[ihringert]

All this technical stuff is great and I truely hope you guys figure this one out. I'm on my third engine (original engine was rebuilt) because of this disappearing oil mystery. My new engine burns absolutely no oil after 1700 miles. I hope Harley will find out what's going on with my other engine after they disect it. Unfortunately, I have been told I will probably never find out what the cause was even if they do find it.

Also, I never noticed any gas smells from my oil. My '03 is completely stock.

 

[ihringert]

I noticed the same thing on my dipstick. It went down rapidly until it hit the bottom of the cross hatches. However, don't let that fool you. If you run it at that level, you will find you will need to add more oil than what the dipstick indicates. I think it may have something to do with the way the bottom end was designed. You might find the oil level will disappear just as fast once it gets down a little lower beyond the cross hatches. Mine did. I've let mine go so low as to not register on the dipstick.

 

[ihringert]

3. However, one was a rebuild.

 

[ihringert]

And the reason it went so low was Harley told me not to add any oil. I took a trip (about 2,000 miles). Came back and took it directly to Harley and they couldn't believe it. I did remain in contact with Harley during this trip and was told there is at least 2 quarts left in the engine when it doesn't register on the dipstick and not to worry. Maybe I'm paranoid but I'm sure this didn't do the engine any good.

 

[ihringert]

Like I said, 1700 miles on new engine and not a drop of oil lost. It was a pain dealing with Harley but they did come through in the end. I have a love hate relationship with the bike, but deep down I really do like her and wouldn't think of replacing her.

 

[ihringert]

FYI - Original engine used about 1 quart per 500 miles. Rebuilt after 6400 miles. The rebuilt used about 1 quart per 1000 miles (slightly less if all hiway miles). This engine was replaced at about 14,000 miles. Harley also recommended to me running the crap out of it. I did or at least as much as I dared to (scared the crap out of me a few times). I've got many many miles on her running down the hiway in second gear.

 

[ihringert]

Hippo888,

Bugged the hell out me running it like that. Got many strange looks from cagers I passed on the hiway. Keep in mind, Harley asked me to run the crap out of it and said don't worry if you blow it up or something bad happens to the engine. Not many get an opportunity like that. By the way, that didn't work. The engine was replaced and a new engine put in. This one doesn't burn any oil.