I have a 2004 electra glide classic, when I first start it up I have no oil pressure on the guage and the idiot light is on. When I give it a little throttle the light goes out and the guage goes up to 10. After about 20 seconds the guage shoots up to 50 and the light goes out. It is then fine for the rest of the day no matter how many times I turn it off. I rode it till it was warm, let it sit for a bit and checked the level. It was between add and full. This morning when I checked the level it was at full. Seems like I gained oil over night. Does that seem like I am draining oil out of the filter?? Not sure how I could gain oil over night??

 

My guess is your oil pump rotors are beginning to wear a little. If it builds sufficient pressure, I would not sweat it too much. If you want, it is a pretty easy job to change the oil pump parts or even put in a high capacity oil pump.

 

any changes recently to your bike especially oil cooler related?

 

I have made no changes, I checked the filter and oil is cycling through there. It is just like it doesn't want to pick up the oil at first and then it starts and all is good. I am leaving on a trip this Sunday as my wife to be wants a bike trip honeymoon. I am not sure where to go from here.

 

I would say its the drainback valve in your oil filter.

The drainback valve keeps the filter full when the bike is switched off. If the drainback has just a little leak the filter will empty over night and it takes about 20 seconds to fill it. This will happen on the first start of the day.

Throw a new oil filter in it, I bet ya that fixes it.

 

I was having the issue so I changed the oil and the filter and the problem continued. I am leaning towards it being the pressure spring on the cam support plate. I have moved this post to the engine section for any new readers. I think it is a better section for this issue. Thanks to all who responded I really appreciate it.

 

Suggestion: Why not change the oil pressure sending unit. Its 7 yrs old, an electrical part and they do go bad. If that doesnt correct the issue, at least you know what isnt the problem.

My Fathers advice still rings true... replace the cheapest part first.