Oil coolers
Oil coolers
I tried a search under "engine overheats" and "oil coolers" but found nothing. Next summer I will be taking a nice long ride out to the west coast through some pretty hot states. I will be pulling a heavy trailer and I'm concerned about the engine getting too hot, especially if I'm caught in some bumper to bumper traffic on a hot day. What can anybody tell me about their experience with oil coolers? Considering we ride a big bore air cooled engine I expected there would be more information available.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I use the H-D cooler, it is fine.
added capacity helps and install is easy- the only special part needed is a 7/16 allen for the filter adapter or make one for free ( see pic below- use the head of the bolt as the tool, turn the nuts with a wrench)
some use fan kits on the oil cooler, I do not.
fairing lowers make a HUGE difference on my motor temps and on a 105ş ambient day, oil temps are 25) cooler with the fairing lowers on.
there are lots of threads on fan kits.
Muskoka- nice riding country, I used to get up to Bala alot in the 80's
mike
added capacity helps and install is easy- the only special part needed is a 7/16 allen for the filter adapter or make one for free ( see pic below- use the head of the bolt as the tool, turn the nuts with a wrench)
some use fan kits on the oil cooler, I do not.
fairing lowers make a HUGE difference on my motor temps and on a 105ş ambient day, oil temps are 25) cooler with the fairing lowers on.
there are lots of threads on fan kits.
Muskoka- nice riding country, I used to get up to Bala alot in the 80's
mike
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 520
Likes: 37
From: houston, tx
I have the ultra-cool Gen-1 Reefer, I highly recommend the Harley premium oil cooler kit over it. Could also be called the stock cooler for the 103 engines... (Reefer Gen-1 has the hoses on the same side of the core, Gen-2 has the hoses on opposing ends.) KISS for the Harley cooler setup! If you need replacement hoses for the Harley cooler then any Harley dealership will have them, just be sure to use good quality hose clamps and not the ones in the kit as they were rumored to be cheap.
I highly recommend the Ward FCS fans over the cooler, I think this did more to bring the heat down than the oil cooler did. Then again extra oil capacity never hurts on a motor.
(lower vented fairings, FCS fans, Reefer oil cooler, Stage-1 96ci)
I highly recommend the Ward FCS fans over the cooler, I think this did more to bring the heat down than the oil cooler did. Then again extra oil capacity never hurts on a motor.
(lower vented fairings, FCS fans, Reefer oil cooler, Stage-1 96ci)
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,004
From: Charleston, SC
An oil cooler protects the oil which in turn protects the engine. It does not do a good job of cooling the engine.
The engine heats the oil... SO if you can keep the engine temp down so will the oil temp.
Ward's fan (for the engine) with about any oil cooler (for the oil) is what you are looking for.
lp
The engine heats the oil... SO if you can keep the engine temp down so will the oil temp.
Ward's fan (for the engine) with about any oil cooler (for the oil) is what you are looking for.
lp
Thank you very much gentlemen. I checked into all your suggestions and I like the Ultra Cool Reefer system. Their website sells this unit for $399.00. Any deals out there on this piece or do you have to go through the manufacturer?
I actually lived in Chandler, AZ just off Ray road for seven years back in the late 90's. This is one place where an oil cooler would be a must. I live just outside Bracebridge on the Muskoka River. I retired and moved back here after spending 28 years in corporate life in the US. I love this place. Thanks for your help on this.
I use the H-D cooler, it is fine.
added capacity helps and install is easy- the only special part needed is a 7/16 allen for the filter adapter or make one for free ( see pic below- use the head of the bolt as the tool, turn the nuts with a wrench)
some use fan kits on the oil cooler, I do not.
fairing lowers make a HUGE difference on my motor temps and on a 105ş ambient day, oil temps are 25) cooler with the fairing lowers on.
there are lots of threads on fan kits.
Muskoka- nice riding country, I used to get up to Bala alot in the 80's
mike
added capacity helps and install is easy- the only special part needed is a 7/16 allen for the filter adapter or make one for free ( see pic below- use the head of the bolt as the tool, turn the nuts with a wrench)
some use fan kits on the oil cooler, I do not.
fairing lowers make a HUGE difference on my motor temps and on a 105ş ambient day, oil temps are 25) cooler with the fairing lowers on.
there are lots of threads on fan kits.
Muskoka- nice riding country, I used to get up to Bala alot in the 80's
mike
Trending Topics
Jagg oil coolers are very good. They make a 10 row that mounts in the same position as Harley uses, but it is angled a bit different and gets more air.
