Why do we need an oil temperature indicator in our bikes?
#21
03-08-2010 | 07:18 PM
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
All I know is that the people who make engines (cage and bike), to get better mileage, are putting thinner and thinner oil and more of it in the cars, trucks and bikes. I live in Alaska and don't really have heat problems but I like knowing that everything is "normal". Makes me feel like I'm in control of something.
I look at the air temp to be on the lookout for icing conditions. Not unusual to get snowed on in July in a few places. In March April and toward September and October the temps get down in the 30's.
I do wonder if the guys with CVO's noticed anything in the oil temp area before they had problems.
I look at the air temp to be on the lookout for icing conditions. Not unusual to get snowed on in July in a few places. In March April and toward September and October the temps get down in the 30's.
I do wonder if the guys with CVO's noticed anything in the oil temp area before they had problems.
#23
03-08-2010 | 07:57 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 56
From: north of Daytona
It's pretty simple. It's an aircooled engine. The only coolant to the engine is the air over the fins and the oil circulating around the engine (and to a lesser extent the fuel being sprayed in the cylinder).
I can't think of a single watercooled auto engine that doesn't provide an engine temp gauge or at least an engine temp idiot light.
Think of an oil temp gauge on an air-cooled HD engine as serving the same purpose as a coolant temp gauge in a water cooled auto engine. Both can give you a heads-up to the need to shut down the engine before real harm is caused by overheating. All the more important in an air-cooled engine that can easily overheat on a hot summer day while caught in traffic.
The really sad part is that HD should be providing this type of temperature monitoring as standard on all their bikes instead of making it a profit generating accessory.
I can't think of a single watercooled auto engine that doesn't provide an engine temp gauge or at least an engine temp idiot light.
Think of an oil temp gauge on an air-cooled HD engine as serving the same purpose as a coolant temp gauge in a water cooled auto engine. Both can give you a heads-up to the need to shut down the engine before real harm is caused by overheating. All the more important in an air-cooled engine that can easily overheat on a hot summer day while caught in traffic.
The really sad part is that HD should be providing this type of temperature monitoring as standard on all their bikes instead of making it a profit generating accessory.
My lawn mower is aircooled also..as is my weed eater. I owned a 1970 VW dune buggy....yep, aircooled. Never worry about any of them (my dune buggy had the fan ducts capped off...)
You can't think of a car without a oil temp gage? You drive much?
Most cars that I have owned only had an idiot light that displayed when OIL PRESSURE was low....not temperature.
As I have mentioned before....next time you see a group of Harleys parked...just
walk up and see how many have oil coolers. I don't think they are needed, but what
ever floats your boat.
chuck the mensh (going to try and over heat my lawn mower)
#24
03-08-2010 | 08:03 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,595
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From: South Jersey
#25
03-08-2010 | 08:26 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 16
From: eastern oklahoma
there seems to be some controversy with the use of an oil temp gauge or the oil temp dipstick. i don't feel the need to be that paranoid. the engines are designed to be run at all the temperatures and conditions that we'll encounter on this planet. if i had one on my bike, it'd be very annoying to see the numbers, as i'd think it's running too hot. the air temp gauge in the glide fairing is useless, but that does not obligate me to install something else that would be annoying. if i wanted something that was truly annoying on my bike, i'd be shopping for a wife who is also a sumo wrestler who has a tendency to whine constantly.
#26
03-08-2010 | 08:57 PM
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 414
From: Ellensburg, WA
#27
03-08-2010 | 09:11 PM
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,757
Likes: 247
From: Green Country Oklahoma
I was going to put one on mine but a friend of mine been riding for 50 some years told me save your money fool if you think bike is hot just find a convenience store buy yourself a 6 pack that will cool you off and by then bike will be also cooled off too and it's lot cheaper and requires no modification.
#28
03-08-2010 | 09:17 PM
First off, Harley would love to sell you more bikes. They have no vested interest in making them last forever, so why put devices on there that could cost them even more?
Second, wrong about the oil breaking down. Oil doesn't wear out; it gets diluted or polluted, and otherwise remains oil unless it gets burned.
What breaks down is the additives that are designed to make your engine last longer. Ships and the like that have thousands of gallons do not ever change the oil; they purify it with centrifugal purifiers. Unless it gets fuel oil (diesel) dilution, where they send it off to be re-refined.
So by doing whatever keeps your oil in normal operating parameters, you keep it functioning as designed, and the engine benefits by lasting longer. At least that was the official position of the US military (I was a USCG engineman), and they tend to depend on their equipment a lot.
From what I read, syn oil is no different as far as additives go.
Second, wrong about the oil breaking down. Oil doesn't wear out; it gets diluted or polluted, and otherwise remains oil unless it gets burned.
What breaks down is the additives that are designed to make your engine last longer. Ships and the like that have thousands of gallons do not ever change the oil; they purify it with centrifugal purifiers. Unless it gets fuel oil (diesel) dilution, where they send it off to be re-refined.
So by doing whatever keeps your oil in normal operating parameters, you keep it functioning as designed, and the engine benefits by lasting longer. At least that was the official position of the US military (I was a USCG engineman), and they tend to depend on their equipment a lot.
From what I read, syn oil is no different as far as additives go.
#29
03-08-2010 | 09:27 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,190
Likes: 5
From: Eastern Washington
First off, Harley would love to sell you more bikes. They have no vested interest in making them last forever, so why put devices on there that could cost them even more?
Second, wrong about the oil breaking down. Oil doesn't wear out; it gets diluted or polluted, and otherwise remains oil unless it gets burned.
What breaks down is the additives that are designed to make your engine last longer. Ships and the like that have thousands of gallons do not ever change the oil; they purify it with centrifugal purifiers. Unless it gets fuel oil (diesel) dilution, where they send it off to be re-refined.
So by doing whatever keeps your oil in normal operating parameters, you keep it functioning as designed, and the engine benefits by lasting longer. At least that was the official position of the US military (I was a USCG engineman), and they tend to depend on their equipment a lot.
From what I read, syn oil is no different as far as additives go.
Second, wrong about the oil breaking down. Oil doesn't wear out; it gets diluted or polluted, and otherwise remains oil unless it gets burned.
What breaks down is the additives that are designed to make your engine last longer. Ships and the like that have thousands of gallons do not ever change the oil; they purify it with centrifugal purifiers. Unless it gets fuel oil (diesel) dilution, where they send it off to be re-refined.
So by doing whatever keeps your oil in normal operating parameters, you keep it functioning as designed, and the engine benefits by lasting longer. At least that was the official position of the US military (I was a USCG engineman), and they tend to depend on their equipment a lot.
From what I read, syn oil is no different as far as additives go.
#30
03-08-2010 | 09:31 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 8
From: Woodinville, WA
I haven't run a temp gauge since my 1992 Fatboy. I'm considering getting one for my Ultra. There's something to be said for knowing what the oil temperature is as specific riding styles can effect oil temperature (speed, standing idling, hard acceleration etc.) Running through the desert with road temperatures in excess of 110f is very different from riding in Washington State at 75f.