To oil cool or not..................

What is everyones opinion of add on oil coolers? I am not talking about the oil filter wrap types, but the full blown mini radiator types. Are they worth the investment? Are they beneficial to the life of the bike? Do the benefits outweigh the extra weight, hassle, and or expense??

Oil coolers are most beneficial to an air cooled engine, they usually cool five degrees for every line in the cooler so if you have five rows then you cool twentyfive degrees ect. you should invest in the bypass thermostaat so when the weather is cooler or when the bike is first started it can reach operating temp be for the cooler kicks in as if the temp was too low you won't get as good gas mileage ect. You can also get a cover you can put on manually but that is kind of a hassel and if you don't have a temp gauge how do you know when to put it on or take it off?

I was curious about your question so I was looking around the WEB.
Here is one answer.

"Too Hot Harley
I’m considering installing an oil cooler on my 2001 Ultra Classic. I’ve already installed the 1550cc big bore kit. Is the oil cooler necessary? Harmful? Any com-ments? If installed, I will run the new Harley synthetic oil. Will that make any difference?,

Synthetic oil is much more forgiving than petroleum-based lubricants when it comes to being able to withstand high heat with-out thermal breakdown. A stock engine does not need an oil cooler because it has been found over time that they almost never run above 180° F. In your case, however,depending on your local climate and run-ning conditions, it may well be a good idea to add the cooler. What we would do is run the machine on an open road for a while, and check the temperature of the heads. If they are under about 180°, do not bother, but if the temperature is significantly above 200°, the cooler will help a lot."

I was curious about your question so I was looking around the WEB.
Here is one answer.

"Too Hot Harley
I’m considering installing an oil cooler on my 2001 Ultra Classic. I’ve already installed the 1550cc big bore kit. Is the oil cooler necessary? Harmful? Any com-ments? If installed, I will run the new Harley synthetic oil. Will that make any difference?,

Synthetic oil is much more forgiving than petroleum-based lubricants when it comes to being able to withstand high heat with-out thermal breakdown. A stock engine does not need an oil cooler because it has been found over time that they almost never run above 180° F. In your case, however,depending on your local climate and run-ning conditions, it may well be a good idea to add the cooler. What we would do is run the machine on an open road for a while, and check the temperature of the heads. If they are under about 180°, do not bother, but if the temperature is significantly above 200°, the cooler will help a lot."


Most of these do not take into account the fact that a lot of us with Ultra's run lowers. The lowers have a tendency to up the temps by 15 to 20 degrees over and above bikes that are not running lowers. I asked at the dealership, and their reasoning was that a stock motored Ultra did not need a cooler, unless you had lowers installed. Then you have another dilema, do you run the lowers year round, or do you remove them during the hotter riding season. Then you have the possibility of damaging things form the install, uninstall process. I decided to go with the cooler and see how much difference it really makes. If it is a negligable amount, it will come off and be offered for sale on e-bay. I already got the temps down by using the Amsoil, but I believe that the 170 degrees that I am getting would be so much better at 150. Of course the engine itself is always 20 to 30 degrees higher than the oil temps. I appreciate everyones answers. Always good to get opinions form the masters.

I think there is a point that is too cool. As if the bike didn't warm up. That could cause ya to have to adjust all kinds of things I'd think if ya went too cool.

Ya know the old saying, that's one cold blooded motorcycle?

I asked at the dealership, and their reasoning was that a stock motored Ultra did not need a cooler, unless you had lowers installed. .
Don't all "stock" Ultra's have lowers? :think2:

My Electra came with an oil cooler that the previous owner had installed. Down underneath the tranny was also a thermostat that is supposed to route oil only to the cooler when it reaches a certain temp but I don't know what temp it was supposed to be. Now I do know that when a rider spends enough time in the saddle, he gets very tuned in to his machine and I've become very tuned into mine. But this is going by seat of the pants feel.

The other day, I was noticing that many of the oil lines on my bike were showing signs of weather checking and the bike likes to "mark its spot" like any good older HOG. I decided that I would replace all those old lines so I headed out to buy new lines. Naturally, I rode the bike.

When I got back, (the temps were in the mid 80s) I started dissassembling and I noticed that, after a good 30 minute ride, my oil cooler was cold. So I started feeling the lines and discovered that my thermostat was not opening up. So I called my Harley mech and he said to take the thermo out completely and when cold weather comes, get a cover that's made for the oil cooler and use that. I have that cover. I found it in the tour pack when I first bought the bike. So I did what he said.

Yesterday, I took a 180 mile roundtrip up the super slab to my folk's house and back. The oil cooler was definately toasty warm but the difference in the sound level and smoothness of the motor had to be experienced. The bike is MUCH happier.

