No oil on dipstick
#1
07-31-2018, 08:07 PM
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Independence Missouri
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No oil on dipstick
Bought my First Harley and shes a beauty...but....they said they serviced it before i picked it up..2011 Limited with the 103..rode it on a very Hot day..about 98 degrees..took wife out for dinner (happy anniversary) 42k miles on bike..anyhow 30 minute ride..starting to get very Hot..knocks and almost stalls..park it on the stand pull dipstick and NO oil on the stick..WTH im thinking..now im arguing with dealer..he told me he spoke with 15 techs.and they all said it wouldnt hurt the engine..cause there was oil in it right..oil consumption test done .5 qt in 1k miles..im worried about premature bearing failure..any thoughts..and yeah..my bad..i should of checked the oil when it was brought out from service/detail for delivery...
Last edited by Robert Rodriguez; 07-31-2018 at 08:36 PM. Reason: Add
#3
07-31-2018, 09:04 PM
First, congrats on the new bike.
You'd be surprised how long a motor can run without damage on relatively little oil. It may not have hurt the bike but since you just got it you want to make sure.
I wouldn't trust any dealer that told me he consulted with 15 techs. Why, wasn't he satisfied with the answers from the first 5?
How hot did it get, and where did the knocking come from and is it still doing it? Who determined it used that much oil?
How many miles did you put on the bike before this all started?
Sorry about all the questions (and I still have more), but there's always 2 sides to a story and yours begs for some clarification.
You'd be surprised how long a motor can run without damage on relatively little oil. It may not have hurt the bike but since you just got it you want to make sure.
I wouldn't trust any dealer that told me he consulted with 15 techs. Why, wasn't he satisfied with the answers from the first 5?
How hot did it get, and where did the knocking come from and is it still doing it? Who determined it used that much oil?
How many miles did you put on the bike before this all started?
Sorry about all the questions (and I still have more), but there's always 2 sides to a story and yours begs for some clarification.
#4
07-31-2018, 09:15 PM
The knock you heard could have been detonation, not necessarily a mechanical knock. Hot engines detonate more easily than a cool one, but honestly, 98 degrees isn't really hot enough to cause you problems if everything is right. I rode my Fat Boy to Lubbock the other day at a little over 105 degrees and it never missed a lick. That said, oil is part of the cooling system for the engine in addition to lubrication. Low on oil could very well have the engine running hotter. Either way, no oil on the stick is not good in my book. You say it ha had a oil consumption test. Was that before or after this happened? Just curious, because if the bike has been running without issue it might indeed be fine, but there isn't a guarantee. If it has a few miles on it since this happened, pull the oil filter and cut it open. I like to cut a section of the filter media out and squeeze it in a vise to get the oil out. When you pull it open you can see everything that is in the filter. If it has anything in it I would be going after the dealer for a refund or repairs. Preferably the repairs would not be done in the same shop that can't put oil in it.
Was this a Harley dealer, or an independent? I am always suspicious when someone says something like "I spoke to 15 techs and they all said no issue". I am not a Harley mechanic by trade, but I have been working on industrial engines for 30 years and I would bet I couldn't 15 of the guys I know to all to say that an engine with no oil showing on the stick that had reported noise was "nothing to worry about" just like that. Every one of the guys I know would be asking questions like how much oil was in it when the tank was drained? Did you cut the oil filter open and look for metal? Does a bore scope show any scoring on the cylinder walls? It's basic stuff and I would call BS on the dealer for saying that. Tell him to give you the names of the 15 techs so you can talk to them and see how much pucker he has. Tell the dealer that since his service guys didn't fill it with oil, and all his guys are confident that it is not issue, then he wouldn't have any trouble giving you your full purchase price back for it.
Sucks that this happened to you, but you are right about always checking your oil. Never trust anyone unless you know them well.
Was this a Harley dealer, or an independent? I am always suspicious when someone says something like "I spoke to 15 techs and they all said no issue". I am not a Harley mechanic by trade, but I have been working on industrial engines for 30 years and I would bet I couldn't 15 of the guys I know to all to say that an engine with no oil showing on the stick that had reported noise was "nothing to worry about" just like that. Every one of the guys I know would be asking questions like how much oil was in it when the tank was drained? Did you cut the oil filter open and look for metal? Does a bore scope show any scoring on the cylinder walls? It's basic stuff and I would call BS on the dealer for saying that. Tell him to give you the names of the 15 techs so you can talk to them and see how much pucker he has. Tell the dealer that since his service guys didn't fill it with oil, and all his guys are confident that it is not issue, then he wouldn't have any trouble giving you your full purchase price back for it.
Sucks that this happened to you, but you are right about always checking your oil. Never trust anyone unless you know them well.
Last edited by Gas Smasher; 07-31-2018 at 09:18 PM.
#5
07-31-2018, 09:24 PM
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Independence Missouri
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First, congrats on the new bike.
You'd be surprised how long a motor can run without damage on relatively little oil. It may not have hurt the bike but since you just got it you want to make sure.
