Correct .. had the same problem on three different builds . It’s common and it’s just the nature of the oiling system on all Harley’s . Mine stays halfway between the marks when cold . Sometimes after long interstate runs it’s up past the full mark due to whatever is standing in the crankcase.. As long as you have good hot flowing oil and at least that when cold , the bike is working normally.. Nature of Harley’s …

 

Its been 4 years 3 months and 14 days and im waiting for a response MJ. LOL

 

Interesting what HD did. On the Twin Cam's and Sportys the acceptable leak-down is 10% or less. On the M8's they went to a ridiculous 25%, and even then it is not necessarily out of spec...it just requires further diagnosis.

Here's a vid about oil levels-

 

I agree with following your OM procedures..but you refer to COLD oil check, whereas the OM states regarding the HOT oil level check to be:

"If oil level is at or below the ADD QT mark, add only enough oil to bring the level to the FULL HOT mark. Do not overfill."

the other thing is the HOT or COLD check should be after the engine was allowed to idle for a couple minutes because, as you know, if shut down immediately and checked either HOT or COLD later, the dipstick will have a lower reading than it should..which is a problem because people then may add oil when they wouldn't need to

 

Yes, but as we know, those two different instructions in the OM are in conflict with each other. When you do a cold check (after letting in run for a couple of minutes) it works well.

When you use the hot check, it almost never matches up with the rest of the instructions in the OM.

PLUS, most folks fail to read your highlighted instructions-

"If oil level is at or below the ADD QT mark, add only enough oil to bring the level to the FULL HOT mark. Do not overfill."

If it is not at or below the add qt mark, they add oil anyway...which is NOT what the instructions say to do.

The hot check is a waste of time in determining ideal oil fill.

 

Leakdown test should be one part of a diagnosis.

If an engine is not using oil, and is performing properly, a leakdown of 25 percent is ok, because obviously the engine is not leaking bad while it is running...

That`s the thing about compression testing and leakdown testing, they are static tests.

 

I wonder if there is any engine builder that would build an engine and find 25% leak down acceptable.

 

Continental aircraft engines...

 

I know of at least one..that also considers 1 quart of oil consumption every 1500 miles as acceptable

 

25% leak down is not acceptable in any performance engine! IMO anything above 5% begs investigatin. Ideal is 1-3%.
Bob