I know this from driving air cooled VWs for so many years. All air cooled engines are just as much OIL cooled as they are AIR cooled. Do not overlook the benefits of using an oil cooler.

My experance with oil coolers it dose not let stock motors
get up to operating temp and is not needed. Evo takes up
to twenty miles of riding to hit operating temp.Had one on
our twin cam 02 springer. The of set for the filter continusly
leaked oil(prev owner install) I had to take it off on vacation last
summer because it blew a gasket leaked oil so bad had to put on trailer.Took it all of and give it a friend that has a dresser. dont like them dont need them my bikes aint
hot rods if they were then you mite need it.
Regular maint. oil ,filter,every 2500 primary every5000
no maint problems.so far

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:joint: :bottle: :stagger: :stoned: :wt:

Don't all "stock" Ultra's have lowers? :think2:

All stock Electra Glides. Sorry for the mistake. I see the point about "cold blooded bikes", but since my Ultra is Injected, the electronics should take care of the adjustments. The mechanics at the dealer, and at the custom shop, both agree that the bike would be better off with a cooler than without, better without a thermostatically controlled one, but disagreed on what temperature the cooler cover should be put on. They also both say that with the advent of multigrade oils, warming up, should not be an issue. Since I can't come up with an overwhelming concensus on RiderInfo.com, I believe that a toss of the quarter is going to call it,...............and the winner is, heads. Looks like I am going to try the cooler.

I'm assuming, like a chevy electroing ignition, temperature matters. While the temperature is below let's say 180*, the system runs in open loop. Fixed timing curve and a little rich.

So if that is the case, the electroincs may not kick in and a default ignition and fuel delievery used.

However, I dunno if this new fangled stuff compensates ot not. It's just seems logical that a computer would see a low temperature and do it's thing in a warm up cycle. If the bike is running like it's warming up, it could be a hinderence in my past experience.

I'm assuming, like a chevy electroing ignition, temperature matters. While the temperature is below let's say 180*, the system runs in open loop. Fixed timing curve and a little rich.

So if that is the case, the electroincs may not kick in and a default ignition and fuel delievery used.

However, I dunno if this new fangled stuff compensates ot not. It's just seems logical that a computer would see a low temperature and do it's thing in a warm up cycle. If the bike is running like it's warming up, it could be a hinderence in my past experience.

I had not thought it out that way. Now I have to do more research.

If your oil temps are in the 170 range, You Do Not need a cooler. There is a point of not letting the engine get warm enough to where the OEM has designed the engine to run. Engine clearances may be too loose if not allowed to reach the proper operating temps and will effect fuel mileage and HP.

There is a fine line between ultimate operating temps and too hot.

The AMSOIL alone WILL lower engine temps on the Harley 15-30 Degrees in warm weather, which they severely need, and also increases fuel mileage and HP.

I would check your oil temps with an LED thermometer just to make sure but I will tell you that your AMSOIL is good well over 300 Degrees F where a petroleum oil is cooking off at 225 and is about like water in the crankcase. Not that you EVER want to see 300.

Bob

Using an oil cooler, like most everything else depends on your location on this earth, obviously if you live in Alaska, you may not have as much need of one as someone who lives in Tucson about half past August. I live in North Cuba (AKA Florida), a Sportster doesn't seem to run all that hot to begin with, however there are times in the summer stuck on the I-4 parking lot where the engine begins to warm up to a point of concern.

So, yes I have installed one, not a radiator type but an aluminium affair moulded and milled to resemble a radiator type. It will pull the oil temp down about 10 degrees or so. In heavy city traffic it will hit 200 without it and 190 with the cooler. Basically I suppose it's just getting the oil out of the engine for a few, and the extra oil in the cooler and lines.

Was it worth the bucks (about $140) ... no not for the cooling, does it look way cool, you betcha it does.. was it worth the $140 for looking cool .. you betcha it was.

ummm....what are lowers???

Lowers? ..eh .. wouldn't that be the opposit of uppers?

I live in the Sacramento valley where for 3 months out of the year the temp hovers around 95 to 108+ degrees. We have summer and winter here, no spring or fall. Needless to say, I prefer riding in winter (When it's not raining). I seriously doubt that your computer would malfunction by thinking the engine is too cold or not warmed up. If that were the case, you would never be able to ride when the outdoor temp was below 60 degrees or so. I have owned well over 40 motorcycles in my life, most of them air cooled. Trust me, anything you can do to relieve that engine from killing heat, it will bless you for.

I stopped using my cooler, the engine was running to cold barely hit 180 in heavy traffic.