2014 triglide oil temp

[Vict-0]

I have been reading a lot about oil temps and I am confused.
on a hot day the bike is hot. What temperature
should I be running at, and what is considered too hot?
is the dip stick temp gauge what I should use?

 

[msocko3]

You start seeing 280 degree oil temps you are breaking down your oil which impacts viscosity and the additive package. Anytime I've gotten oil temps into the 275+ range I change my oil and filter as soon as I can, I don't care if its synthetic or dino, IMO its toast. I've never used a dipstick temp gauge so I can't be of any help with that, I have heard some folks comment how they suffer from accuracy issues.

 

[lboos]

I have been reading a lot about oil temps and I am confused.
on a hot day the bike is hot. What temperature
should I be running at, and what is considered too hot?
is the dip stick temp gauge what I should use?

Why don't you just enjoy the country side when out for a ride instead of looking down at a dip stick temp. gauge which is prob. not accurate anyway, people have been riding these things around for over a hundred years with out one.
Just ride it and enjoy the view,..JMO .

 

[geezerglide11441]

You start seeing 280 degree oil temps you are breaking down your oil which impacts viscosity and the additive package. Anytime I've gotten oil temps into the 275+ range I change my oil and filter as soon as I can, I don't care if its synthetic or dino, IMO its toast. I've never used a dipstick temp gauge so I can't be of any help with that, I have heard some folks comment how they suffer from accuracy issues.

:Agree: 100 percent with this assessment!!

Roger

 

[screwball]

I have over 40,000 miles on my '09. Biggest mistake I have made with that trike is put a dash oil temp gage in. Now, instead of enjoying the scenery, I have one eye on the oil temp gage. I live on the desert in So. Cal. 100*+ days in the summer are very common. I run synthetic oil. I have seen oil temps at 300* several times. The trike just keeps running. I change at prescribed intervals and just keep riding. This is my 6th Harley. Never installed an oil temp gage before, sure wish I hadn't on this one. As Iboos said, ride it, enjoy it. Harley has been making air cooled motorcycles for over 100 years. Seems to me they know what they are doing. IF you are using regular oil, you may rethink your choice and look at Synthetic, or a syn blend. Last I looked, thermal breakdown temperatures were near 400*

Good Luck, and ride it like you stole it.

 

[sandrooney]

I agree don't get a gauge all you will do is worry about it. I put one on an 07 Ultra I had and after a couple thousand miles took it off and it never overheated again. I have a 10 Street Glide with 41,000 miles, no gauge and running dino oil since new and have had 0 issues. We have 2- 10 Tri Glides and no way would I put a gauge on them. I do run syn in them.

 

[Phu Cat]

Msocko, Don't blame you for being worried about the temp of your oil, almosy everybody is. But as has been said before, it's just gonna drive ya nuts.

Something that might put your mind at rest is to have a sampling kit from "Blackstone Lab" on hand so when you change your oil you can sample it and find out where your really stand rather than listen to the 'facts' you've heard from friends. I was surprised with the results I received from them. They really do an indept analysis.

Phu Cat

 

[DK Custom Products]

I'm with M3 on the oil temps.

I do run a oil temp gauge on all my bikes. I don't let it worry or pre-occupy me anymore than the fuel gauge, voltmeter gauge or oil pressure gauge. It's just a tool to monitor the oil temps.

Dip stick gauges can be accurate or inaccurate. When/if you get one, test it to make sure it is. As of right now you are a bit limited on the '14's for any other type of gauge.

I like to keep my oil temps down around 230, which I have not achieved yet on the '14. But if I saw them up around 275* or higher, for me that is too hot.

I agree HD has been making air cooled engines for longer than I've been alive, but that does not mean that the current crop of bikes that are having to meet EPA standards are ok with the heat.

My 2011 ran "fine" when it was taken in for a leak down test at 10K miles. HD ended up replacing the entire top end that had been damaged by the excessive heat that was "normal". After that it ran even "finer", and I took steps to get the heat down so that there was no repeat.

