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Do you check oil level hot or cold?

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  #11  
Old 08-30-2013 | 11:35 AM
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soft 02
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For best results check it while your going down the road.
 
  #12  
Old 08-30-2013 | 12:46 PM
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Being a newer Harley owner (2009 FXSTC), I read in the owners manual to check the oil level hot which I had been doing. However, when I check it cold it reads exactly the same level as it does hot.....so I have no idea why the recomendation to check it hot. Checking it when hot does make it a bit more difficult since you're dealing with a hot dipstick as hot oil as well. On my bike you can basically just look in the oil tank through the dipstick opening and see where the oil level is without even really looking at the dipstick.
 
  #13  
Old 08-30-2013 | 12:55 PM
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Campy Roadie
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I check my oil level Cold.

Because starting and running an engine that I haven't verified has a sufficient oil supply seems counter productive to checking the oil in the first place.
 
  #14  
Old 08-30-2013 | 12:55 PM
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Mine has a hot and cold line both for jiffy stand.
 
  #15  
Old 08-30-2013 | 12:58 PM
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Ron750
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Originally Posted by ynots
After a ride I let it idle for 1-2 min (per manual) before shutting it down then check it. On a cold check I wouldn't add any oil unless its below the mid range point on the stick. 96B motors with the external oil tank may be different?

What do you mean by "it went up to 32"

My oil pressure gauge has a 32 in the middle, so I am just saying waited until pressure got up to WNL. I know the service/owner manual says to check it hot, I was just wondering why.
 
  #16  
Old 08-30-2013 | 01:08 PM
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soft 02
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Originally Posted by Ron750
My oil pressure gauge has a 32 in the middle, so I am just saying waited until pressure got up to WNL. I know the service/owner manual says to check it hot, I was just wondering why.
If it sumping the oil level will drop into the crankcase when it is cold.
 
  #17  
Old 08-30-2013 | 02:29 PM
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heybaylor
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Originally Posted by soft 02
If it sumping the oil level will drop into the crankcase when it is cold.
bingo !!!!
we have a winner
 
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