Oil Change - Only 1 Quart comes out : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

LordofEntropy · 07-31-2009, 01:22 AM

The level is still at full while on kickstand and hot. Drained the bike, or so I thought, changed the filter and only 1 quart goes in before it is too full even. Try to drain it out and almost none will drain, maybe another half a quart.

What might the primary culprit be? The manuals say about 4 quarts. I know that can vary due to expansion and what not. One quart is certainly too little.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!

BIGBOPPA · 07-31-2009, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordofEntropy

The level is still at full while on kickstand and hot. Drained the bike, or so I thought, changed the filter and only 1 quart goes in before it is too full even. Try to drain it out and almost none will drain, maybe another half a quart.

What might the primary culprit be? The manuals say about 4 quarts. I know that can vary due to expansion and what not. One quart is certainly too little.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!

Hi Lordofentropy,
You didnt say what kind of bike it is . One thing to remember is that the oil level should be checked with the bike upright, not on the side stand. Depending on what side of your bike the oil tank is on, your oil level will either be way too high or way too low if you check it on the side stand. I dont know if this is the problem, but it is just something to think about.Hope you sort it out.

baggersport · 07-31-2009, 07:26 AM

...are you sure you're draining the engine oil? Two drain plugs in the pan, one is for the transmission.

.

tomv · 07-31-2009, 07:48 AM

gonna be an oops here somewhere....

strokerjlk · 07-31-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baggersport

...are you sure you're draining the engine oil? Two drain plugs in the pan, one is for the transmission.

.

your profile says 95 ultra
I suspect bean is correct.
trans fluid needed changed anyway LOL

huckinfog · 07-31-2009, 09:05 AM

my thoughts as well, didn't drain the engine oil tank.

pirate50 · 07-31-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGBOPPA

One thing to remember is that the oil level should be checked with the bike upright, not on the side stand.

Some bikes DO specify that the oil level be checked while the bike is resting on the jiffystand. It screws people up when you throw out "facts" that aren't factual.
Pirate

Faast Ed · 07-31-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pirate50

Some bikes DO specify that the oil level be checked while the bike is resting on the jiffystand. It screws people up when you throw out "facts" that aren't factual.
Pirate

Changed a few times on Heritages (can't speak for the other models). Some years "jiffystand" some years not. My 08 is on the Jiffystand. Trans too.

tomv · 07-31-2009, 10:36 AM

i'm pretty certain the jiffy stand crap doesnt make a 3 quart difference here guys...we get it...

Faast Ed · 07-31-2009, 10:42 AM

LOL Tomv, I meant to add in my last post that I had agreed with the "trans fluid mistake" post.

pirate50 · 07-31-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomv

i'm pretty certain the jiffy stand crap doesnt make a 3 quart difference here guys...we get it...

Yeah, that's why I only addressed the "checking" part and not the wrong drain plug part.
And I hope that other people get the facts right too.........
Pirate

LordofEntropy · 08-01-2009, 04:12 AM

Yes, a 95 Ultra Classic Electra Glide, I put it in my profile and forgot to mention it in my post. This particular bike does need to be checked on its stand. I am as certain as I can be that it is indeed the oil plug unless the manuals are labeled wrong.

BIGBOPPA · 08-01-2009, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pirate50

Some bikes DO specify that the oil level be checked while the bike is resting on the jiffystand. It screws people up when you throw out "facts" that aren't factual.
Pirate

OK, I stand corrected, sorry for any confusion I may have caused, its just that every Harley I have ever owned has specified that it must be upright to correctly check oil level.

strokerjlk · 08-03-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordofEntropy

Yes, a 95 Ultra Classic Electra Glide, I put it in my profile and forgot to mention it in my post. This particular bike does need to be checked on its stand. I am as certain as I can be that it is indeed the oil plug unless the manuals are labeled wrong.

well what did ya find?
wrong plug?
or checking on the kick stand made a 3 qt diff? LOL

55Bubba · 08-03-2009, 01:52 PM

On my 95 Ultra, the engine oil drain is the most forward of the two drain plugs and actually faces toward the front of the engine. It's slightly to the left side of the engine. The tranny drain plug is straight up and down more toward the right side and rear of the bike. It's easy to think the tranny drain is the oil drain. I almost made that mistake myself the first time I changed the oil.

Hope this helps

Bubba