Oil Temperature

[Gottaflirt]

I think my oil temperature is to high and could cause the oil to breakdown. I want to install a mechanical temp gauge on the engine so I can monitor the temp while riding. I need some ideas on where, how and ideas on parts needed.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

My temperature gauge is in my oil cooler -- pro one unit.
If you want to stop worrying about oil break down use synthetic oil not dino.
If it gets hot enough to break it down the synthetic, your in big trouble. My EFI bike shuts down well before that can happen.

 

[Butch Cassidy]

I use an infra-red temp gun..... just cost a few bucks. Head temp will be the hottest, so measure there. Anything over 275 and oil starts to break down..(dino oil). Synthetic is known for not breaking down because of heat. If you want to make sure your oil is still good, start fresh, run it like you always do, change the oil after 1,000 miles and take a sample. Blackstone-labs.com will send you a kit for free... you pay $25 for a basic analysis, $35 for a full sample. Get the $35... you will not only know how good your oil is working, but how long you can expect it to last until the next oil change. Generally speaking, your bike will not ever get above 275 head temp ... I've been sampling my oil for many years in all my vehicles.... you will be surprised how long oil will last in today's motors. I change my oil in most of my vehicles every six months, and sometimes longer. I'm just doing what the doctor recommends..!

 

[Sven]

Don't want to blow your heat theory, but all those air cooled harleys have yet to burn out. I'm talking about all those first introduced to retro choppers, from flathead, to all aluminum evo engines, I have yet to see one be cooked off to the side of the road, even in a global summer warming morning. Dump all oils every 3k miles.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

Highest oil temp I ever saw on a Harley was about 330 (was synthetic) we got stuck in traffic on a HOT summer day and one of the riders looked down at her temp gauge, we ran the shoulder to get past everything to get off the turnpike entrance. Stopped after the toll booth and it was still over 300 (twin cam) My buddies evo was only at 195 with his little oil cooler he used.

 

[Gottaflirt]

I installed Big Dog's OME oil cooler ($225.00 off E Bay) which amounted to an aluminum
heat sink and two oil lines. I also changed the oil using synthetic 20w 50. I'll check the temp using an inferred temp gun and let you know how it goes.

 

[Mastiff Rider64]

I installed Big Dog's OME oil cooler ($225.00 off E Bay) which amounted to an aluminum
heat sink and two oil lines. I also changed the oil using synthetic 20w 50. I'll check the temp using an inferred temp gun and let you know how it goes.

The oil coolers do make a difference as you are moving, but not while sitting in traffic. I am installing dual oil coolers on my mastiff and bulldog bagger as soon as they return from diamond cutting them. I had mine powder coated also, which means they won't cool the oil as much, but with the dual coolers I'll add a little more oil so hopefully that will make up a little.

 

[SKOGDOG]

Here is a question: What is the optimal operating temperature for the oil in our engines. I‘m pretty sure it’s is possible to use oil coolers and run with the oil not hot enough. So—what range is optimal-I would guess 180 to 220 degrees F, but I would love to hear the opinion of you guys who know these engines better than I do.

 

[Mastiff Rider64]

Here is a question: What is the optimal operating temperature for the oil in our engines. I‘m pretty sure it’s is possible to use oil coolers and run with the oil not hot enough. So—what range is optimal-I would guess 180 to 220 degrees F, but I would love to hear the opinion of you guys who know these engines better than I do.

S&S Recommends in their 117 manual to run temps between 180-250 degrees.

 

[Gottaflirt]

The oil coolers do make a difference as you are moving, but not while sitting in traffic. I am installing dual oil coolers on my mastiff and bulldog bagger as soon as they return from diamond cutting them. I had mine powder coated also, which means they won't cool the oil as much, but with the dual coolers I'll add a little more oil so hopefully that will make up a little.

I think increasing the volume of abaible oil woll help as much as anything. Did you run oil lines from the oil tank to cooler #1, out of #1 to cooler #2 and then to the original oil feed line on the engine? I have thought about using the matching stash tube in this way feeding into the top with delivery rod going to the bottom on the inside. Then pulling the cooler oil off the top feeding the engine. My unknown problem is weather the stock oil pump on my 2007 S&S 113 c.i.d. could handle the load especially when the oil is 50 to 60 degrees. Tell me what you opinon is. I hesitate moving forward.

 

[LHS]

I don’t know what the temps get like in Utah. But I live in Iowa so it only gets around 90° here ( not including humidity of course LOL ) My 2009 carbureted S&S 117 runs right around 190 to 200° Sitting in traffic. That’s with no oil coolers and running full synthetic 20 - 50 my gauge screws into the old tank where the dipstick normally goes. I got it from Derek and Donna dirt cheap at bigdogpartsKing / Shovelheadkicker on eBay You can now buy it also at HTM Inc. The oil in the tank will only be A few degrees different from what it is in the motor.
As Mastiff Rider64 stated S&S recommends 180-250°

 

[Mastiff Rider64]

I think increasing the volume of abaible oil woll help as much as anything. Did you run oil lines from the oil tank to cooler #1, out of #1 to cooler #2 and then to the original oil feed line on the engine? I have thought about using the matching stash tube in this way feeding into the top with delivery rod going to the bottom on the inside. Then pulling the cooler oil off the top feeding the engine. My unknown problem is weather the stock oil pump on my 2007 S&S 113 c.i.d. could handle the load especially when the oil is 50 to 60 degrees. Tell me what you opinon is. I hesitate moving forward.

Kinda i have an adapter before my oil filter that way my oil lines are still stock. The adapter mounts to my oil filter housing and thur an outlet to the first oil cooler then out that oil cooler to the second one then out of that one to the inlet of the adapter. The adapter then flows oil into my filter. Here is a picture of the adapter.
This is the old style adapter. There is a newer one ive order and should be here friday. But here is what the new one looks like.

I will have to modify it by changing the fittings to work with big dog oil coolers that donna sells

 

[Mastiff Rider64]

I don’t know what the temps get like in Utah. But I live in Iowa so it only gets around 90° here ( not including humidity of course LOL ) My 2009 carbureted S&S 117 runs right around 190 to 200° Sitting in traffic. That’s with no oil coolers and running full synthetic 20 - 50 my gauge screws into the old tank where the dipstick normally goes. I got it from Derek and Donna dirt cheap at bigdogpartsKing / Shovelheadkicker on eBay You can now buy it also at HTM Inc. The oil in the tank will only be A few degrees different from what it is in the motor.
As Mastiff Rider64 stated S&S recommends 180-250°

Utah is a very dry heat. Temps there get in the upper 90 to 110 during summer months, but theres no humidity. You sweat but cant tell cause your sweat evaporates so quickly because the air is so dry.

 

[Gottaflirt]

Kinda i have an adapter before my oil filter that way my oil lines are still stock. The adapter mounts to my oil filter housing and thur an outlet to the first oil cooler then out that oil cooler to the second one then out of that one to the inlet of the adapter. The adapter then flows oil into my filter. Here is a picture of the adapter.View attachment 73507
This is the old style adapter. There is a newer one ive order and should be here friday. But here is what the new one looks like.
View attachment 73508
I will have to modify it by changing the fittings to work with big dog oil coolers that donna sells

Im assuming these are two big dog coolers i like what you hsve do e with the lines rather than what big dog has seggested in their instructions.

 

[Mastiff Rider64]

well mine are the big dog oil coolers but the ones in the picture are not the big dog oil coolers, they will fit a big dog but made by a different company