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Oil level - Twin Cam 88

  • Kato
    Kato
    1 year ago
    Im after some advice from what other Form users have experienced re oil levels in their TC's 

    i have a 88 TC and the oil level changes as follows 
    - when the engine is cold . The oil level varies from being LEVEL with the filler neck to being DOWN from the filler neck some 50 mm 
    - when the engine is hot. The oil level is at the correct level on the dipstick 

    What i cannot work out is why / how the oil level in the oil tank varies so much when the engine is cold (from level with the filler neck to being some 50 mm below it ) 

    Engine runs great ( no oil use and the pipes ends are not wet with oil at all ) I change the oil every 4,000 Kms 

    any advice would be most appreciated 

    cheers to all 
  • keith
    keith
    1 year ago
    I wouldn't be to concerned. Photos attached, cold level on biro point, digital read correct. Hot level goes to halfway between full and hot after a good run. Just my take Kato.
    My 3rd 88,in Road Kings, never had an issue with any of them. Pull the dip every now and then to check level.
    P1030038.JPG
    P1030040.JPG
  • 408
    408
    1 year ago

    My take on this was that the cold fill level is higher than the hot fill level. That is, oil drains back into the sump as the bike is left to stand after a run. And that the amount varies.
    You may or may not be running more oil than required.
    Is it a softail ?
  • Kato
    Kato
    1 year ago
    sorry - Yes its a Fatboy 

    i noticed at the last oil change (done on a cold engine .... long story) that the normal amount of oil didn't come out (maybe it was in the sump as you suggest) 

    So I'll be doing oil changes on a HOT engine next one i do. 
  • beaglebasher
    beaglebasher
    1 year ago
    Quoting Kato on 15 Jan 2023 11:54 PM

    Im after some advice from what other Form users have experienced re oil levels in their TC's 


    i have a 88 TC and the oil level changes as follows 
    - when the engine is cold . The oil level varies from being LEVEL with the filler neck to being DOWN from the filler neck some 50 mm 
    - when the engine is hot. The oil level is at the correct level on the dipstick 

    What i cannot work out is why / how the oil level in the oil tank varies so much when the engine is cold (from level with the filler neck to being some 50 mm below it ) 

    Engine runs great ( no oil use and the pipes ends are not wet with oil at all ) I change the oil every 4,000 Kms 

    any advice would be most appreciated 

    cheers to all 

    It does take time to learn how to read the dipstick.
    My bike is an 88 twin cam. 2002 model.
    If I don't use the bike for a week or two and check the dipstick before I start it there is normally no oil on the dipstick but sometimes there is. 
    If there is no oil on it the only way to know for sure is to start the motor and hope to fuck there is oil in the sump.   Apparently there is a non return valve  that is supposed to keep the oil up in the tank but it leaks.
    On a positive note,  if there was oil in the bike the last time you rode it and there's no oil on the ground now, you should be right.
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    1 year ago
    Check ya oil when you park it up, hot, running, if it's right then it will be right when you next start it up, just let it idle for minute to scavenge the case and she be right to roll.

    Mine does it all the time and it's a 2016 Softail.

    Well not every time but often enough to notice and to varying degrees.
  • Kato
    Kato
    1 year ago
    Quoting baldy1450 on 17 Jan 2023 08:58 AM

    get yourself one of these     https://roguechopper.com/

    I like this scavenger idea .
     I noted on the Scavenger video that they removed the sump plug as opposed to draining oil from the Oil tank .
    Ive always been told to change the oil from the oil tank drain hose .............but surely draining oil via removing the sump plug would be better???? 
    The HD Factory manual doesnt ever mention the sump plug removal at all ( odd i think) 
    Thanks for your reply too!  
  • B0nes
    B0nes
    1 year ago
    Quoting baldy1450 on 17 Jan 2023 08:58 AM

    get yourself one of these     https://roguechopper.com/

    Quoting Kato on 17 Jan 2023 10:43 PM

    I like this scavenger idea .

     I noted on the Scavenger video that they removed the sump plug as opposed to draining oil from the Oil tank .
    Ive always been told to change the oil from the oil tank drain hose .............but surely draining oil via removing the sump plug would be better???? 
    The HD Factory manual doesnt ever mention the sump plug removal at all ( odd i think) 
    Thanks for your reply too!  

    That plug, if it's the one I'm thinking of it should not be removed. If you do you need to be very careful when replacing it as it can crack the cases if you screw it in to far. Have not done it myself but know of it happening to others.
  • Kato
    Kato
    1 year ago
    Quoting baldy1450 on 17 Jan 2023 08:58 AM

    get yourself one of these     https://roguechopper.com/

    Quoting Kato on 17 Jan 2023 10:43 PM

    I like this scavenger idea .

     I noted on the Scavenger video that they removed the sump plug as opposed to draining oil from the Oil tank .
    Ive always been told to change the oil from the oil tank drain hose .............but surely draining oil via removing the sump plug would be better???? 
    The HD Factory manual doesnt ever mention the sump plug removal at all ( odd i think) 
    Thanks for your reply too!  

    Quoting B0nes on 17 Jan 2023 10:59 PM

    That plug, if it's the one I'm thinking of it should not be removed. If you do you need to be very careful when replacing it as it can crack the cases if you screw it in to far. Have not done it myself but know of it happening to others.

    Bloody ELLE MacPherson .............thanks for that advice 

    Maybe that's why HD don't mention it in their factory manual. 
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