Question Normal Ideal Operating Oil Temperatures

If your sensor is at the drain of the oil tank, that is going to be very close to the same as a dipstick oil temp gauge.

If your sensor is at the drain plug found on the bottom of the engine, that temperature is going to be quite a bit hotter than at the tank. That is right below where the oil is being squirted onto the bottom of the pistons, which is where a huge amount of the heat comes from that is being absorbed by the oil.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin, your response and info is much appreciated.

Ron
 
Welded up getting closer to final install...

Well today I got the Mig welder out and attached the mounts to the adapter plate. bolted up the cooler and loosely installed the oil line fittings. I hope all goes well with the final fit. The last outing the oil only went to 215 degrees and I know it gets warmer than that. The air temp was only 60 degrees ET was 225 degrees not warm enough to get good baseline for comparison. I still need to get new oil lines next week.:DDSC01607.JPG Ride safe Fred

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Well today I got the Mig welder out and attached the mounts to the adapter plate. bolted up the cooler and loosely installed the oil line fittings. I hope all goes well with the final fit. The last outing the oil only went to 215 degrees and I know it gets warmer than that. The air temp was only 60 degrees ET was 225 degrees not warm enough to get good baseline for comparison. I still need to get new oil lines next week.:DView attachment 85354 Ride safe Fred

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This is really looking good! Very nice work.

Kevin
 
Update on oil cooler project

DSC01498.JPGToday was the best day we have had to ride that we could go. So here goes lowers were closed ET's were 230's so when I got home I put a thermometer in the oil and it went to 225 degrees. That being said air temps we around mid sixty's not warm enough to switch to the larger oil cooler in my estimation but soon I will make the swap. Patients is not my best gig you know. And by the way after swapping rear shocks to 13" Pro Actions and a comfort lift and rebuilding the front forks with the latest and best to date springs and valves it's like I pulled the gas cap off and run a new machine under it, and tightened it back down. Wow what a difference great suspension makes. I'm telling you Pro Action is the real deal. Ride safe Fred
 
Update on oil cooler temps.

With air temperatures in the 60's eng. 230 degrees and oil temperatures 225. Now air temperatures in 70's low 70's eng. Temp 230-240 oil temps still 225. I'm waiting for a day of 80's then do the swap. I seriously don't think a warmer day is going to change oil temperatures cause old Shi ey runs at 230-240 all the time just sayin... Ride safe Fred
 
Whats the update Fred ???Been over a week
Well we have had such great weather I've been busy burning Gas through the old Trike. They say rain tomorrow and Friday and I'm off of course many say that is a everyday thing LOL... As soon as I get the cooler on and tested I will post the numbers. I think I will see a modest reduction in oil temperatures more than 15 degrees and I will be very happy. We shall see soon very soon. Thank you for asking. Did you get your Tropical Hussy back from the refit yet? ride safe Fred
 
Well we have had such great weather I've been busy burning Gas through the old Trike. They say rain tomorrow and Friday and I'm off of course many say that is a everyday thing LOL... As soon as I get the cooler on and tested I will post the numbers. I think I will see a modest reduction in oil temperatures more than 15 degrees and I will be very happy. We shall see soon very soon. Thank you for asking. Did you get your Tropical Hussy back from the refit yet? ride safe Fred

In the morning we run over to In & get it.
 
Sunshine again may not get swapped to day either. LOL I wrench in the rain not in the Sun.. enjoy the new trike Bill now that it is fixed. Ride safe Fred
 
Well we have had such great weather I've been busy burning Gas through the old Trike. They say rain tomorrow and Friday and I'm off of course many say that is a everyday thing LOL... As soon as I get the cooler on and tested I will post the numbers. I think I will see a modest reduction in oil temperatures more than 15 degrees and I will be very happy. We shall see soon very soon. Thank you for asking. Did you get your Tropical Hussy back from the refit yet? ride safe Fred

I like that. I will be sure to use it frequently on our trip. ;)
 
Just home from Ind. All new frt & rear ProAction susp. 200% better than stock on the same old rough road we always ride. No need to tinker with settings. George at ProAction has it RIGHT again. The Tropical Hussy will have company. Now we will have another Hussy to ride with, on our trip to Wash, :)DLola:D)
 
Just home from Ind. All new frt & rear ProAction susp. 200% better than stock on the same old rough road we always ride. No need to tinker with settings. George at ProAction has it RIGHT again. The Tropical Hussy will have company. Now we will have another Hussy to ride with, on our trip to Wash, :)DLola:D)
We both knew it would be a great improvement congratulations that is what harley should have in the beginning enjoy your trip. Fred Oh by the way Sunshine no wrenching LOL.
 
