Oil in Air Cleaner Housing

glideright

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Jun 5, 2015
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I have a 2015 SGS with less than 4000 miles on it. I have a Stage 1 Fuel Moto Intake, FP3 and Vance and Hines Oversized 450s. I've noticed some oil in the air cleaner housing area. What the heck is going on?? Thanks
 
I had the same thing happen to me. I noticed it after I had my first service done by the dealer. Mine was so bad that it was dripping oil out of the air cleaner. I did a little research and people were saying that it was because it was over filled. They say to run them a half quart low and it will prevent the issue. So I changed the oil 700 or so miles ago and left it that half quart low and so far so good.
 
Thanks for the reply. I just checked my oil level. It's a little below half on the stick as I type this. I can't say for sure what my oil level was when I installed the Fuel Moto, but the oil spray and leakage looks pretty fresh. I will definitely keep what you said in the forefront of the diagnosis. Any other thoughts??

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I had that problem really bad on my '15 SGS before my new motor build. It was very annoying too. I tried running 1/2 quart less oil and that didn't help me. I never found a fix, just kept removing, cleaning and reoiling the filter. I talked to my buddy (certified HD technician) and he told me that he didn't think the rings had sealed properly. I was going to have him fabricate a catch tank for me, but he assured me that the problem would no longer exist once I rebuilt the motor. I had 3500 miles on the odometer when I decided to perform the teardown and rebuild it myself. I'm now at 500 miles on the new motor and there's not a drop of motor oil in the filter. In fact, the new motor has actually wicked the oil from my K&N filter twice, forcing me to reoil it.
 
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Thanks for the info. That really is a downer if the rings didn't seal properly. I thought I did a great break in job.

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If I remember correctly, don't the two bolts (breathing bolts) provide the airway for mounting the AC box? this can also be an indication of a dirty air or oil filter, as well the oil level as others have already mentioned. Mostly likely nothing major, or you would have smoking and back firing.
 
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If the rings didn't seat properly, there WOULD be some smoke, right??

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You could perform a leakdown test to check for a good ring seal. If you do and all checks out, then a catch can will probably be what you need to keep the filter free of engine oil. It was very irritating for me having to deal with that problem. If it ever returns, I will perform a leakdown test and run a catch can myself.
 
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Here are a couple of photos that I found for a solution to oil blowby in the A/C. In this particular example it appears as if the end user vented his to the atmosphere instead of a catch can.
 

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It is under warranty. I like to hear what others think as well. I'm new to Harley at 53 years old. I owned and rode race bikes for almost 40 years. This is good education...

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Instead of letting the hot oily air back into the motor, reroute the engine breather elsewhere. There will then be no more oil in the filter area.
 
Just curious.....Is it possible that the increased air flow coming in with the K&N air filter causes more oil to be pulled in that can't be burned off or is residual in air breather tube?

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