Oil Temp?
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 42
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Oil Temp?
First ride last weekend after I installed A HD oil cooler and oil temp gauge. Riding two up 92 degree, loaded for A week long trip,running between 60 & 70 MPH the temp gauge stayed between 220 & 230 degree. Bike ran great and did not seem hot. My question is, what is the acceptable temp and what temp would concidered too hot?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,598
Likes: 3
From: 27°51' N, 082°17' W
Didn't say anything about your bike and setup. Year, model, engine, upgrades etc. another thread going on about this same subject here:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-or-yikes.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-or-yikes.html
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 358
Likes: 1
I picked up one of those goofy digital oil caps a few weeks ago. Bike seems to run between 250 and 270 on a regular basis. Don't know if the thin air in denver is responsible but it's probably a number I'd be better off not knowing.
2012 FLHTK with absolutely no modifications.
2012 FLHTK with absolutely no modifications.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 117
From: Ashby, Ma
First ride last weekend after I installed A HD oil cooler and oil temp gauge. Riding two up 92 degree, loaded for A week long trip,running between 60 & 70 MPH the temp gauge stayed between 220 & 230 degree. Bike ran great and did not seem hot. My question is, what is the acceptable temp and what temp would concidered too hot?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
First ride last weekend after I installed A HD oil cooler and oil temp gauge. Riding two up 92 degree, loaded for A week long trip,running between 60 & 70 MPH the temp gauge stayed between 220 & 230 degree. Bike ran great and did not seem hot. My question is, what is the acceptable temp and what temp would concidered too hot?
Start to consider pulling over to let it cool off at around 280* to be safe and avoid problems. The newer 96" bikes run hotter than the 88" motors. Using a good synthetic oil is a good idea if your bike runs hot. Dino oils break down if exposed to extreme temps too many times. Synthetics will take extreme heat far better than dino oils.
Arizona. If 280 was pull over temp then no one would be riding. My bike saw over 300 oil temps in the pan in traffic with no ill effects.
Yes it's hot but the bike will go into safety mode before a rider needs to shut it off themselves.
Yes it's hot but the bike will go into safety mode before a rider needs to shut it off themselves.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
Sometimes I think I'm better off not knowing what the oil temp is.
The hottest I've ever seen is 265. During the summer in NYC traffic.
I normally run around 225-230 on the hwy in summer, but my bike has Aftermarket pipes and has been tuned. It makes a difference.
The hottest I've ever seen is 265. During the summer in NYC traffic.
I normally run around 225-230 on the hwy in summer, but my bike has Aftermarket pipes and has been tuned. It makes a difference.
Trending Topics
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
How many oil temp threads must there be???? 
The bikes are designed to run around 240 degrees. On the road with plenty of air the temp will be less, even if it's 90 degrees and high humidity. Mine stabilizes around 230-240 running 75 down the interstate for hours. In stop and go, it doesn't take it long to creep up well above the 240 mark, even in 85 degree weather. I've heard stories about police bikes running well over 300 with no issues.
People seem to obsess about oil temps. I've never read a single post about a head cracking or damage to a head or internals proven to be related to excessive oil temps.
It is important to run the specified amount of oil. Some guys run less than full to keep oil from being blown out of the breather. This is not an issue for most folks. Keep the oil at or near full to allow the full volume of oil to circulate, build good pressure, and do a better job of lubricating and cooling. If you run less than the recommended volume of oil, that oil has to run through the engine many more times then it would if the correct volume of oil were present. So naturally it will get hotter quicker and stay hotter longer.
Your bike is normal. Ride it and change the oil at the recommended intervals, if not sooner in hot weather. Syn oil makes a little bit of difference as well since the molecules are all identical and thus less friction than the dino oil.
The bikes are designed to run around 240 degrees. On the road with plenty of air the temp will be less, even if it's 90 degrees and high humidity. Mine stabilizes around 230-240 running 75 down the interstate for hours. In stop and go, it doesn't take it long to creep up well above the 240 mark, even in 85 degree weather. I've heard stories about police bikes running well over 300 with no issues.
People seem to obsess about oil temps. I've never read a single post about a head cracking or damage to a head or internals proven to be related to excessive oil temps.
It is important to run the specified amount of oil. Some guys run less than full to keep oil from being blown out of the breather. This is not an issue for most folks. Keep the oil at or near full to allow the full volume of oil to circulate, build good pressure, and do a better job of lubricating and cooling. If you run less than the recommended volume of oil, that oil has to run through the engine many more times then it would if the correct volume of oil were present. So naturally it will get hotter quicker and stay hotter longer.
Your bike is normal. Ride it and change the oil at the recommended intervals, if not sooner in hot weather. Syn oil makes a little bit of difference as well since the molecules are all identical and thus less friction than the dino oil.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
I would say your temps are in the happy range. In my experience you will see cooler oil temps with synthetic (I noted 15 degrees after the switch from dino). I have yet to measure oil temp on my RK.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
I picked up one of those goofy digital oil caps a few weeks ago. Bike seems to run between 250 and 270 on a regular basis. Don't know if the thin air in denver is responsible but it's probably a number I'd be better off not knowing.
2012 FLHTK with absolutely no modifications.
2012 FLHTK with absolutely no modifications.
I've noticed too that the bikes run a little hotter up here at a higher altitude. I'm sure its like you said the thinner air just isn't pulling heat off the motor quite as well.
Bill