How much oil

[johno]

Im sorry if this is posted elsewhere .I tried a search and didn't find the answer. I did my first DIY oil change on my 2014 tg today. The first fluid change after I bought her used, I had done by the dealer to establish a base line for the fluids/mileage. I pulled the plug and filter and let it sit for a while until there was nothing dripping anywhere . Put it back together and adding the fresh oil. I put 3 qts and started her up. I let it sit for 45 mins and checked the level, its darn close to the full mark. Is that possible with 3 qts or am I missing something?

[Fearless]

Add two quarts and start checking level and adding I never fill ours to the full mark. A little more than half seems to be just fine for oil level just my opinion you do what you feel is the best for your Trike. I end up with about 2.5 quarts in old shiney... just sayin. Travel safe Fred

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Fred is right ... just under 3 is fine. But .. always go by the dipstick.

[johno]

The dipstick is showing about 1/4" down from full. Ill just keep a eye on it. Thanks

[headheaded]

I put 3 quarts and 12 ozs. in mine and it shows about 6 ozs. low on the dip stick. When hot it's right at the full mark, never any problems. Been doing it this way with every twin cam.

[rhino 2]

I always use just a little over 3 quarts in my tri-glides anymore than that you’ll have oil dripping out the air filter (Blow-Bye)..📞

[ShapeShifter]

When doing my first oil change, I added three quarts. When I checked, I realized that put me too close for comfort to the Full Hot Vehicle Level. Ended up siphoning near a half quart out to get to the Midway Cold Check Level. So now I just add two quarts, then fill to midpoint on dipstick.

So I'm in Fred's camp on this one...

[DK Custom Products]

I start with 2 quarts and then fill, as needed, per instructions in the manual. This usually ends up being somewhere around 2.5 quarts.

Directly from the Harley Manual.

"If oil is at or below the lower mark, add only enough oil to bring the level to a point between the two arrows on the dipstick."

CAUTION

"Do not overfill the oil tank. Doing so can result in oil carryover to the air cleaner leading to equipment damage and/or equipment malfunction."

"Refer to table 25 . Always use the proper grade of oil for the lowest expected air temperature before the next scheduled oil change."

The above quotes are directly from a recent HD Service Manual. The bold is not mine, it is bold in the owners manual.

Table 25 shows what weight oil to run for the temperatures you are riding in.



If it is always at least 60* when you ride, you should be running straight 50 weight. NOT 20-50, straight 50 weight is what it says. The reason it says that is because MOCO knows that it will reduce oil carryover (blow-by).

If it is always at least 80*, then you should be running straight 60 weight, for the same reason listed above.

Will it hurt your engine if you run 20-50, or running over the halfway mark? No, although it is not recommended. HOWEVER, you should expect to get excessive blow-by because you are not running the correct amount or weight oil for the temps you are riding in.

Kevin

[headheaded]

I wonder why there is such a wide variance in the amount of oil it takes to bring it to the full mark ? After getting my bike good and warmed up it's right at the full mark and with the breathers pointed at the ground it will leave one little drop of oil after sitting overnight. I guess every bike must be alittle different.

[DK Custom Products]

I wonder why there is such a wide variance in the amount of oil it takes to bring it to the full mark ? After getting my bike good and warmed up it's right at the full mark and with the breathers pointed at the ground it will leave one little drop of oil after sitting overnight. I guess every bike must be alittle different.

I think a lot has to do with how much gets drained out....there is always some left in the engine, some leave more in than others. Temp of the oil at time of draining probably has the largest impact on that.

What is more perplexing to me is that some folks put their oil at halfway between the bottom mark and the top mark...which is correct according to Harley. Then when the engine is hot the oil level goes right up to the top mark, or close to the top mark.

I put mine at the midway point when it is cold, and when it is hot, it goes up a little, but no where near the top mark.

One of those things that make me go hmmmm.

Kevin

[Jack Klarich]

I think a lot has to do with how much gets drained out....there is always some left in the engine, some leave more in than others. Temp of the oil at time of draining probably has the largest impact on that.

