Oil temp, winter.

[j79phan]

My new TG is the 1st bike I've put an oil temp gauge on. Surprised me that the oil temp doesn't come up much in 35 degree temps. Moving it eventually gets to around 165, maybe 170 tops. Steady 45 mph for a few minutes and it dropped a little lower. Stops at a traffic light, it's came close to hitting 180.
This was on 2 rides about 25 miles each.
Hopefully my next ride is in a little warmer weather and the salt is gone.
I thought the oil cooler had a thermostat bypass? If not. Below what oil temp would you consider blocking it off?

 

[Phu Cat]

would you consider blocking it off?

Very good idea, I think. Condensation is produced by the combustion process and it can't be stopped, only removed. There are two ways to remove the harmful condensate out of your oil:1 is to change the oil. 2 is to get your oil temperature hot enough, long enough to dehydrate the oil. Oil just begins to give up its condensation in a healthy engine at 160 F. So riding 10-15 miles won't get your oil hot enough unless the air temp is 65 or better. Condensation is the reason short trips are so hard on engines.

Phu Cat

 

[eagle1]

the oil system has a bypass valve. when the air temp is below 60* the oil is bypassed around the oil cooler.(not thru it) but not 100% of the oil is bypassed only 95%. until the temps gets to 220* then the oil is routed thru the oil cooler.
normal operateing temp is 108-220* it runs HOT.

 

[msocko3]

the oil system has a bypass valve. when the air temp is below 60* the oil is bypassed around the oil cooler.(not thru it) but not 100% of the oil is bypassed only 95%. until the temps gets to 220* then the oil is routed thru the oil cooler.
normal operateing temp is 108-220* it runs HOT.

The thermostat for the oil cooler opens at 180 degrees.

 

[j79phan]

Thanks for the tips and info.
Rode a little over 300 miles today. Temps were in the 42-50 degree range. Between it being a little warmer out and me riding a little faster/harder, low oil temp wasn't a concern. Oil temp was around 190 or so most of the time, but soon as I got in town with the traffic and stop lights it was up to 230 in no time.
I went from thinking the oil always goes thru the cooler, to maybe it's never going thru it, lol.

On another subject. For a bike that cost this much money... That's about the poorest excuse for a seat I have ever sat on.
To keep from sounding too negative, I'll add. It is a pretty seat.

 

[Nextbite]

I have a new HD TG, and would lot rather see my oil temp, rather than the ambient temp outside. I can feel if its cold or not. Can anyone give me some details of how to convert that gage to read oil temp, and if I can, what else to I have to add/buy to complete the process.....Thanks,,,,,

 

[Sloufoot]

I have a new HD TG, and would lot rather see my oil temp, rather than the ambient temp outside. I can feel if its cold or not. Can anyone give me some details of how to convert that gage to read oil temp, and if I can, what else to I have to add/buy to complete the process.....Thanks,,,,,

I don't think MoCo wants you to see the oil temp. They say 300*+ is normal for the 103ci engine.
More Bovine deification IMHO !!
Harley has a kit to change that over. You need to change the gauge & wire it to a sending unit in the oil pan. Easy install, but not cheap.
:Trike1:

 

[j79phan]

I have a new HD TG, and would lot rather see my oil temp, rather than the ambient temp outside. I can feel if its cold or not. Can anyone give me some details of how to convert that gage to read oil temp, and if I can, what else to I have to add/buy to complete the process.....Thanks,,,,,

Like Sloufoot said, it's not cheap. List is $140 for the gauge and included kit. If you have it dealer installed, figure 1 hour, maybe 1.5 hours at the very most labor.
If you have the 2013 P&A cat. It's on page 632. Part# 70900283

 

[screwball]

DON'T DO IT!!!!

You will spend the next year riding down the street with one eye on the road, the other on the Oil Temp Gage. Every night you will be on the boards questioning you oil temp. You will get advice from tons of mechanical experts to add 4 more oil coolers, fans, shrouds, different oil, only ride in the winter. Harley has been building air cooled motorcycles for over a hundred years. I've owned 8. I ride in Southern California where the ambient temperature in the summer is over 100* Wife and I ride in the deserts of Arizona where it is hotter. If you get stuck in traffic, your oil temp WILL go up, so will your engine's head temps, it is AIR cooled. My trike has 35,000 miles on her, the E-Glide before her had almost 100,000. Never had a problem with any engine caused by oil.

Ride it, Enjoy it.


yes, I did put Oil Temp gages on both trikes. Ignored the advice not to.:laugh:

 

[lboos]

Screwball has it rightThumbUp, cant's you just ride it and enjoy:gah:.
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