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07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

  1. #1
    '07 Kawi ZX6R Streetlethal100's Avatar
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    07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Ladies and Gentlemen,


    We are working with a.....
    2007 Kawasaki ZX6R

    Let me explain my dilemma.....
    I feel like the bike is running too hot.

    Symptoms...
    The engine is shedding (what I feel to be) a lot more heat then it used too. almost burns my leg.
    The exhaust gasses seem to be MUCH hotter
    The carbon fiber exhaust is very very hot. Normally you can touch the carbon after a long ride and not burn yourself
    When I get on the highway after the bike is started, it stays at 170 degrees F for a good 30 mins, all the way to work. Doesn't every really heat up to 190 (where normal should be)
    But, when I stop it heats up to 225 pretty fast. The fan does turn on, but the bike temp doesn't drop much.

    What I have done so far...
    - Before I started noticing this problem I did try putting Water Wetter in the radiator fluid
    - After I felt like the bike was running too hot, I did a radiator flush with water and refilled with new coolant. I did not run the bike with the radiator cap off, but the bike has heated and cooled numerous times now, which I would think, should burp itself naturally through the resevior.

    What I'm thinking....
    1. The bike is running lean and causing the engine to heat
    2. The thermostat is sticking, allowing the bike to stay cool longer, and allowing the bike to heat up more
    3. The head gasket could be leaking and super heated gasses escaping into the radiator fluid which makes it have less effect
    4. The O2 sensor could be bad telling the bike its running rich, when its actually running lean? But the bike seems to run smooth.
    5. The air filter could be clogged and causing the bike to run lean
    6. The temp sensor could be reading the temperature wrong. The bike could actually be hotter then its saying it is.

    Things to note:
    - I need to drain the oil a bit, its a bit high right now
    - I could check the plugs to see if the bike is running rich or lean
    - It has been 90 degrees outside, but 10 degrees warmer then normal shouldn't make the bike any hotter?!


    What are your thoughts and suggestions?

    Is this really a problem?

    What should I check?

    What should I look for?

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  2. #2
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    7. You're worrying too much.

    BTW a clogged air filter will make it run rich, not lean.

    Check the exhaust tip. If its not white or very light brown, forget about it. It sounds normal to me.

    Radiator fluid. Lol (inside joke)

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  3. #3
    still a newbie j4eric's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    I agree with degsy.....your description of the issue sounds normal to me.....my 08 cbr 1000rr does exactly
    the same thing.....no worries

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    Have you seen my baseball GingahNinjah's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    i have an 07 ZX6R and my bike runs very similarly. on a hot day the fan will kick on at 212 and sometimes get up to 218-220ish before it starts dropping but once im moving again itll cool back off to 160-185ish usually unless your temp warning light is kicking on it sounds like you are fine. i also did the first coolant flush on the bike in 17k mi this season im the only owner and i didnt see any big changes after that

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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Try water wetter with straight water, not coolant. Mine ran much cooler like that.

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  6. #6
    Your Father csmutty's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    It's a kawi.

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  7. #7
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Quote Originally Posted by Streetlethal100 View Post
    Symptoms
    When I get on the highway after the bike is started, it stays at 170 degrees F for a good 30 mins, all the way to work. Doesn't every really heat up to 190 (where normal should be)
    But, when I stop it heats up to 225 pretty fast. The fan does turn on, but the bike temp doesn't drop much.
    I also agree w/ Degsy. These symptoms sound totally normal; sounds like nothing wrong from the motor operating temp / cooling aspect. I do think that the other symptoms are just due to hotter ambient temps.

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  8. #8
    Kosher Assassin Stoneman's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Sheesh! Try sitting on a TL-R in traffic in 90 degree heat! Holy bawlz burning!

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    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    It has been like 102 degrees outside lately...

    If your bike gets to 240, then youve got issues.

    Till then, hammer down and dont wave to Harleys...

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    Have you seen my baseball GingahNinjah's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Quote Originally Posted by jwm2k3 View Post
    Till then, hammer down and dont wave to Harleys...

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  11. #11
    '07 Kawi ZX6R Streetlethal100's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Aight guys. Maybe I am crazy I guess.

    But just for shits and giggles, what would make the exhaust temp go up?

    I road it last night around town; after the bike got to normal temp, if I sat at a light the temp would go up almost a degree a second if not two. I would hit 215 in about 2 or 3 minutes. Then back on the highway it would soar back down to 160F.


    Hmmmm, if my radiator is clogged, that would mean that when sitting still, the bike cant cool off as efficiently. Then when I ride the coolant flows and the bike drops fast.

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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    I'd put money on a sticky thermostat before I would a clogged radiator.

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    still a newbie j4eric's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    mine does the same thing....172 normal highway.....sit at a light and it would go up fast, will hit 220 degrees in 2 mins even less....then the fan will kick in around 225..then you see it go down slowly up to maybe 215.....this is normal

    let it idle for 10 mins....see how high it will go with the fan on then post the result

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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Quote Originally Posted by Streetlethal100 View Post
    I road it last night around town; after the bike got to normal temp, if I sat at a light the temp would go up almost a degree a second if not two. I would hit 215 in about 2 or 3 minutes. Then back on the highway it would soar back down to 160F.
    100% normal.

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    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Quote Originally Posted by Streetlethal100 View Post
    Aight guys. Maybe I am crazy I guess.

    But just for shits and giggles, what would make the exhaust temp go up?

    I road it last night around town; after the bike got to normal temp, if I sat at a light the temp would go up almost a degree a second if not two. I would hit 215 in about 2 or 3 minutes. Then back on the highway it would soar back down to 160F.


