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:

oil cooler or fan?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 05:15 AM
  #1  
jbmss's Avatar
jbmss
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Default oil cooler or fan?

Just got stuck in traffic yesterday and thought my left thigh was on fire,In stop and go traffic on a hot day wouldnt a cooling fan be better than a oil cooler?Also anybody running a LeNale cooling fan on there bike ? Is it better than the Harley one?
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 06:48 AM
  #2  
Tx_Rider's Avatar
Tx_Rider
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 413
Likes: 16
From: Killeen, Tx
Default

You cant go wrong with the combination of Syn oil, a good tune and an oil cooler. Some add fans to the oil cooler and some add fans to cool the cylinder heads. I have heard that the Lenale is a better fan than the HD but have no personal experience.
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 06:50 AM
  #3  
shortride's Avatar
shortride
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
Default

Some have installed fans just to find out that the fan blows hot air onto their right leg between the cylinders.
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 06:53 AM
  #4  
Notgrownup's Avatar
Notgrownup
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,579
Likes: 9,013
From: Snow Hill, NC
Default

Syn oil and tune...I try to stay away from situations that put me in trafiic...if it happens i grin and bare it...oil cooler or fan ain't gonna do much for you there.
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 07:14 AM
  #5  
frenchbiker's Avatar
frenchbiker
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 54
From: The Burgh
Default

Originally Posted by jbmss
Just got stuck in traffic yesterday and thought my left thigh was on fire,In stop and go traffic on a hot day wouldnt a cooling fan be better than a oil cooler?Also anybody running a LeNale cooling fan on there bike ? Is it better than the Harley one?
Stay away from stop and go traffic when it's hot and if you can't, be prepared for roasting. Nothing will dramatically cool down an air cooled bike when it's idling, assuming your bike is already properly tuned and doesn't run too lean.
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 07:19 AM
  #6  
djkolp's Avatar
djkolp
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 658
Likes: 23
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Notgrownup
Syn oil and tune...I try to stay away from situations that put me in trafiic...if it happens i grin and bare it...oil cooler or fan ain't gonna do much for you there.
If you have the time and money, the oil cooler and Lenale fan are well worth it. I installed both on my stock 2010 Ultra and I can vouch for their effectiveness. They work very well. The fan cools the cylinders when I'm stuck in traffic, and the oil cooler speeds up the process of cooling the oil when you finally do get moving.
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 07:34 AM
  #7  
oscarg's Avatar
oscarg
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Default

I have both HD fan and cooler and use mobile one syn and
had it tuned with pcv but the best thing I did for the heat
was jackpot 2/1/2 headers now even with the fan on my
right leg is no hotter than the left
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 08:15 AM
  #8  
oldbiker771's Avatar
oldbiker771
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
Default

A good tune will drop the engine temp. An oil cooler will do very little in traffic 'cause theres no air moving over it. A fan will cool the bike, but it does so by blowing air over the fins, and you can guess where that goes. There are a couple of manufacturers of heat shield that fit under the seat, you can search the forum and get the names. I use HD's, and they help keep the heat off that left leg. But in traffic, still gonna get hot. And HD is not unique here, the Kawasaki Concours owners have the same complaint.
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 08:33 AM
  #9  
GARY DYER's Avatar
GARY DYER
Elite HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,259
Likes: 689
From: WESTERN CHICAGO AREA
Default

I thought about the fan, but a Harley tech told me to stay away from it. It makes your right leg feel like it's in a blast oven....no way around that.
\I have the oil cooler, side deflectors and the rear cylinder cut off system. I also just installed the 1' floofboard extenders. That really made a difference while riding.
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2010 | 09:16 AM
  #10  
dog155's Avatar
dog155
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Default

Once worried as well about being stuck in traffic with a new Stroker motor,for a long time ran an oil cooler.Now, no coolers just avoid traffic jambs,no matter how far out of the way it takes me.Been some great rides that way.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:53 PM.