Just home from Ind. All new frt & rear ProAction susp. 200% better than stock on the same old rough road we always ride. No need to tinker with settings. George at ProAction has it RIGHT again. The Tropical Hussy will have company. Now we will have another Hussy to ride with, on our trip to Wash, :)DLola:D)
Amazing how much better they handle easier to ride and so well mannered. :good:
 
So glad they had to remove the body to remove stock shocks. I had been hearing a "squawking" sound ever since 1st day we got the bike,whenever we went over a pot hole. Told dealer about and when they removed the body, immediately saw the "Pan Hard" rod was loose. That could have been nasty if it fell off. Sending rain your way Fred, so you will finish the project. As Paul Harvey always said. "Inquiring Minds ,want to know." Still no IR gun here yet.
 
Off with the old on with the new!

Well today could not take it any longer did the swap on the oil coolers. Air temp was 78 degrees Engine temp was 235 and get this the oil temp. was 198. Now remember at 230 before with OEM cooler oil was 225. So that says I have a reduction of 27 degrees in oil temperature. I think that is outstanding. This was on the first run without using the fans it just wasn't hot enough to do that. A good start for testing but not near done monitoring oil temps but it looks promising. Doesn't seem to have ny clearance issues with fender went across the roughest road we travel no scrapes or marks on Cooler or fender skirt. :good:Glad it's on Fred

View attachment 88946

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Well today could not take it any longer did the swap on the oil coolers. Air temp was 78 degrees Engine temp was 235 and get this the oil temp. was 198. Now remember at 230 before with OEM cooler oil was 225. So that says I have a reduction of 27 degrees in oil temperature. I think that is outstanding. This was on the first run without using the fans it just wasn't hot enough to do that. A good start for testing but not near done monitoring oil temps but it looks promising. Doesn't seem to have ny clearance issues with fender went across the roughest road we travel no scrapes or marks on Cooler or fender skirt. :good:Glad it's on Fred

View attachment 88946

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Don't know why pic. don't open try again

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You do very nice work. Also looking forward to the results when you are finished.

I do have one question, well maybe a few. Have you changed the oil filter mounting plate? From the photos it looks OEM.

Was wondering if you had or if it was the OEM mount if you had changed the thermostat in the filter mount?

The OEM thermostat is not supposed to be a replaceable part. But I replaced the one on my wifes 2011 Tri-Glide as well as my 2008 FLHTP.

Anyway was just curious if you had changed the filter mount or thermostat in the OEM or just removed it.

Thanks
 
Review the entire thread

You do very nice work. Also looking forward to the results when you are finished.

I do have one question, well maybe a few. Have you changed the oil filter mounting plate? From the photos it looks OEM.

Was wondering if you had or if it was the OEM mount if you had changed the thermostat in the filter mount?

The OEM thermostat is not supposed to be a replaceable part. But I replaced the one on my wifes 2011 Tri-Glide as well as my 2008 FLHTP.

Anyway was just curious if you had changed the filter mount or thermostat in the OEM or just removed it.

Thanks
First of all I changed nothing on the trike, I made sure if this experiment didn't pan out I could reinstall the OEM with no problem. the mount is flat plate 1/8" thickness with an 11 degree bend. oil cooler came from Amazon. I neither cut or chopped anything the OEM oil cooler and complete formed oil line are intact on the work bench. All the oil filter and fittings and thermostat are still there why mess with thermostat? those things are OEM. I did not add the fan cooled yet I have a fan for it and there is room on the final side if it becomes necessary we shall see. Thank you for asking Fred
 
Update on oil cooler project

Saturday air temp 80's 70+miles, Engine temperatures ran 225 +/- with the fans turned on. Oil temp 200 on a heat saturated motor was checked with in a minute of shut down. The last 4 miles was slow 3 and 4 gear after dark on a secondary road close to home, so that could have also added a few degrees as well. I seems like the larger oil cooler is going to be a keeper, the engine Temperatures are down as well as the oil temperatures. No clearance issues with fender overall really happy with the results. I am going to paint the big silver thing a thin coat of gloss black. Silver is not going to cut it. Still not done logging the temperatures. :good: Fred

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