Recently purchased a 2018 Softail Slim from the local dealership in Cookeville, Tn. Boswell's Country Roads Harley Davidson.
After my first 1000 miles Dealer service I checked the oil with the engine hot on the Jiffy Stand as the manual (and the dipstick) instructs with the top mark indicating full. There was barely the tip of the dipstick registering oil. So I returned to the dealer and questioned them about it. I was asked if I checked the oil with the bike vertical because they service bikes on a bike lift. I did this and the oil checked fine. They said the put the exact amount of oil in the bike that the manual instructed (the manual they had to remove the shrinkwrap from). My question is (if it's not already obvious) which method do I use? Check oil with the bike vertical or on the jiffy stand? It seems to me that if you follow the manual instructions to check on the jiffy stand then not enough oil was used. Also, because I check the oil on the jiffy stand, I added 3/4 of a quart of oil to be able to check it in this manner. Seems to me that the dealer filled the bike vertically until the oil hit the mark (which would have been cold). Just not sure what's going on here. Please help

 

Oil is checked with the bike on the jiffy stand per the manual. If cold, oil should be half way between the marks on the dipstick. If hot, after sitting for a couple minutes, oil at the top mark. That dealer needs to get off their high horse and get educated.

Please don't take this as me trying to be a smart a$$ but your owners manual has a wealth of information.

-jeff

 

Oil checks on the new Softails are going to be interesting due to the new dry sump system. The old dry sump was less mysterious because you could just look in the oil tank. I have read my owner's manual and understand and follow the instructions on checking the oil. I do find that the hot check does not repeat from one ride to the next. The cold check seams more stable to me and I just look for oil on the stick but not exceeding half way between the hash marks. Low on the stick is still four plus quarts. No worries for me. Too much oil will increase the crankcase pressure and send oil to the breather.

 

 

Isnt there something on the dipstick that says oil hot jiffy stand and oil hot upright?

 

Yes there is!

 

Dealers usually put the bike upright on a work stand when servicing. Makes it easier to get to. They may check the oil after a test ride before delivery

 

Yep, as stated in my original post. The after test ride check, i think, was skipped.