Oil Cooler ????

[TCALZ06]

Who has put one on and do you know how much it lowers oil temps?

I'm hearing these motors like to overheat in stop and go traffic when its high 90's plus

I was planning on putting one on but I just heard they don't help much is this true?

AZ is bad in the summer but I'm also planning on going to Daytona for Bike week
I hear the traffic is bad

 

[coach]

Best thing you can do to avoid over heating your sled is use Mobil 1, and stay away from BikeWeek in Daytona. The oil coolers only work if the bike is moving, creating air flow, and if your moving you wont have a problem to begin with. Mobil 1 dropped the operating temp in my old Mercedes 20' during the summers in Florida. I could watch the temp gauge rise with the air on, and in traffic. After I switched I saw a noticeable difference........even though I don't have a temp gauge on the bike, it made a believer of me.

 

[CCRainman]

I have one on my scoot just because it get's hot in the summer and I get stuck in traffic a lot. You do need to be moving in order for the air to disperse the heat. Coach is right go with a synthetic oil. I personally use Amsoil and find the bike to run cooler. The good side about the cooler is that you get an extra qt of oil which doesn't hurt.

 

[Rancid]

An oil cooler on an air cooled bike is always a plus.

 

[Fibersnake]

With the exception of the extra capacity in oil, and maybe the very rare situation of prolonged riding across something like Death Valley in the mid of summer, the oil cooler will not do too much for you.

Yes it will bring down the temp, but only if you are moving. Generally if you are moving you will not have a problem with the temp to begin with and the extra bit of using a good synthetic would be worth as much.

Now that is not to say that you will hurt anything with a cooler, but for most situations do not gain a great deal. The key point is that the reasons many even think of them is for the stop and go traffic and here they do not bring much to offer, got to get air across it to work for any real benefit.

Some of the disadvantages are that you can have more spots for leakage or loss of oil, you may have it providing too much cooling during the cold season, cost. If you get one and ride during the cooler seasons, best to get a by-pass valve, or a high quality thermostat, or like many do, put a cover over it to insure that the oil is not too cool.

 

[chucktx]

actually oil coolers will cool at a dead stop.....not as well as moving, but when stopped, convection will come into play and radiate some heat to the air around it. the extra oil will also help in keeping your engine cool. you are in arizona, so you know your temps.....i run oil temp gauge and get a 10/20 degree drop with the cooler on. on a hot blistering day that is a lot!!! have fun.....

 

[RRRUFF]

Like Fibersnake said, it won't hurt anything and the extra capacity would take longer to heat up, but also longer to cool down. Synthetic's will tolerate the higher temps and will not break down as quickly and will preform better when cold than dino oils. Oil coolers in MY opinion is not that big a deal unless they have a mechanical means of moving (in this case) air through the heat exchanger. But they look really cool though!

 

[Fibersnake]

Well Chucktx is right that there will be some transfer of heat through convection and there may be a slight drop in the temp. That said that same heat that can transfer through the fin while sitting, can also pick up radiant heat from the surrounding areas if such is higher. So you would not want to mount the cooler too close to say the exhaust. Generally though with most coolers, the slight decrease in temp while sitting still will not be enough to keep the oil from overheating if you do not move anymore than without.

Now while moving, they will drop the temp and 30 plus is not uncommon with a good cooler and sufficient air flowing. For most situation though it is not needed for these engines are designed to run at extreme oil temp with no problems. Key is to keep good oil to prevent a thermal break down and as well as adequate flow of the air.

There may be some areas of the country that an oil cooler would not be a bad idea, particularly the SW where summer temps keep easily exceed 100 plus routinely. For the vast majority it is not needed and even out west there are many that routinely go across the great deserts without oil coolers and have no issues.

Like mentioned before, it will not hurt and they do look cool (well some do), but I have seen more people have issues with them and especially when the temps are low than what they gain for the decrease in temp on the hotter days.