I wouldn't trust any dealer that told me he consulted with 15 techs. Why, wasn't he satisfied with the answers from the first 5?
How hot did it get, and where did the knocking come from and is it still doing it? Who determined it used that much oil?
How many miles did you put on the bike before this all started?
Sorry about all the questions (and I still have more), but there's always 2 sides to a story and yours begs for some clarification.
You'd be surprised how long a motor can run without damage on relatively little oil. It may not have hurt the bike but since you just got it you want to make sure.
I wouldn't trust any dealer that told me he consulted with 15 techs. Why, wasn't he satisfied with the answers from the first 5?
How hot did it get, and where did the knocking come from and is it still doing it? Who determined it used that much oil?
How many miles did you put on the bike before this all started?
Sorry about all the questions (and I still have more), but there's always 2 sides to a story and yours begs for some clarification.
The knock you heard could have been detonation, not necessarily a mechanical knock. Hot engines detonate more easily than a cool one, but honestly, 98 degrees isn't really hot enough to cause you problems if everything is right. I rode my Fat Boy to Lubbock the other day at a little over 105 degrees and it never missed a lick. That said, oil is part of the cooling system for the engine in addition to lubrication. Low on oil could very well have the engine running hotter. Either way, no oil on the stick is not good in my book. You say it ha had a oil consumption test. Was that before or after this happened? Just curious, because if the bike has been running without issue it might indeed be fine, but there isn't a guarantee. If it has a few miles on it since this happened, pull the oil filter and cut it open. I like to cut a section of the filter media out and squeeze it in a vise to get the oil out. When you pull it open you can see everything that is in the filter. If it has anything in it I would be going after the dealer for a refund or repairs. Preferably the repairs would not be done in the same shop that can't put oil in it.
Was this a Harley dealer, or an independent? I am always suspicious when someone says something like "I spoke to 15 techs and they all said no issue". I am not a Harley mechanic by trade, but I have been working on industrial engines for 30 years and I would bet I couldn't 15 of the guys I know to all to say that an engine with no oil showing on the stick that had reported noise was "nothing to worry about" just like that. Every one of the guys I know would be asking questions like how much oil was in it when the tank was drained? Did you cut the oil filter open and look for metal? Does a bore scope show any scoring on the cylinder walls? It's basic stuff and I would call BS on the dealer for saying that. Tell him to give you the names of the 15 techs so you can talk to them and see how much pucker he has. Tell the dealer that since his service guys didn't fill it with oil, and all his guys are confident that it is not issue, then he wouldn't have any trouble giving you your full purchase price back for it.
Sucks that this happened to you, but you are right about always checking your oil. Never trust anyone unless you know them well.
Was this a Harley dealer, or an independent? I am always suspicious when someone says something like "I spoke to 15 techs and they all said no issue". I am not a Harley mechanic by trade, but I have been working on industrial engines for 30 years and I would bet I couldn't 15 of the guys I know to all to say that an engine with no oil showing on the stick that had reported noise was "nothing to worry about" just like that. Every one of the guys I know would be asking questions like how much oil was in it when the tank was drained? Did you cut the oil filter open and look for metal? Does a bore scope show any scoring on the cylinder walls? It's basic stuff and I would call BS on the dealer for saying that. Tell him to give you the names of the 15 techs so you can talk to them and see how much pucker he has. Tell the dealer that since his service guys didn't fill it with oil, and all his guys are confident that it is not issue, then he wouldn't have any trouble giving you your full purchase price back for it.
Sucks that this happened to you, but you are right about always checking your oil. Never trust anyone unless you know them well.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; 08-08-2018 at 08:00 PM. Reason: Multiple posts
#6
07-31-2018, 09:34 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
FIRST POST.
Welcome to the Forum
I don't know if I've been to a dealership that had 15 techs.
If the OP reads this - Do an oil change - inspect the oil for color and metal particles - as stated cut open the filter and do the same.
If you don't see significant particles, check oil level after the change and then start it up and let it warm up. If you don't hear any abnormal noise, take it for a ride. Listen to it as you ride and after you get back, for noise.
Let it cool and check the oil level to see if it has changed
Welcome to the Forum
I don't know if I've been to a dealership that had 15 techs.
If the OP reads this - Do an oil change - inspect the oil for color and metal particles - as stated cut open the filter and do the same.
If you don't see significant particles, check oil level after the change and then start it up and let it warm up. If you don't hear any abnormal noise, take it for a ride. Listen to it as you ride and after you get back, for noise.
Let it cool and check the oil level to see if it has changed
#7
07-31-2018, 09:43 PM
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#8
07-31-2018, 10:03 PM
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#9
07-31-2018, 10:41 PM
42k miles on bike..anyhow 30 minute ride..starting to get very Hot..knocks and almost stalls..park it on the stand pull dipstick and NO oil on the stick.
arguing with dealer..he told me he spoke with 15 techs.
consumption test done .5 qt in 1k miles.
Yeah,, no kidding.
#10
07-31-2018, 10:45 PM
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