Kevin

 

[geezerglide11441]

I'm with M3 on the oil temps.

I do run a oil temp gauge on all my bikes. I don't let it worry or pre-occupy me anymore than the fuel gauge, voltmeter gauge or oil pressure gauge. It's just a tool to monitor the oil temps.

Dip stick gauges can be accurate or inaccurate. When/if you get one, test it to make sure it is. As of right now you are a bit limited on the '14's for any other type of gauge.

I like to keep my oil temps down around 230, which I have not achieved yet on the '14. But if I saw them up around 275* or higher, for me that is too hot.

I agree HD has been making air cooled engines for longer than I've been alive, but that does not mean that the current crop of bikes that are having to meet EPA standards are ok with the heat.

My 2011 ran "fine" when it was taken in for a leak down test at 10K miles. HD ended up replacing the entire top end that had been damaged by the excessive heat that was "normal". After that it ran even "finer", and I took steps to get the heat down so that there was no repeat.

Kevin

:Agree: I have installed an Oil Temp gauge on my Ultra and my Trike, and would not do without them. I use them as information, not a worry!! I have the 120r motor in my Trike and have done several things to deal with the heat this high compression motor makes and so far, so good.

Last week end we were in 95 to 97 degree temps at the Hell's Canyon Rally in Baker, Oregon and my temps stayed no hotter than 230 degrees, so I think I have the oil temperature thing under control. I am OK with 230 degrees, just don't like seeing anything in excess of that.

In any event, would not due without the gauge!!!!epper:

Roger

 

[Lizard]

I don't know why anyone would think the fairing oil temp gauge is any more or less accurate than the dipstick. I do calibration for a living, and looking at the quality of the gauges, I'd guess them to be no better than 20%, if that. You're reading 275? That could be anywhere from 250-300. The ONLY way you would know would be to have an accurate measurement device to check the oil temp. I've done it. Had a '99 classic, ran a thermocouple down the oil pan and rode home one day. Changed oil (to synthetic) and did the same ride the next day, same conditions. I saw a 30 degree difference...using accurate instruments. Now the thing here is, the conventional oil was due to change, so it was contaminated by 3k miles of riding. The synthetic was new. I found temps approaching 300 with the conventional, and since conventional starts to thermal breakdown at 300, I went to Synthetics and have run them ever since. Synthetics (good ones, not the Synth 3 crap) don't start to thermally break down until 400+ degrees, depending on which one you're using. I run Mobil 1 now. My oil temp is regularly about 270 according to my Harley dipstick gauge. Do I worry about it? Not even a little bit. The gauge is an indicator, just like the voltage gauge. See where it is under normal circumstance, it doesn't matter where that is.....now check it and don't start worrying unless the numbers start to change from what you've established as the norm.

I giggle when I hear people fighting and spending big bucks to keep their oil temps around 200 degrees. They are doing more damage than regular temps of 270. Oil HAS to to heat up to a proper temp to boil off water and contaminants. Water boils at 212, and that is the MINIMUM proper safe oil temperature for one of these tractors. If your oil never gets above 212, then it never boils off the contaminants, and all that crap continues to circulate and build throughout your engine.

 

[lboos]

Why stop with a oil temp. gauge ? :xzqxz:, what about a cly. head temp. gauge, an exh. gas temp. gauge, a fuel press gauge, a torque meter would be mighty nice,.. I guess you could get your passenger to keep an eye on the road while you keep an eye on the eng. performance .

It's your bike, so put on it what makes you happyorag:.

But please don't forget a skull and cross bone flag, and esp. a back fire switch on you handle bar :clapping:.......... JMO.

