpoint. That's the temp where the oil starts smoking and changing from a liquid to a vapor. With most high end synthetic oils, that range is usually between 410-450 degrees. Most mineral oils test out lower. So having temps running 300 degrees isn't really hammering the oil.,,

 

No sales pitch .. just info from Mobil one .. Not opinion .. I have more confidence in the mfg than someone on a forum

 

 

My .02. I installed a McEwan gauge on my 08 EGC. Like you mentioned, I found myself staring at the gauge all the time. LOL. Anyway, I became concerned because it was reading just shy of 300* when riding two up at 70-75 in the Florida summer (95* air temp). Now bear in mind I am running quality synthetic oil and don't twist the wick. It became such an issue for me I called McEwan about it. He told me his gauges were accurate betwenn 180* - 230*, higher than that he said it would lose accuracy. explained this was normal for gauges. I dunno. What I did do was ride with a buddy who had a temp gauge dip stick on his bike..on the interstate my bike was reading just shy of 300*, we immediately pulled over and put his dip stick in my bike...it read 265*. did this three times that trip so am confident the gauge loses accuracy. I did notice that the new HD gauges read up to 350*, might be a reason for that. Anyway, don't get too stressed if your gauge reads high..these twin cams are designed to run hot. Use synthetic oil, get a fuel management system and install oil cooler if you want. Ride safe.

 

The main thing is to get the EPA tune out of the bike if you want cooler temps. Fatten up that AFR, especially that rear cylinder.