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Oil consuming air filter

StreetGlide12

StreetGlide12

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Nov 4, 2012
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Ok i know i have posted about this before but couldn't find it... I have been having trouble with my air filter getting soaked by oil coming out of a/c. They keep telling me that it's normal for oil to come out a/c. I understand that to a point but my filter was black(not red from filter oil like after a cleaning) after less than 2000 miles after my 5k service. They tell me that the Arlen Ness Big Sucker i have is known to do that... I took it in last Tuesday with concern of that and that my Dyno tune was not right.... Said couple "grids" in air/fuel were not right that was causing my major backfire issue. I've rode it about 100 miles and took air cleaner off and bottom was FULL of oil. Filter is almost all black again. Now i assumed they serviced my filter but not sure.... They tell me i need to buy a "Screamin Eagle A/C and it won't happen as bad..... I'm really Pissed off and confused!!
Does this happen often or at all???? I have a friend with a 06 RoadKing with the cone style SE and his filter is still red without being serviced in about a year.... Any help or advise will be helpful..

Thanks,,,, Scott
 
From what I have read this is normal. Run 3 1/2 quarts of oil and it will minimize the oil getting into the crank case vent witch vents into the intake. You could also rerout the vent to the ground but your bike will mark its territory.


Sent from the mobile leash
 
my dealer does ALL of my service & they said they did that! I brought that to their attention at my 5k service & they said they were aware of the 1/2 quart low to prevent that.. But it's just as bad or worse... I'm going to go crazy soon! I'm thinking of doing the S/E cone air cleaner & making my Service Manager signing something that if this filter turns black from oil blowback then we have a bigger problem!!!!
 
Bluebowtie is correct, I only run 3.5 qts. per oil & filter change. You DON"T need a Screamin Eagle A/C to solve the problem . . . . it won't!

I have one !
ps- They won't sign anything!
 
I agree the dealer is trying to sell you a $400 air cleaner you don't need. Where is the oil level on the dipstick? That will tell you if they put 3.5 qts or 4qts in. When I had my 1000 mile service done I was amazed that the dealer filled it to the top of the hash marks. If it's high you can suck some oil out with a turkey baster with a hose on the end.


Sent from the mobile leash
 
I run my bike with hot oil up to the full mark per the manual. I have no oil carryover problem. I am running the HD synthetic oil because I had them do the last service (normally I run Amsoil). Synthetic oil foams less than mineral oil so that could be your problem if you are not using it. Also, the breather hose in the air cleaner should be positioned to put the oil into the engine intake as much as possible, not your air filter.

Otherwise, in each rocker box is a breather valve and air/oil separator. They have thin reed valve like parts in them that can be damaged by poor handling or assembly. Yours may not be working properly. Here's what the parts look like:


breather.png
 
Well I had the same issue on my 12 Limited, it was the rear breather assembly in the head, but let me tell you, before it finally got addressed under warranty I got told everything from I was over filling with oil, it was because I had a K/N filter installed in my Harley stage one air filter kit. I mean it was ridiculous, it misted oil all over my bags in less than 100 miles. The problem started after I had it dyno tuned at the dealer that was telling me all I had done wrong. I think it got to hot on the dyno and damaged it. After it was replaced no issues, and oh yeah I wanted the front done at the same time, that came out of my pocket.
 
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Thanks to all of you guys for chiming in on my problem. I am by no means a mechanic.. The things that could be wrong with it that hulkss and vicfixr have stated is all japanese to me! I talked to the asst manager at my dealer and i will be taking it to him today. I will mention these things to him when i drop it off and see what he says. I don't want to spend another $400 dollars but we will see what he says.. I want him to go thru it with fine tooth comb before i agree to new air cleaner assy..
Thanks again guys!!
Scott
IMG_0188.jpg
 
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Street Glide12 I had the same problem with my 2003 ultra, then the breathers were plastic! Ride the desert and they would warp and somewhat melt. then I installed the new version metal ones and that took care of my problem. the color of the oil is probably the oil dissolving the dirt lodged in the filter and running down making it look like its black oil, other problems I have seen is on carbureted models the float was too high and fuel would kick out the air cleaner washing oil from the element.(if you are or were using the oil treated cotton filters.). this has been haunting HD since they went to EPA enclosed systems.