If one gets one, just keep in mind the low temps as well as the high. Get down around the 50's and it is a good chance the cooler is hurting you more than helping unless you regulate it via the a thermostat, a by-pass valve or like my good friend Chacha does, with a cover.

Now if one is like some and will not ride when the temps are in the low 50's, 40's or below, than you should not have that issues to be concerned with, then again you may miss the best ride out there!

 

[TCALZ06]

actually oil coolers will cool at a dead stop.....not as well as moving, but when stopped, convection will come into play and radiate some heat to the air around it. the extra oil will also help in keeping your engine cool. you are in arizona, so you know your temps.....i run oil temp gauge and get a 10/20 degree drop with the cooler on. on a hot blistering day that is a lot!!! have fun.....

Chucktx,

which oil temp gauge are you running? Also what oil are you running?
I was planning on getting the BDM oil cooler that mounts to the frame
and them switching to AMSOIL

Thanks

 

[chucktx]

Chucktx,

which oil temp gauge are you running? Also what oil are you running?
I was planning on getting the BDM oil cooler that mounts to the frame
and them switching to AMSOIL

Thanks

well first let me say i dont ride a bigdog....i have the tire burnin electra glide... i run mobil 1 vtwin oil, and run vdo oil temp/press gauges. im sure some one on here will be able to help with your question....this forum has a very knowlegable member base, and all are willing to share and help!!:up:
good luck and lets see what ya come up with!!

 

[chacha]

I've got one. I got a good deal, may move to Phoenix some day, and who doesn't like an extra load of oil?

Now, as usual, Fibersnake is correct-they are not without their problems. My motor will still get plenty warm in stopped traffic. Too much of that and I pull a "Hoat" and start splitting lanes.

The colder weather is also an issue. Below 60° I have a cover on her to make sure she doesn't get too cool which did happen before. And like Fiber, I run Moble 1 which made a noticeable difference overall.

 

[TCALZ06]

Thanks,

Is anyone running a oil temp gauge and their big dog?? I've noticed one on ebay that looks like is replaces the oil dip stick

 

[WB Cycles]

Have also sold a dual setup for BDM. Instead of running a stash tube on the other side, its a second cooler. I'm actually going to change my stash tube to that setup this summer.

 

[slowrower]

I have two oil coolers courtesy of Nelson for the FL hot summers - I had one on my Fat Boy and it did make a difference as I had a complete set of guages for temp, oil and charging. It is getting near time to install them with 80+ temps here.

 

[WB Cycles]

I have two oil coolers courtesy of Nelson for the FL hot summers - I had one on my Fat Boy and it did make a difference as I had a complete set of guages for temp, oil and charging. It is getting near time to install them with 80+ temps here.

Wasn't gonna name ya ... but you are now to blame for ME swapping mine out!! :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[slowrower]

Wasn't gonna name ya ... but you are now to blame for ME swapping mine out!! :roll: :roll: :roll:

:lol: :lol: glad I could help! .. now if I can rig up a fan ??

 

[coach]

I have a stash tub........to the un-knowing......I tell them it's my NOS bottle. :roll:

 

[WB Cycles]

I have a stash tub........to the un-knowing......I tell them it's my NOS bottle. :roll:

:2thumbs: Stick a couple of lines on it and they would be buying that all day long!

:lol: :lol: glad I could help! .. now if I can rig up a fan ??

We can get you one of those twirly things that mount to your handlebars :up:

 

[TCALZ06]

Have also sold a dual setup for BDM. Instead of running a stash tube on the other side, its a second cooler. I'm actually going to change my stash tube to that setup this summer.

Hi Nelson,

Do you have any pics of that set up and the price?? with the heat in AZ
sounds like a good idea

 

[WB Cycles]

Don't have a picture of two coolers installed, but the cooler and stash tube are identical with the exception of the braided lines on the bottom of the cooler. Here are two pics of my chopper that should give you an idea of what they would look like.