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oil cooler

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by Maverick, Apr 23, 2006.

  1. Maverick

    Maverick New Member

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    Plan a trip out west in June, Ms. to Calif. The debate is whether an oil cooler is beneficial to run on an '03 softail with synthetic oil. My concern is the relative change in the oil temp. with consideration for what temp. synthetic oil breaks down. My oil max. out about 230 in the heat in Miss. I would appreciate any insight.
    Maverick
    Maverick, Apr 23, 2006
    #1
  3. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    this is my opinion only............if it burns fossil fuel, and is an internal combustion engine.....it needs an oil cooler. a cooler will drop the temps about 10/15 degrees....means a lot when ya pushin 230+ temps........hope this helps
    chuck
    chucktx, Apr 23, 2006
    #2
  4. Maverick

    Maverick New Member

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    Thanks for the input Chucktx. Will look at options!
    Maverick, Apr 24, 2006
    #3
  5. SPORSTERBOY

    SPORSTERBOY New Member

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    My Opinion, Your Bike Was Made To Run Without One, So If You Added One It Could Only Benifit You, And The Wear And Tear On Your Bike.
    SPORSTERBOY, Apr 24, 2006
    #4
  6. Seahag

    Seahag New Member

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    Donny Peterson wrote in American Iron magazine that when he talked with the engineers behind the development of the twin cam, they admitted to wanting an oil cooler stock on twin cams due to the higher oil temps incurred when using the piston skirt jets...which pull heat from the dome of the piston.

    The reason twin cams don't come with them, is because Willy G. didn't like the looks and overruled them.

    I switched my crashguard to oil cooler duty this past winter by tapping into the oil returns and routing through a remote thermostat that is mounted under the front motor mounts.

    here are some pics.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The highest temp I've seen so far was 175* in the oil pan, running the bike for 265 miles on an 80* day.
    Seahag, Apr 26, 2006
    #5
  7. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    good idea there sea hag......i like it. i just finised installing a cooler on my 06 electra glide this evening.....i had to cut my line cover exactlly the same as you did hag.....go figure. i used a cooler from a powersteering pump.....mounted between the down tubes. i will take some pics tomorrow and try to post them.....just another idea for a cooler......cost???? 34.00 out the door, including hoses and clamps.....not to bad.....
    chuck
    chucktx, Apr 27, 2006
    #6
  8. Seahag

    Seahag New Member

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    Thanks Chuck. Did you put a thermostat on your cooler then? I figure with the thermostat, hoses, braided stainless steel hose sleeving, and fittings, I have about $80.00 invested in my oil cooler.
    Seahag, Apr 27, 2006
    #7
  9. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    no i didnt use a thermostat......only gets cold here about 30 days a year....i have a cover.......

    Attached Files:

    chucktx, Apr 28, 2006
    #8
  10. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    i dont know why they didnt open on there own like seahag's....just click on em.........
    chuck
    chucktx, Apr 28, 2006
    #9
  11. Seahag

    Seahag New Member

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    I hosted mine on photobucket and inserted the [​IMG]
    Seahag, Apr 28, 2006
    #10
  12. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    i took about a 100 mile trip today.....60/65mph....temp about 80 degrees.....it seems to have dropped my oil temp by 20 degrees.......some more testing to come to conferm.....but that is impressive to me....i wasnt expecting that much of a drop....time will tell.....when temps get a bit warmer
    chuck
    chucktx, Apr 29, 2006
    #11
  13. stevenh

    stevenh New Member

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    Hi Chuck,
    Just curious as to what kind of oil temps you see down there? It doesn't typically get as hot up here in NH, but, there are a few hot days and there are traffic snarls. Just want to compare and make a decision about adding a cooler to mine.
    Thanks, Steve
    stevenh, Apr 30, 2006
    #12
  14. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    i installed my temp gauge and oil pressure gauge about 4 months ago. since then my temps have been running about 220 degrees, once it was warmed up. the gauges are vdo and i use them for a referance only....if something drasticly changes i look for problems....anyway, i went about 200 miles today,2up, and still didnt get to 200degrees, stayed about 190+/-. the air temp got to about 85. i havent run in real south east texas temps with the cooler installed, but this past fall it was in the 100's and the temp gauge stayed at about 220+/-....didnt like the plus side so much. hope this helps a bit...if not, ask away!!!!! have fun
    chuck
    chucktx, Apr 30, 2006
    #13
  15. stevenh

    stevenh New Member

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    Thanks Chuck... Sounds like that thing really helps. From what I've read on the subject you're running cool if below 200 degrees.
    Steve
    stevenh, Apr 30, 2006
    #14
  16. cowboy

    cowboy Moderator Staff Member

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    chuckTX , can you email me some pic's of your cooler set up & a brief decreption on how you did all your instaltion , thanks
    cowboy, May 6, 2006
    #15
  17. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    the only pics are the ones i posted here. it is pretty straight forward....went to napa and got a universal power steering cooler.....34 bucks. it came with hose and clamps and some long plastic toothpics for attaching to a radiator, and some sticky rubber. i purchased extra 3/8th oil line and clamps.
    find a sutible location for mounting. i used wire ties to hold mine to the down tubes. i utilized the sticky rubber behind the tubes where it touches the frame to prevent rubbing, coooler or downtubes. i used 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom. i routed the lines to prevent chaffing to the point of attachment. in my case behind the cover you see in the other pic. the lower lines have my temp gauge attached so i used the upper lines to attach the cooler lines.....besides, they run from the eng to the pan. once the lines are attached i had to cut the cover to accomodate the llines. cut a little at a time, unless ya got a spare one. i have since added a bit of rubber to prevent chafing at the cover, and repainted to match the rest of casings......hope this helps, if not ask away.........have fun
    chuck
    chucktx, May 7, 2006
    #16

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