Get rid of that crappy so called synthetic from Harley and run Mobil 1 or Amsoil, a true synthetic and you should see the temps fall.

 

Harley Davidson has been building air cooled engines for a long time. The temp. you are talking about is fine. Your engine has to get around that temp. for the ECM to see it's warmed up. Synthetic oil is fine with that temp.

 

This thread is exactly why I'm not putting an oil temp guage on my new '11 SG. I had one on my '07 SG and during the summer, on long rides, all I did was watch the oil temp and worry needlessly about the engine. Traded it in with over 48K miles with no indications of problems due to oil temp. Just ride'em and be safe!

 

Glad to see everyone is of the same mind regarding oil, oil temps and oil coolers. Since all agree, you must be right.

(kinda tongue in cheek on the above)

 

Thanx guys! I'll quit worrying then....

 

switched from hd syn3 to amsoil dropped oil temp 30-40 degrees

 

Impossible! 3 or 4 degrees maybe, 30-40 - no way!

 

HD says 230F is normal operating temperature. You are right on the money.

 

Same here except with a cooler, never higher than about 205° in heavy traffic while air temps are <75°. Normal summer temps while moving >45mph are ~200°, rarely up to 230° only in traffic but never higher. This time of year the cooler won't make as much of a difference since oil doesn't get much >185°, which is where the thermostat kicks in. In summer I wouldn't want to ride without a cooler.

 

"Normal" and "optimal" are two different things. Oil temps of 230° are too high except occasionally, as oil oxidization rises exponentially as temps increase. Oil is best at 180-200°, even synthetic which still oxidizes, just more slowly than fossil oil.