Another Oil Thread, Actually, I need a little help
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Woodinville, WA
Another Oil Thread, Actually, I need a little help
Hello All,
My 2013 FLTRX has been puking oil out the breathers for a while. It was not as bad until recently. I may be overfull but I doubt it. I poured under 3qts at the last oil change I did. Up to about half the dipstick cold on the sidestand. Does anyone have a pic or a good description of where the oil level should be on a cold check. I have the service manual but it just says, fill it to full... Any help on this is appreciated. I am sure it is something stupid I am doing.
Thanks,
-PB
My 2013 FLTRX has been puking oil out the breathers for a while. It was not as bad until recently. I may be overfull but I doubt it. I poured under 3qts at the last oil change I did. Up to about half the dipstick cold on the sidestand. Does anyone have a pic or a good description of where the oil level should be on a cold check. I have the service manual but it just says, fill it to full... Any help on this is appreciated. I am sure it is something stupid I am doing.
Thanks,
-PB
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I run about a pint low...no drips seeps or bummers.
Ness Big Sucker
a possible cause for high levels of spewk is O rings out of place - this is kinda common it seems.
when i do mine, I use hi temp bearing grease to hold the o rings in place.
I dunno, I have had a bunch of Harleys with head breathers and just don't ever have this problem.
one of my Pals did, he just stuck a maxi pad in the bottom of his air cleaner cover and changed it out about every 28 days ( you can guess how he remembered when it was time to change)
some of the guys here have modified the breather vents to the intake, adding tubing to direct the vapour to the intake throat- others give up and dump it to the ground ( it which case you may have oil splatter on the bike and drips in the garage)
Umbrella valves in the heads can wear out- but my highest mileage head breather a 1995 FLHTC had over 82K on it with no problems...and the umbrella valves have been improved since 1995
a less likely cause is reversion which is caused by cam overlap and timing and exhaust tract characteristics- with reversion it will occur at specific rpms and will smell like gasoline
mike
Ness Big Sucker
a possible cause for high levels of spewk is O rings out of place - this is kinda common it seems.
when i do mine, I use hi temp bearing grease to hold the o rings in place.
I dunno, I have had a bunch of Harleys with head breathers and just don't ever have this problem.
one of my Pals did, he just stuck a maxi pad in the bottom of his air cleaner cover and changed it out about every 28 days ( you can guess how he remembered when it was time to change)
some of the guys here have modified the breather vents to the intake, adding tubing to direct the vapour to the intake throat- others give up and dump it to the ground ( it which case you may have oil splatter on the bike and drips in the garage)
Umbrella valves in the heads can wear out- but my highest mileage head breather a 1995 FLHTC had over 82K on it with no problems...and the umbrella valves have been improved since 1995
a less likely cause is reversion which is caused by cam overlap and timing and exhaust tract characteristics- with reversion it will occur at specific rpms and will smell like gasoline
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Jul 29, 2014 at 04:44 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Hello All,
My 2013 FLTRX has been puking oil out the breathers for a while. It was not as bad until recently. I may be overfull but I doubt it. I poured under 3qts at the last oil change I did. Up to about half the dipstick cold on the sidestand. Does anyone have a pic or a good description of where the oil level should be on a cold check. I have the service manual but it just says, fill it to full... Any help on this is appreciated. I am sure it is something stupid I am doing.
Thanks,
-PB
My 2013 FLTRX has been puking oil out the breathers for a while. It was not as bad until recently. I may be overfull but I doubt it. I poured under 3qts at the last oil change I did. Up to about half the dipstick cold on the sidestand. Does anyone have a pic or a good description of where the oil level should be on a cold check. I have the service manual but it just says, fill it to full... Any help on this is appreciated. I am sure it is something stupid I am doing.
Thanks,
-PB
Oil Level Cold Check
Perform engine oil level COLD CHECK as follows:
For pre-ride inspection, place vehicle on level ground and rest the vehicle on its jiffy stand (unless sidecar is attached).
Remove filler plug/dipstick and wipe off the dipstick. Insert the dipstick and tighten into the fill spout.
NOTE:
The oil level marks for checking with motorcycle upright or on jiffy stand are on the same side of the dipstick. Be sure to use the correct portion of dipstick when checking oil level.
See Engine Oil Dipstick. Remove the dipstick and verify the level of the oil. The correct oil level should register midway (2) between the FULL and ADD marks on the dipstick.
NOTE:
If oil level is at or below the ADD mark, add only enough oil to bring the level to the middle of the two marks on the dipstick
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Woodinville, WA
I have confirmed that I am not overfull. I have been searching for a few days and it seems like there are several things people have done to resolve this problem. I'll start going through some of them that I am capable of and move on from there.
Thanks for the responses.
Thanks for the responses.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 80
From: currently an Okie
Oil on the cam cover
If the oil out of the breather gets worse than it used to be and if it is under warranty, have Harley fix it. The solution is to replace the umbrella seals.
I had mine done about 2 months ago and now I don't get a drop on the cam cover even in 100* temps.
The alternative is to reroute the oil breather tubes to the ground or a holding container.
I would not cram the oil into the throttle body as many have done. It's just going to get worse and worse. All of that oil blowing into your motor is going to create a lot of carbon in the cylinder.
Ride it hard on a hot day and don't clean the cam cover. If you bring it to them with the cam cover coated with oil, it's pretty hard for them to say "it's normal". If you bring it back to the dealer you bought it from, they are going to want to fix it so you'll buy another from them. At least, that's the way my dealer saw it.
I had mine done about 2 months ago and now I don't get a drop on the cam cover even in 100* temps.
The alternative is to reroute the oil breather tubes to the ground or a holding container.
I would not cram the oil into the throttle body as many have done. It's just going to get worse and worse. All of that oil blowing into your motor is going to create a lot of carbon in the cylinder.
Ride it hard on a hot day and don't clean the cam cover. If you bring it to them with the cam cover coated with oil, it's pretty hard for them to say "it's normal". If you bring it back to the dealer you bought it from, they are going to want to fix it so you'll buy another from them. At least, that's the way my dealer saw it.
Last edited by rkoivisto; Jul 29, 2014 at 07:45 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Woodinville, WA
Rinehart 2-1 full system
Fuel Moto stage 1 intake
Andrews 57H cams
Power Vision
I have already spoken to the guys at the dealer service department. They said definitely bring it in. They have a solid rep and are good about getting things covered under warranty. I am going to go that route and hopefully, all will be well soon.
On the advice of one of the guys, I pulled the plug under the motor to make sure it's not sumping and all is ok there.
It doesn't take much to get oil onto the cam chest cover. Just a ten mile ride to work and there it is. I'll get it nice and messy before I show up at the dealer though.
Thanks everyone for your kind and helpful responses.
-PB