Ok... I went out for a ride today, was planning on really doing some miles. Anyway, since last time I added the Temperature Gauge Dipstick...

So, I drove about 50 miles out of town... pretty hard, 70 - 90 the whole way... 80mph cruising, it was a nice hot day. :D Anyway, I pull over... and there is oil down the side of my oil tank, shocks, etc... Not a LOT but... enough is go wow, thats a lot of oil. :D

Went to the gas station, cleaned it all up, checked the oil, put the dipstick back very tight... thought maybe I just didn't have it on right.

Decided to head home just in case... drove EASY for a while, 60mph and under. No oil... hmmm... up to 70mph... 5 more miles... no oil. Did another 10miles at 80, and oil was beading up around the chrome lip thing... pull over, clean it up again, check oil, drive home...

When I got back (100mi round trip) there was AGAIN oil on the oil tank.

Took the temp dipstick off and got the ORIGINAL back out... took the plastic cover off the oil tank. There was more oil on the back of the cover and on the plastic tank. Temperature gauge had been reading around 170-200 if that helps at all.

As far as I remember, oil was in the MIDDLE of the dipstick or a bit higher... but within range at the beginning of the day. Now its right in the middle, I assume I didn't lose enough oil to hurt the bike...

At any rate, I'm wondering if its the new temp gauge thing, anyone have problems with them seaping/leaking oil at high speeds??? I know a few friends who use them and haven't had any problems...

Next, is what I'm describing maybe a bigger problem (Or small.:D), not having anything to do with the temp gauge dipstick???

I am planning this: Completely cleaning the plastic tank and leaving the cover off for the time being. Then, I figure I'd let the bike IDLE with the temp gauge in... see if it leaks at all. If it does leak while IDLEing, put the old dipstick in and do the same thing - see if I can pin it to the temp gauge one...

If neither leak, I was gonna go do HARD riding with the old dipstick in - see if that fixs it...

I'm hoping its JUST that ole temp dipstick not sealing right... but I just don't know yet.

If I ride hard and the regular dipstick leaks, I'm thinking drop it off at the dealer... what do you guys think?

Was I crazy to ride it home? I had enough oil - also, those damn temp dipsticks make it harder to gauge the oil level - they have no full empty lines. Hmmmmm....

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have this thing in my garage and this is the FIRST and ONLY problem I've ever experienced. Bleck.

:(

Did you recently add oil to the tank before the ride? check for a good seal around your temp gauge, or any hairline cracks in your plastic :eek: oil tank.:laugh

Did not recently add oil, have checked it... but I did do a complete oil change about 400 miles ago.

However, I have NEVER noticed oil on the outside of the oil tank like today - and, I haven't ridden as hard as I did today since the oil change... Also, the temp gauge was added about 150 miles ago, and those miles were definatly slow and easy...

Also, an update - I cleaned the oil tank real good and went on a ride with the old temp gauge installed...

Rode hard. No oil, rode harder... got home and still no oil like before. However, a VERY SMALL spot on the back of the tank but I think that could be all the stuff I missed got blown back there, it was miniscule.

I am going to clean again and let sit make sure its very clean and then ride hard again.

Then, if I get no oil - I can take the temp gauge to a HD dealer and see if they see a problem with the seal... if they don't, I think I'll get the sporty checked out for any small cracks or the like - I wanna be safe and know what was up...

But, I bet a buck its that temp gauge dipstick...

I hope you only put 3 qts of oil in at the change, the service manual says to put more than that in and it is wrong.

This is a recurring problem with the temperature dipstick and the newer sporties.

I solved it by buying an O-ring made for the stock dipstick and replaced one on the temp/dipstick and have not had a leak since.

I hope you only put 3 qts of oil in at the change, the service manual says to put more than that in and it is wrong.

I noticed that when I changed my oil recently.
I put 4oz. in the filter,and three quarts in the tank,checked the level and it was FULL.

This is a recurring problem with the temperature dipstick and the newer sporties.

I solved it by buying an O-ring made for the stock dipstick and replaced one on the temp/dipstick and have not had a leak since.


I think that is your fix.

Even on the pre '04's the temp guages didn't quite seal as well as the stock ones. I always have to make sure my tank lip and the rubber seal are wiped real clean before installing the dipstick, or mine will try to push a little oil past the dipstick and out on the tank.

i gave up on the temp dip stick. i have a 05 1200c.my first temp guage filled up with oil inside the dial, took it back.the second one leaked oil all over the tank. i re installed the origional stock one.
side bar
the second temp dip stick sitting in my garage got oil inside the dial after not using it for 3 months.go figure.:roflblack

I noticed that when I changed my oil recently.
I put 4oz. in the filter,and three quarts in the tank,checked the level and it was FULL.

I did add the correct amount of oil, that wasn't the problem - someone who stopped on the side of the road was really wondering if this is what I did. I didn't...

:D

I am currently running the original one, with no more leakage... I'm just going to keep the temp one to test the temp - not have it in all the time. Hopefully I will have no more leaky oil tank... cool...

I've had the temp dipstick in my 05 with no problems so far.

Paulie,

Had the same problem with my temp guage dipstick. Upon closer inspection of the o-ring that seal it I notice it had a flat spot. Switched the O-ring with the stock unit and no more problems with leakage.

I just had the same problem with my 06 today. Got home and tried the stock dipstick which fit tighter. Checked the O rings side by side off the dipsticks and found the stock one is slightly larger than the one on the temp dipstick. I switched o rings and now the temp dipstick fits tighter. Haven't tested it yet.

The temp stick has been on for the last 600 miles or so and didn't leak until today. It was unusually warm today and I rode unusually hard getting the oil up to 200 for the first time since I've had the guage. I'm guessing maybe the tank neck expands a bit with heat and you lose your seal because the o ring is a tiny bit too small.

Maybe Morton Thiokol makes the o rings for the temp dipstick.