I bought a bone stock 98 ultra, and it seems like it has low oil pressure, or lower than all my other bikes, fully hot, it has just under 10lbs, and going down the road, its 20, should I maybe consider upgrading the pump ? Btw, it has 30k on the clock .

 

We like to see 7-10 lbs for every thousand RPM as a rule of the thumb.

 

My '98 Ultra with around 70,000 miles....has never had much oil pressure. At idle and the motor is super hot....I never get over 5 according to the factory oil pressure gauge. Going down the road, I might get around 15. When the motor is cold and is cold outside...I've often seen the oil pressure gauge max out.

I've never worried much about it. If the oil pressure light comes on....then I might get concerned.

 

Harleys have mostly roller bearings and rely on oil flow, not pressure. Autos have mostly plain bearings, which need high pressure to get the oil round them.

 

Thats exactly where my '96 is at. In fact, if I get stuck long enough in dead stop traffic when its really hot out, I can have much lower pressure at idle than even that. But as soon as I start moving it shoots right back up to my normal numbers.

 

Mine too, its been that way since new and has 88,000 on it. 88' flhtc anniversary edition

 

You need to do your homework before you attempt to adjust oil pressure. You do not want it to high at idle since the piston oil jets which are like both lubrication and cooling for the piston are set to only work above 12lbs so as to not over lube the cylinders at low rpm. These roller bearing engines since they are so different should probably just have a light.

 

Worst thing I ever did was put an oil pressure gauge on my bike...you are better off not knowing..lol. When I crank my bike it is 35 psi @idle...on a 90+ degree day,once the motor gets up to operating temp, it pretty much sits on zero @ idle. I have it idled very low...but I have had the bike for 15 years with no problems.

 

Most pressure gauges are not accurate enough to use on a Harley....throw the thing away and make sure your oil light is working.

 

I'm pretty sure that Evos don't have "piston oil jets". That was a twin-cam innovation.