I changed the oil in my 1991 FXRS yesterday. I started it up and let it idle for about 10-15 minutes before shutting it down and draining the oil. When I drained the oil, it was still cold. Is this normal?

 

It would be normal. It takes quite a few miles of riding to warm the oil up sufficently to get it hot.

 

Reckless is correct. The bike has a dry sump.

 

It's a good idea to circulate the oil but it doesn't need to be hot for changing, for me personally. Most of the oil is in the tank and filter anyway.

MikeyB

 

Best to get it hot so the contaminents in the oil are in suspension and not settled to the bottom of the tank. Best time to change oil is after a ride when it will remove more contaminents. The dry sump system is shared by most all harleys and not the reason why the oil was cold here. The FXR series has a tank higher than the engine sump similar to the softails and should still be run to get the oil hot before changing for maximum results/benefits.

 

It will take about 30 to 40 minutes of driving to bring the oil up to operating temp.

 

First the exhaust get hot, then the heads, then the cylinders, then the case and somehwhere thereabouts or later, the oil gets hot.

I agree with riding for at least thirty minutes to get the oil hot. I also agree with changing the oil while it is hot so that more of the schmutz drains reaidly rather than clinging to the inside walls and bottom of the oil bag.

 

Letting your bike sit and idle for 10-15 minutes is not a good idea for an air cooled engine. Like the others said its better to take a 30 minute ride,then dump the oil immediately upon your return. Now you know what to do next time...............BG

 

I agree, ride it, it's more fun too.
If mine idled for any more then 5 mins my pipe would be Red Hot.

 

those things dont pump a lot of oil while idleing
I would never just start my bike up and idle it especially that long.