Oil Change Q
#12
Stuff a piece of air cleaner quality foam rubber in the gap along the bottom edge of the A/C cover (between the filter and the cover, 3/8" by 1" by 4") and it will catch the blow by before it slobbers all over the bike, then wash it out once in a while.
#13
Using the foam to catch the blowby, I just wipe up the mess after a ride and I do keep my oil level approx. 1/4 from full on the dip stick.
#15
Here's what I did to eliminate any excess oil in the air cleaner (see pics). Not a Sportster, but same principle anyway. I never had enough oil to actually leak out of the air cleaner, but whenever I took the air cleaner element off I could see a little oil puddled in the bottom. I did this breather tube mod to the backing plate of my SE air cleaner and my air cleaner element is dry as a bone since.
#16
Here's what I did to eliminate any excess oil in the air cleaner (see pics). Not a Sportster, but same principle anyway. I never had enough oil to actually leak out of the air cleaner, but whenever I took the air cleaner element off I could see a little oil puddled in the bottom. I did this breather tube mod to the backing plate of my SE air cleaner and my air cleaner element is dry as a bone since.
#17
#18
another forum member posted this awhile back
H-D has finally figured out that the 2004+ XL oil capacity is not 3.6 qts as listed in the service and owner's manuals, but is actually 2.8 qts. They issued a tech tip (#312) for the dealers on 6/15/07. (thank you to the dealer who faxed this to me.)
Quote:
2004-2007 Sportster Oil Capacity
Service literature for 2004-2007 XL models incorrectly lists oil capacity as 3.6 quarts (3.4 liters).
The correct amount listed should be 2.8 quarts (2.65 liters).
Oil capacities listed are approximately the amount required to bring the fluid level near the full mark on the dipstick. Refer to the applicable service manual for the complete oil change procedure.
Service Note:
Be aware that the dipstick has a Full mark to indicate the highest level of oil that should be installed in a hot engine and an Add mark to indicate the lowest level of oil in a cold engine. The engine is designed to operate correctly with the oil level in the range between these two marks. While it is most important to not overfill the system, it is acceptable to operate the motorcycle with the oil level anywhere in the range between the Full and Add marks
H-D has finally figured out that the 2004+ XL oil capacity is not 3.6 qts as listed in the service and owner's manuals, but is actually 2.8 qts. They issued a tech tip (#312) for the dealers on 6/15/07. (thank you to the dealer who faxed this to me.)
Quote:
2004-2007 Sportster Oil Capacity
Service literature for 2004-2007 XL models incorrectly lists oil capacity as 3.6 quarts (3.4 liters).
The correct amount listed should be 2.8 quarts (2.65 liters).
Oil capacities listed are approximately the amount required to bring the fluid level near the full mark on the dipstick. Refer to the applicable service manual for the complete oil change procedure.
Service Note:
Be aware that the dipstick has a Full mark to indicate the highest level of oil that should be installed in a hot engine and an Add mark to indicate the lowest level of oil in a cold engine. The engine is designed to operate correctly with the oil level in the range between these two marks. While it is most important to not overfill the system, it is acceptable to operate the motorcycle with the oil level anywhere in the range between the Full and Add marks
#20
Ok I searched to forum but came up empty/didn’t believe what I read.
How many quarts of oil does the 1200 take? The only thing I found with my search was 3 quarts – which I find hard to believe considering my v6 F150 takes 4.5. I am only changing the engine oil before winter and will do the trans/primary in the spring. Thanks guys.
How many quarts of oil does the 1200 take? The only thing I found with my search was 3 quarts – which I find hard to believe considering my v6 F150 takes 4.5. I am only changing the engine oil before winter and will do the trans/primary in the spring. Thanks guys.
To give you a comparison to your V6 F150, you can compare to the old air-cooled Porsche 911 engines (before they went to water-cooling). They used a horizontally opposed six cylinder engine of slightly over 3 liters. Those engines used over 10 quarts of oil. An exception to that rule is the old VW Beetles but that was one of Ferdinand Porsche's earliest flat four designs.
Last edited by FBFletch; 12-25-2011 at 06:50 AM.