How hot should the oil get in a 1988 Harley sportster when running?
what’s the highest oil temperature I can run my harley sportster and not have to worry about damaging the motor, Recently bought a oil dipstick that also has a built in thermometer and I’m curious now. I’m usually around 200-210 degrees F. Is that OK
If your oil temps are averaging 205, you got no worries. My bike runs at the same average. Don’t change a thing unless it stays above 270 in the summer. I use Lucas full syn and get very very good service out of it. I know this may sound somewhat contradictive, but you don’t want your oil to run too cool; it needs to be at operating temperature to properly lubricate as well as absorb/reject sensible and latent heat in the system. Thats why some oil coolers have shutters or covers for them, Coolers are all but necessary in the southwest states.
Everyone here seems to be on the water cooled bike bandwagon but what they don’t understand is that the time it takes for the oil to warm up and do the job for which it was intended is time spent placing undue wear & tear on the engine.
In the 60′s when Harley had the chance to make a water cooled machine they knew this and decided “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”. The new V-rod being the exception, that bike is engineered to raise the oil temp quickly to let it do its job…
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Bikers Choice Oil Tank Dipstick and Temperature Gauge 82574 $55.75 Chrome plated Check oil level and temperature Pop-up typeNeedle type gauge (50-350 deg. F)This Item Fits the Following Applications:2009 Harley Davidson XL883N Iron 8832009 Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster 883 Low2009 Harley Davidson XL883C Sportster 883 Custom2009 Harley Davidson XL1200N Sportster 1200 Nightster2009 Harley Davidson XL1200L Sportster 1200 Low2009 Harley Davidson XL1200C Sportster … |
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Bikers Choice Oil Tank Dipstick with Temperature Gauge 71558AS3 $24.95 Chrome1-3/16in. diameter and 5in. probe lengthAllows the temperature indicating dipstick to be used on most oil tanks350 deg. rangeH-D#62667-87TThis Item Fits the Following Applications:2003 Harley Davidson XLH883HUG Sportster 883 Hugger2003 Harley Davidson XLH8832003 Harley Davidson XL883R Sportster 883 Roadster2003 Harley Davidson XL1200S Sportster 1200 Sport2003 Harley Davidson XL1200C Sportste… |
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Harley Davidson Oil Dipstick with Temperature Gauge 63023-05 Sportster XR $65.95 Harley Davidson Oil Dipstick with Temperature Gauge 63023-05 Sportster XR Oil Dipstick with Temperature Gauge Replace your Original Equipment oil dipstick with this custom-styled version featuring an easy-to-see mechanical temperature readout with “Harley-Davidson” logo. A chrome-plated cap completes the styling and provides an easy grip for removal. 63023-05 Fits ’04-later XL and XR model… |