Oil Temp!
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Oil Temp!
I have a question.
I live in Orlando, Florida and have a 2009 FLHT. I put the oil cooler on it (the Harley one) and I am always at 230 degrees....
You think that is normal with this HD Oil cooler?
I am using HD synthetic oil as well.....
I live in Orlando, Florida and have a 2009 FLHT. I put the oil cooler on it (the Harley one) and I am always at 230 degrees....
You think that is normal with this HD Oil cooler?
I am using HD synthetic oil as well.....
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 574
From: Raleigh NC
Not normal, seems high to me. I have the 103 with oil cooler plus mods for cooling (non cat pipe, air cleaner and PCV) and mine stays around 190 unless I'm stuck in traffic then it goes to 215 or so
Just ride your bike. Don't worry about the temp. If your bike is running good then all's well. Who cares about oil temp. Last summer on a run up to Milwaukee my temp got up to 260. I was worried but the engine never so much as made a ping. It ran tip top. Keep running ur syn3 and ride...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
I've actually been doing some testing on a 103 c.i. with oil cooler fans and have seen oil temps as high as 270 in my tests with ambient temperatures of only 70 deg. Not to say 270 is normal, or the test conditions I ran through were normal either, but I think those who claim operating oil temps below 200 in warm weather are either not riding long enough for the oil temps to peak or have gauges of suspect accuracy.
If you are stuck in traffic conditions that dictate prolonged idling, oil temps above 250 are not at all uncommon.
The 103 I've been testing has the cat removed, air cleaner, exhaust, and tuner so it's already cooler than a stock configuration.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 449
Likes: 22
From: In a van, down by the river
230 is fine and you are in Florida. I got the temp up near 300 last summer while stuck in traffic, bike is just fine.
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Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Here
I've discussed this very topic with a bunch of different wrench's, plus last year at the Tennessee State Hog Rally, I was watching the Daytona Beach Drill Team perform. I noticed none of their bikes had oil cooler's. I happened to be standing next to the HD Rep. for this area. We started talking about engine temps and what oil the Drill Team used. It turned out, they all have their bikes serviced at Rossmeyer HD and they use Syn3. The area Rep said they didn't need oil cooler's because the oil needs to run between 215 and 230. or above.
Last edited by Ronp42; Feb 21, 2011 at 01:32 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: Northern Colorado
230° is the normal operating temperature for a completely stock bike with without an oil cooler. It's possible that the thermostat is stuck closed.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: Northern Colorado
Ideally, your oil temperature should be between 180° and 220° under normal riding conditions.