Is an oil cooler necessary ?
- Thread starter ChrisK1969
- Start date
Oldhvymetal
Member
OK Lads, here's some pics...
Right side with the cover on, Right side with the cover off, Left side thermostat closeup, and a "half bike" shot to show that (at least in my opinion) it doesn't detract from the look of the bike. That's one of the reasons I went with these of course.
Doc, as for your questions:
When I was overheating the oil temp was pushing 250, and that was with synthetic.
I honestly don't know if it's an S&S as well as a TP issue, but I suspect it's more of a large displacement issue. I should say I've got the TP motor and heads, not the S&S with TP heads. Seems a lot of folks are running really hot lately. The coolers helped me a lot with that.
Why cover them with leather? LOL... well for one the braided hoses used to connect them add a lot of cooling in and of themselves. Plus, when you live in New England like I do sometimes you don't want them puppies in the wind as much- hey the bike has to warm up too! With the additional hose, synthetic oil, and without the covers in the winter time I'd never ever reach operating temp (180-190, imo)!!!
I would call "getting out of hand" up around 240 or so. That's too hot! I'm sort of a fan of 190-220 tops, and that's what these coolers will do for me.
While I'm pretendin' I'm smart, I'll float one more opinion. If the outside ambient temperature is 125 coming off the pavement like it can be at Sturgis, then even without the bike moving these will help! You can be at dead idle for hours and the outside air will still try to cool the oil back to ambient temperature (125). So, if you got enough hose and cooler surface area to push the oil through- then an oil cooling system will in fact work even when the bike is not moving at all.. even at really high outside air temps. If the outside air ever gets to 190- then I'm either in a fire or a nuclear blast or some such so having an oil cooler system wouldn't likely be the first thing on my mind hahah.
Once again, I used a thermostat (Lockhart), that engages the left hand side at 190 degrees. I bought about six of them at the time because I've had old Plymouths before and I knew they would fail. In all this time I'm currently on my third one. It lets the bike warm the oil up to operating temp faster, then fights it getting any hotter. Hope I described that right so it makes some sense. At the end of the day it certainly has worked for me for the last eight or so years.
Peace, Respect,
OHM
Right side with the cover on, Right side with the cover off, Left side thermostat closeup, and a "half bike" shot to show that (at least in my opinion) it doesn't detract from the look of the bike. That's one of the reasons I went with these of course.
Doc, as for your questions:
When I was overheating the oil temp was pushing 250, and that was with synthetic.
I honestly don't know if it's an S&S as well as a TP issue, but I suspect it's more of a large displacement issue. I should say I've got the TP motor and heads, not the S&S with TP heads. Seems a lot of folks are running really hot lately. The coolers helped me a lot with that.
Why cover them with leather? LOL... well for one the braided hoses used to connect them add a lot of cooling in and of themselves. Plus, when you live in New England like I do sometimes you don't want them puppies in the wind as much- hey the bike has to warm up too! With the additional hose, synthetic oil, and without the covers in the winter time I'd never ever reach operating temp (180-190, imo)!!!
I would call "getting out of hand" up around 240 or so. That's too hot! I'm sort of a fan of 190-220 tops, and that's what these coolers will do for me.
While I'm pretendin' I'm smart, I'll float one more opinion. If the outside ambient temperature is 125 coming off the pavement like it can be at Sturgis, then even without the bike moving these will help! You can be at dead idle for hours and the outside air will still try to cool the oil back to ambient temperature (125). So, if you got enough hose and cooler surface area to push the oil through- then an oil cooling system will in fact work even when the bike is not moving at all.. even at really high outside air temps. If the outside air ever gets to 190- then I'm either in a fire or a nuclear blast or some such so having an oil cooler system wouldn't likely be the first thing on my mind hahah.
Once again, I used a thermostat (Lockhart), that engages the left hand side at 190 degrees. I bought about six of them at the time because I've had old Plymouths before and I knew they would fail. In all this time I'm currently on my third one. It lets the bike warm the oil up to operating temp faster, then fights it getting any hotter. Hope I described that right so it makes some sense. At the end of the day it certainly has worked for me for the last eight or so years.
Peace, Respect,
OHM
Attachments
Last edited:
DRBarnhart
Insert title here...
Thanks for the thorough response OHM. I think I'll be doing a little research to find out exactly what my oil temp is!!! 
Thanks again,
Dennis
Thanks again,
Dennis
:roll::roll: improving his post count. :roll::roll:
Dennis
PS What's with the double posts Buster? :loony:
remember, he is the one that doesn't like to see the American flag on Jap bikes.