What is more perplexing to me is that some folks put their oil at halfway between the bottom mark and the top mark...which is correct according to Harley. Then when the engine is hot the oil level goes right up to the top mark, or close to the top mark.

I put mine at the midway point when it is cold, and when it is hot, it goes up a little, but no where near the top mark.

One of those things that make me go hmmmm.

Kevin

Good point Kevin

I wonder how many have had an on going problem with a sumping engine during an oil change and did not know it

I bet the crank case is holding more oil than it should when this happens

I have always measured what I take out, I guess I have too much time on my hands

[MDO]

Everyone remember that the M8's are different than the twin cams, which hold less engine oil. I'm not certain if the 114 is the same as my 107?

Also, the air/oil cooled are slightly different than the water cooled.

It's good they kept it simple.

[Jack Klarich]

Everyone remember that the M8's are different than the twin cams, which hold less engine oil. I'm not certain if the 114 is the same as my 107?

Also, the air/oil cooled are slightly different than the water cooled.

It's good they kept it simple.

Good point Michael

I also believe there have been more reports of the Liquid cooled M8 engines sumping in the earlier models be it 2 or 3 wheels

[DK Custom Products]

Good point Kevin

I wonder how many have had an on going problem with a sumping engine during an oil change and did not know it

I bet the crank case is holding more oil than it should when this happens

I have always measured what I take out, I guess I have too much time on my hands

Yeah, the dirty little secret of HD's expanded tolerances on the crankshaft and the impact it has on the oil pump scavenging oil on the Twin Cams.

I know for a fact that the further out of round (but still within HD's new tolerances) the crank is, the more oil in the blow-by a Twin Cam makes...because the oil pump is not scavenging as well.

I have no idea if the same holds true for the M8's.

Kevin

[Jack Klarich]

I bet Kevin remembers this being the King of oils

[headheaded]

I think a lot has to do with how much gets drained out....there is always some left in the engine, some leave more in than others. Temp of the oil at time of draining probably has the largest impact on that.

What is more perplexing to me is that some folks put their oil at halfway between the bottom mark and the top mark...which is correct according to Harley. Then when the engine is hot the oil level goes right up to the top mark, or close to the top mark.

I put mine at the midway point when it is cold, and when it is hot, it goes up a little, but no where near the top mark.

One of those things that make me go hmmmm.

Kevin

Well i do jack the back of my tri up so more oil comes out the drain hole. So maybe that's why. Even on my 2 wheelers i would lean the bike over to the right and then back to the left and quite a bit more oil would come out. Did that maybe 5 times before calling it good. I always try and get as much of the old oil out as i can. After all that's the entire point of changing oil.

[DK Custom Products]

I bet Kevin remembers this being the King of oils

hahah, maybe I do and just forgot!

Well i do jack the back of my tri up so more oil comes out the drain hole. So maybe that's why. Even on my 2 wheelers i would lean the bike over to the right and then back to the left and quite a bit more oil would come out. Did that maybe 5 times before calling it good. I always try and get as much of the old oil out as i can. After all that's the entire point of changing oil.

Yes, I do the same on 2 wheelers, leaning them left and right. On the Trikes I don't jack them up, but do sort of rock them left to right.

I also get the oil pretty hot before draining.

For getting all the oil out....I mean ALL of it, I've used the rogue chopper scavenger system. ( https://roguechopper.com/ )

It works well, but it takes more time than I want to spend...have not used it in years.

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

hahah, maybe I do and just forgot!

Yes, I do the same on 2 wheelers, leaning them left and right. On the Trikes I don't jack them up, but do sort of rock them left to right.

I also get the oil pretty hot before draining.

For getting all the oil out....I mean ALL of it, I've used the rogue chopper scavenger system. ( https://roguechopper.com/ )

It works well, but it takes more time than I want to spend...have not used it in years.

Kevin

My driveway slopes down ... I always back the bike/trike up the driveway when drain the oil ... gravity is your friend ...

[Trampas]

Being that I'm old and past 70 I think I remember that oil, not sure as my memory goes off and on, still young at heart but my body says no I'm not

All for now Trampas