StreetGlide12 said:
Thanks to all of you guys for chiming in on my problem. I am by no means a mechanic.. The things that could be wrong with it that hulkss and vicfixr have stated is all japanese to me! I talked to the asst manager at my dealer and i will be taking it to him today. I will mention these things to him when i drop it off and see what he says. I don't want to spend another $400 dollars but we will see what he says.. I want him to go thru it with fine tooth comb before i agree to new air cleaner assy..
Thanks again guys!!
Scott
View attachment 3644
Click to expand...
 
Ok here is a quick update......Drop it off Monday at noon. Called me at 4:30pm today while i was driving so on speaker phone as wife trying to write it down.. Said they put in new breather assembly & something about took apart ?rocker assy?... Hulkss mentioned something in a prior post about rocker box but not clear on this..They test drove it and no sign of oil in air cleaner assy... Called and talked to Harley techs and they want them to run more tests tomorrow so they will give me updates then......
Scott
 
Oh I sure Hope so!! I printed out what you and Vicfixr posted and made him write it on my service ticket as possibilities!! If it's fixed cause of your posts or anyone else's......... THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
 
Ok Final Update:..... Picked up the SG tonight. I went ahead and bought this A/C: Part # 29253-08B. AFTER they did the work that they did.... This is what my dealer performed on my issue.

CLEANED AIR CLEANER UNTIL DRY, DISASSEMBLED ROCKERS AND BREATHER ASSEMBLIES. DRILLED OUT
BREATHER TUBS AND INSTALLED NEW BREATHER ASSEMBLIES. REASSEMBLED BIKE. TEST RODE. RAN GOOD
AND NO EVIDENCE OF BREATHER SUMPING.
PERFORMED COMPRESSION AND LEAKDOWN TEST. COMPRESSION WAS GOOD AT 200 PSI AT BOTH
CYLINDERS AND LEAK DOWN WAS LESS THEN 10 PERCENT ON BOTH CYLINDERS.
Now weather is very rainy for next couple of days so won't be riding till saturday or sunday. I hope with the new air cleaner assy i at least won't see oil covering my entire filter in less than 1000 miles.
So if anyone is interested in buying an Arlen Ness Big Sucker with about 6000 miles for CHEAP shoot me a PM.
Thanks again everyone that chimed in on my issues!!
Scott
 
Glad you got the problem solved - thanks for sharing, it just might help someone else.
 
Mojo... I really hope the problem is fixed... with me buying the new A/C assembly i won't be able to tell if the oil is still coming out until i see a evidence on the filter... Hopefully that will put me at ease not seeing my filter turn from red to black in less than 1000 miles... Unfortunately my riding season is getting close to being over so have to get as many miles in that i can to tell for sure........
 
Hi StreetGlide 12 ,
New member here and was reading over your thread. It is a normal thing with these bikes. The issue with the cone style that has the elbow in it holds the oil in the elbow. One does not see the oil and hopefully On High throttle response the oil is sucked back into the throttle body. With the oil changes there is oil still left in your motor unless you're using a scavenger to change your oil. "Which is not necessary" . I too use Amsoil and use 3.5 qts. of oil. Depending on conditions I will still get a little oil. Usually lugging the motor under let's say 2700 rpm you can get oil slobbering. Sometimes on a hot day and high temp in the motor and sustained speeds of let's say 70+ you can get oil slobbering. In the summer time try the 20/50 weight oil, and in the winter try the 60 weight oil. Which is recommended in the service manual. There are several options one can do to reroute the oil to a different location. Sometimes to the atmosphere , some prefer reroute to catch can.
I have a Scremin' Eagle Air cleaner and get oil blow by too once in a while. Very little.
Good luck man
 
StreetGlide12 said:
Mojo... I really hope the problem is fixed... with me buying the new A/C assembly i won't be able to tell if the oil is still coming out until i see a evidence on the filter... Hopefully that will put me at ease not seeing my filter turn from red to black in less than 1000 miles... Unfortunately my riding season is getting close to being over so have to get as many miles in that i can to tell for sure........
Click to expand...

I hope so too . . . . sorry about the riding season!
 
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