When my 2016 Softail Slim S's warranty ran out, I decided to start doing my own oil changes.


Did my first one by myself last night, when the bike hit 15,000. The dealer did the other oil changes at 5,000 and 10,000.


I decided to try to measure how much oil came out of the engine (not including the amount I lost when I changed the oil filter). Seems to me I got about 1 3/4 quart coming out of the drain hole. I assumed that the rest of the oil was in the filter and the amount spilled (and it did seem like A LOT!) when I took off the filter.


I refilled with 3 quarts anyway, as per the manual, and now it seems that the oil dipstick reads over the max fill mark by about 3/16".


How do most of you refill the oil after an oil change so as to not overfill? Any disadvantage to overfilling? Damage?


Thanks!
R,
Sanjuro

 

Did you start it up before or after you looked at the dipstick? I know mine measures more after it's been running, than when it does when it's cold.

 

After draining the old oil and replacing the old filter I add 2.5 quarts and let it sit for few minutes while I clean the inevitable mess I have managed to make. Then I turn it over for a couple of seconds to give the oil a chance to begin circulating. Shut it down and check the dipstick which obviously will read low. Add additional oil incrementally in small, a couple of ounces at a time, batches and start it up again.

After a couple of cycles of this, the dipstick will read where it should. Now I fire it up and let it run for a couple of minutes and recheck adding as needed. If you do get too much oil in the crankcase, trans or primary use a cheap {Harbor Freight} utility pump to draw out the excess. works for me.

 

. You need to warm the bike up and then drain. I didn't do it once...what a mess that was.

 

3 quarts is probably too much. fill with 2 quarts the add as needed. all the oil does not leave the bike when you drain.

 

Pretty much what capt Steve said. Ill add enough to definitely circulate and fill the filter but strategically keep it a bit low. Run it a minute or two then add as needed. Can't see how running it a minute will hurt anything, the motor is getting the oil it needs. The oil is one of the ways the bike pulls heat away from the motor. All that excess oil sitting in the tank acts as a bit of a heat exchange. There's probably only a need inside the motor and filter for less than half of what the bike holds but if the oil was to just stay in the motor and not circulate out and cool it would cook itself pretty quickly.

 

Great thought. Yes, I did run the engine (as per the manual states) for about 2 min to get everything warm and circulating. Also checked it on the side stand.


I like the advice about putting in 2 quarts first, then little bit at a time later. I'll do that next time.


Thank you too for the advice about using a utility pump to draw out extra oil - I'll definitely need to get one!


R,
Sanjuro

 

Get your wifes turkey baster to pull the excess oil out.

rk classic.

 

Turkey basters are cheap, divorces are not.

Buy your own baster.

 

These bikes are dry sump systems..meaning they don't store oil in the engine like most cars do. That being said when you drain the oil you will never get out all of the oil in the entire system...I drain mine..change the filter and put in 2.5 quarts every time. It is better to run these a little low then right at the full line or over full...

It's not like a car where if you ran the oil low the pickup could pickup any oil...these bikes use gravity to help with this