Oil Pressure question
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 7
Oil Pressure question
Need help in checking my sanity...
Been noticing what looks to be very low oil pressure at idle when the engine is at
running temps. No issue when cold. the idle is set to just a tick under 1K.
When in motion - oil pressure is steady at @35.
When idling and oil pressure needle drops, there is no oil pressure light on,
no noisly lifters, etc. Everything sounds normal.
the idle is set to just a tick under 1K.
I changed cams and tensioners around 2K ago. Issue is unchanged. Shoes did not look bad
at all for @25K miles on them. I am not concerned about little orange shavings in the case at all at this point. Idle has noticably more "lope" but tach still shows just a tick under 1K.
I'm thinking that the stock oil pressure gauge may be looking like "darn near zero" pressure at idle, but in reality there is 4-6. No issue.
Am I crazy to think there is no issues at all?
Been noticing what looks to be very low oil pressure at idle when the engine is at
running temps. No issue when cold. the idle is set to just a tick under 1K.
When in motion - oil pressure is steady at @35.
When idling and oil pressure needle drops, there is no oil pressure light on,
no noisly lifters, etc. Everything sounds normal.
the idle is set to just a tick under 1K.
I changed cams and tensioners around 2K ago. Issue is unchanged. Shoes did not look bad
at all for @25K miles on them. I am not concerned about little orange shavings in the case at all at this point. Idle has noticably more "lope" but tach still shows just a tick under 1K.
I'm thinking that the stock oil pressure gauge may be looking like "darn near zero" pressure at idle, but in reality there is 4-6. No issue.
Am I crazy to think there is no issues at all?
Last edited by simpkinst; Jul 8, 2011 at 10:41 AM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 899
Likes: 10
Harley motors work on oil volume and not so much on oil pressure. But what you're seeing on your pressure gauge is two things. When the motor is cold the oil is thicker so it shows higher pressure readings. The other thing is there's a check ball in your oil pump that initially directs more oil to the heads instead of to the crankcase.
The way to use an oil pressure gauge on a Harley is as a trending device. You get used to how it reads when cold, when hot, when cruising, and when idling. When you see something out of the ordinary you can assume something is wrong. That's what makes an oil gauge better than an oil light. By the time the oil light comes on it's very close to too late.
If you still aren't convinced bring your motor to full operating temperature then with the motor still idling (and you oil gauge hovering around zero) pull the timing plug from the left side case. The oil will shoot out of there like a blow torch!
The way to use an oil pressure gauge on a Harley is as a trending device. You get used to how it reads when cold, when hot, when cruising, and when idling. When you see something out of the ordinary you can assume something is wrong. That's what makes an oil gauge better than an oil light. By the time the oil light comes on it's very close to too late.
If you still aren't convinced bring your motor to full operating temperature then with the motor still idling (and you oil gauge hovering around zero) pull the timing plug from the left side case. The oil will shoot out of there like a blow torch!
Last edited by NickD; Jul 11, 2011 at 01:05 PM.
Not sure what year and model you're talking about, but the service manual for '08 FLHX states "Oil pressure should be 30-38 PSI (207-262 kPa) at 2000 RPM and normal operating temperature." My bike's pressure seems to drop too at idle, but I only really concern myself with the service manual specs. As long as at 2000 RPM I'm at 30 PSI or more I'm happy.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Ft Myers FL
I panicked on my 09 when I noticed the oil pressure at close to 0 when idling so I took it to the dealer. They said it was normal, the gauge is for reference only. They said if it wasn't getting oil I could tell by the noise it would make.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
About 5 psi is normal for idle at full operating temperature. It's a low pressure/high volume lubrication system.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 3
From: NYC
it doesn't take to much pressure at all to move oil thru the engine....at idle with supposely low pressure, I was trouble shooting an oil cooler install and needless to say when you open an oil line the oil gushes right out at a pretty good flow rate.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 253
Likes: 1
From: S E Michigan
I had an '01 Ultra and the oil pressure always read near zero when warmed up. I upgraded to the SE High Volume pump and the pressure increased to around 4psi at idle when warm. Ditto on the oil light. As long as it is not on - you are golden.