They also make a fan assisted oil cooler...again, goes in the same spot as the Harley oil cooler (below the regulator). It is the "cream of the crop" in oil coolers.
I have been using Jagg oil coolers for many years now, and from experience, they work better than the HD coolers and the Ultra Cool.
I have been also running the Wards Parts Werks fans for almost a year. Very impressed with them.
Next time I get a bike that needs cooling down, I will get these fans first, and the only add an oil cooler if it is needed in addition to the fans.
The fans cool the source of the heat, so with them, it is altogether possible that you would not need an oil cooler.
Have a great trip next summer!!!
They also make a fan assisted oil cooler...again, goes in the same spot as the Harley oil cooler (below the regulator). It is the "cream of the crop" in oil coolers.
I have been using Jagg oil coolers for many years now, and from experience, they work better than the HD coolers and the Ultra Cool.
I have been also running the Wards Parts Werks fans for almost a year. Very impressed with them.
Next time I get a bike that needs cooling down, I will get these fans first, and the only add an oil cooler if it is needed in addition to the fans.
The fans cool the source of the heat, so with them, it is altogether possible that you would not need an oil cooler.
Have a great trip next summer!!!
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
An oil cooler protects the oil which in turn protects the engine. It does not do a good job of cooling the engine.
The engine heats the oil... SO if you can keep the engine temp down so will the oil temp.
Ward's fan (for the engine) with about any oil cooler (for the oil) is what you are looking for.
lp
The engine heats the oil... SO if you can keep the engine temp down so will the oil temp.
Ward's fan (for the engine) with about any oil cooler (for the oil) is what you are looking for.
lp
the oil is circulated through the hottest parts of the motor- the bearings and the piston skirts, and the heads.
that oil absorbs and carries heat away.
from the motor, the oil is moved through a baffle passage at the top of the oil pan to allow time for the heat to equalize.
the oil drops into the pan at the rear and is picked up by the pump at the front.
this oil pan baffle came in about 2009
running that oil through a cooler before it is sent to the heads and lower end is a good thing, once the oil is above 220ş or so
( we want oil to be hot enough to turn any water to vapor and it'll go out through the breather).
some ( not all) fan arrangements may actually impede cooling air flow across the fins or through an oil cooler at speed...but will help at low speeds or idle.
I don't parade
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 12, 2013 at 12:08 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,004
From: Charleston, SC
the way I look at it, the motor is cooled by air and oil.
the oil is circulated through the hottest parts of the motor- the bearings and the piston skirts, and the heads.
that oil absorbs and carries heat away.
from the motor, the oil is moved through a baffle passage at the top of the oil pan to allow time for the heat to equalize.
the oil drops into the pan at the rear and is picked up by the pump at the front.
this oil pan baffle came in about 2009
running that oil through a cooler before it is sent to the heads and lower end is a good thing, once the oil is above 220ş or so
( we want oil to be hot enough to turn any water to vapor and it'll go out through the breather).
some ( not all) fan arrangements may actually impede cooling air flow across the fins or through an oil cooler at speed...but will help at low speeds or idle.
I don't parade
mike
the oil is circulated through the hottest parts of the motor- the bearings and the piston skirts, and the heads.
that oil absorbs and carries heat away.
from the motor, the oil is moved through a baffle passage at the top of the oil pan to allow time for the heat to equalize.
the oil drops into the pan at the rear and is picked up by the pump at the front.
this oil pan baffle came in about 2009
running that oil through a cooler before it is sent to the heads and lower end is a good thing, once the oil is above 220ş or so
( we want oil to be hot enough to turn any water to vapor and it'll go out through the breather).
some ( not all) fan arrangements may actually impede cooling air flow across the fins or through an oil cooler at speed...but will help at low speeds or idle.
I don't parade
mike
You can sit in traffic with something cooling your oil and the head temps will still skyrocket, nearing overheating, and never come down until you get some air moving. Oil just flows too slow through the heads to actually cool them but it does protect the important bits like it should. Mostly...
Oil cooler is important as well because once the oil gets to 270+ it can literally take a hour driving at 70 mph in 100 degree weather for the oil temp to return to 220-230. That's without an oil cooler. Need to get that oil out of the engine so it can cool. With a cooler it takes minutes to lower the oil temp.
I don't parade either (on purpose) but have been stuck in traffic plenty of times with no where to go but 1 mph forward and moving air over the fins (fan) had the best effect to both man and machine. That is with a pretty crappy lynale fan too. Saving up for Ward's one day. Or a 14 with water cooling.
lp
Last edited by lp; Nov 12, 2013 at 05:30 AM.