 

[geezerglide11441]

I don't know why anyone would think the fairing oil temp gauge is any more or less accurate than the dipstick. I do calibration for a living, and looking at the quality of the gauges, I'd guess them to be no better than 20%, if that. You're reading 275? That could be anywhere from 250-300. The ONLY way you would know would be to have an accurate measurement device to check the oil temp. I've done it. Had a '99 classic, ran a thermocouple down the oil pan and rode home one day. Changed oil (to synthetic) and did the same ride the next day, same conditions. I saw a 30 degree difference...using accurate instruments. Now the thing here is, the conventional oil was due to change, so it was contaminated by 3k miles of riding. The synthetic was new. I found temps approaching 300 with the conventional, and since conventional starts to thermal breakdown at 300, I went to Synthetics and have run them ever since. Synthetics (good ones, not the Synth 3 crap) don't start to thermally break down until 400+ degrees, depending on which one you're using. I run Mobil 1 now. My oil temp is regularly about 270 according to my Harley dipstick gauge. Do I worry about it? Not even a little bit. The gauge is an indicator, just like the voltage gauge. See where it is under normal circumstance, it doesn't matter where that is.....now check it and don't start worrying unless the numbers start to change from what you've established as the norm.

I giggle when I hear people fighting and spending big bucks to keep their oil temps around 200 degrees. They are doing more damage than regular temps of 270. Oil HAS to to heat up to a proper temp to boil off water and contaminants. Water boils at 212, and that is the MINIMUM proper safe oil temperature for one of these tractors. If your oil never gets above 212, then it never boils off the contaminants, and all that crap continues to circulate and build throughout your engine.

:Agree: Had breakfast with a good friend the is our local H-D Master Technician and his statement to me was that most bike owners are trying to keep their bikes running too cool (around 200 degrees), and that 300 degrees was not a problem!! Needless to say, I was speechless and it gave me some comfort to be OK with my 230 degree temp that I have been experiencing!

This is the Tech that installed my 120r motor and does any/all my maintenance/service on both my Trike and V-Rod!

Roger

 

[msocko3]

Msocko, Don't blame you for being worried about the temp of your oil, almosy everybody is. But as has been said before, it's just gonna drive ya nuts.

Something that might put your mind at rest is to have a sampling kit from "Blackstone Lab" on hand so when you change your oil you can sample it and find out where your really stand rather than listen to the 'facts' you've heard from friends. I was surprised with the results I received from them. They really do an indept analysis.

Phu Cat

I'm familiar with Blackstone, I've sent several oil samples to then in the past.

 

[Phu Cat]

Oil HAS to to heat up to a proper temp to boil off water and contaminants. Water boils at 212, and that is the MINIMUM proper safe oil temperature for one of these tractors. If your oil never gets above 212, then it never boils off the contaminants, and all that crap continues to circulate and build throughout your engine.

Lizard, Yer on the right track, you definately want to keep you oil dehydrated as it keeps it from turning acidy in the long run. But moisture starts to boil off around 160 degrees due to engine vacuum. The longer the oil stays at that temp or above the more thorough the dehydation. That's why short trips are bad news for our engines.

Phu Cat

 

[DumperDave]

The 2014 has the Info button on the throttle assembly. By pushing it, you'll see you current temp on the Boom display.

 

[ELVISTO]

The 2014 has the Info button on the throttle assembly. By pushing it, you'll see you current temp on the Boom display.

Oh, Does it ? My 2014 only seems to give the oil pressure, not the oil temp ?

 

[NamVet]

Oh, Does it ? My 2014 only seems to give the oil pressure, not the oil temp ?

Yea, that is all I have...so can you get temp via a program???

 

[ELVISTO]

Yea, that is all I have...so can you get temp via a program???

Still can't find it, I hope I've not bought a very expensive oil temp gauge when I already had one

 

[NamVet]

The 2014 has the Info button on the throttle assembly. By pushing it, you'll see you current temp on the Boom display.

I don't think so......just oil pressure, unless your talking about the air temp.

 

[MB1953]

I thought that I was doing something wrong to only get the air temp oil pressure and EITMS status. There is so much information that is supposedly available on these things, isn't there a way to display any of it?