Tech Tip: How to Check Your Oil

[@michiganborn8303]

How soon after shutting the motor down do you check the oil level? Immediately?

[@DavidJones-tp7td]

Thank you. I wasn't sure if I needed to screw the dipstick down or not.

[@TheIronLion2024]

Can't seem to find the 2011 dip stick. It's not the same.

[@bigsterms]

So you let it warm up 1st? Mine was super low cold

[@kaisermittenburg1640]

Yes let it warm up a bit. Oil can collect in the filter and if you over fill cold, you’ll get oil out the breather for sure

[@beri232]

For the “perfect” oil level….. the level should be checked at operating temperature (around 230 degrees on a Twincam) and sitting on the kickstand with dipstick completely settled in. I have a 2014 Softail and when I do an oil change with filter replacement…. I add 2-1/2 quarts and start the bike for 2-5 minutes. Then I check the dipstick. So long as the level is ABOVE the add line and not over the MAX line (as an fyi… it’s usually just a hair above the add line at this time)…. I take it for a 30 minute ride. Then stop and check it at riding temp. It usually goes up a bit and it’s usually perfectly situated in the safe zone. Sometimes I’ll add a bit but never much more than 2-1/2 quarts. Some guys will scavenge the oil when they do an oil change and to be honest… I believe it’s the most thorough way to do an oil change but my exhaust manifold is too tight to my oil return line so that method is out of the question for me. I have an oil cooler so I know there’s well over a quart of dirty oil left in there after an oil change.

[@onthecase1002]

operating range. DO NOT OVER FILL !!!!

[@Jeff82556]

Countless others say do NOT screw it in.

[@hdrider05]

It says it right on my dip stick

[@beri232]

My manual says it should be ALL THE WAY IN. The ladies like it that way too😜

[@kingdomlandscapingandlawn6704]

What will it red cold

[@beri232]

Mine is a 2014 Softail and cold it sits just a hair above the add line. Before I learned the proper procedure, I filled mine just below the full line while cold and it spit oil out my breather tube for quite awhile. Left a little puddle on my garage floor every night. Glad I had it vented externally at least or that crap would have made a mess of my throttle body. lol