    Hmmmm, if my radiator is clogged, that would mean that when sitting still, the bike cant cool off as efficiently. Then when I ride the coolant flows and the bike drops fast.


    Bro, if your not belching out coolant, its not overheating.

    Your bike is fine.

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  16. #16
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    Fuck me.

    Engines produce heat.
    Coolant cools engines
    Riding fast moves air past the heat exchanger for the coolant (radiator)
    Riding slow makes heat exchanger less efficient so the coolant is hotter. When coolant gets too hot fan kicks in and help heat exchange.

    Exhaust
    Internal combustion produces heat. On a cold day or riding fast, this heat can wick away to atmosphere quickly.
    On a hot day, this can't happen as well do the exhaust stays hot.

    What do you do when your food is too hot? Just keep trying it and going "OW too hot! Why IS that?" or do you blow on it?
    It?

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  17. #17
    '07 Kawi ZX6R Streetlethal100's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    ^ lol... thanks for that wonderful advice!

    I agree with most of your statements. You are all probably correct. It only made me worried because its acting different then the past two seasons even though its within reason. I'm just proactively thinking what would cause an engine to heat faster then it did in seasons past. So even though the bike is heating up faster and is not as efficient as it once was, the cooling system can still keep it in range. I'm trying to catch it in-case what I am seeing is, in fact, a problem. Sooner or later it may over heat on me up in the mountains.

    From one self taught mechanic to another, what would cause an engine to heat much faster then "normal"? Just pure curiosity now? What are some scenarios that may cause this?
    - Clogged radiator?
    - Air to fuel mixture running lean?
    - Lack of oil to lubricate the engine increasing friction?
    - ???

    Ill let it idle for a while and see what happens.

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  18. #18
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    Lean would run hot.
    Valves out of adjustment would too.
    Clogged radiator? Doubt it. You would know pretty quick about that.

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  19. #19
    '07 Kawi ZX6R Streetlethal100's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Bike was just in the shop for new valve cover gasket (TSB) and valve job. Exhaust valves were a bit tight. They were loosened to the loose end of the "in tolerance" scale.

    How else would the bike run lean?
    1. bad injectors? But wouldnt you notice the bike running rough?
    2. Clogged fuel filter?
    3. Bad O2 sensor? Causing the bike to run lean with bad feed back data?
    4. Other?

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  20. #20
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Quote Originally Posted by Degsy View Post
    What do you do when your food is too hot? Just keep trying it and going "OW too hot! Why IS that?" or do you blow on it?
    It?
    you're fucking stupid. it burns your mouth the first bite so by the time you've stopped swearing it's cooled enough to just devour it out of anger

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  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by CBR929RE
    Quote Originally Posted by Degsy View Post
    What do you do when your food is too hot? Just keep trying it and going "OW too hot! Why IS that?" or do you blow on it?
    It?
    you're fucking stupid. it burns your mouth the first bite so by the time you've stopped swearing it's cooled enough to just devour it out of anger
    Doh!

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  22. #22
    '07 Kawi ZX6R Streetlethal100's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    So you guys are telling me that its normal for the plastic next to the engine to get so hot you cant touch it for more then a few seconds after you ride?
    You cant touch your carbon fiber exhaust for more then a quick instant
    And the engine stays HOT to the touch even after 40 mins of sitting in a garage,

    Im still not convinced this bike isnt running really lean. Im thinking its been running lean for a little while and thats why my exhaust valves were out of spec after 12k miles.

    I think I need to start looking at different options why the bike would be running lean. Any ideas what I should check first?

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  23. #23
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    Exhaust tip.

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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Assuming the ECU is getting correct inputs lean mixtures are usually excessive air leaks or poor fuel delivery.

    Really want to chase stuff? You can check for unmetered air leaks and run a high quality injector cleaner through the system.

    Do you have a service manual? If not, can you download one off a Kawi forum somewhere? I found one for the 650 I had. It was invaluable. You can spec out sensors (coolant temp etc...) to make sure they're providing good signals.

    In my experience, O2 sensor failures typically lead to a rich scenario, but you never know.

    Is the exhaust a full system? Do you have a Power Commander? All variables here.

    Does the bike use any oil, or can you smell any on initial start. I've been told Kawi valve guides are notorious. Oil in the combustion chamber will KILL the octane rating of the fuel/air mixture and could contribute to a lean condition.

    You could chase this for a quite a while if you want to.

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  25. #25
    '07 Kawi ZX6R Streetlethal100's Avatar
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    Re: 07 ZX6R running very hot - Where do I go from here?

    Hmmm. Not sure where I would be getting air leaks. They just adjusted my valves and put a new valve cover gasket. I would of assumed everything was buttoned up tight after. The problems I am expiriencing happend before the valve job and still after

    I dont have a service manual, but I can surely go find one.

    I only have a slip on carbon fiber exhaust.

    The oil level was fairly high so I drained it a bit to a respectable level. Didnt seem to have an affect.

    Dont seem to be blowing smoke or and strange smells. The exhaust gasses are extremly hot. Normally I can put a hand (With mechanic glove) directly over the exhaust for a minutre and not burn myself. Now I can barely put my hand in front of the exhaust gases without burns. As mentioned before, even the carbon fiber muffler is way to hot to touch. This was never the case for the past two seasons

    I was scanning the kawi forums and strangely enough a shop told a guy to change the oil and filter and it helped. I may also try to check the plugs to see if I can get any more indication of how the bike is running.

    I also took my air filter out tonight and gave it a good cleaning just for the hell of it.

    There are no known mods for kawis (like connector plugs, or hack wire jobs to promise more power) that could have caused an issues like this are there? The bike is second hand, so I wouldn't know if anything like that was done. Although if I didnt see it the past two years, why now.... I tend to believe this isnt the case.

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