Running hot...

[ReeseSD]

Hello, I have an 07 r1 and it seems to be running a little hot or maybe I forgot over the winter how hot it gets.. but, last night i took it out, it was a cool night, a night where I would not expect the bike to heat up like it did. I also noticed it last week. the coolant overflow shows the level, while on the side stand, a being just at the Low mark. Do i need to add coolant? The temp was at 239 when I stopped to park it for the night.

I did call the shop and I was told that I did not need to add coolant after describing the above...

Thought's anyone? Is that ok? Has it just been a long winter and I forgot how hot it runs in city traffic?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

[Doc]

Have you ever changed the coolant?

[ReeseSD]

I have never changed it. and I have taken it to the track about 10 times.

[Doc]

Maybe flush the coolant and replace with some new stuff

[Pigman]

run some WaterWetter or Engine ice....drop you temps a Bit and use DI H20

[Degsy]

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That's a little hot.

[naked-daytrader]

I had a dream last night I was driving around in my car and then in the next instant my temp gauge just appeared and was running wicked hot, as in over 300 degrees...kinda freaked me out a bit...then I woke up and went to work..

[ReeseSD]

so yeah, maybe replace the coolant with new coolant or water? I'm worried now, if i ride it could i trash the bike?

[Degsy]

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340 won't kill the bike once in a while. Your coolant is not done after 2 or 3 years unless you have 40k miles on it. Don't forget the temp goes up for 5 or 10 minutes when you park it. 220 is not unusual for stop-go traffic and the extra 10 or 20 degrees once parked is normal. It should be running about 170 to 180 on highway.

[ReeseSD]

Yes, when the bike is clear of traffic it's runs in that range. And I don't have 40k. but I do have mostly track miles so that's why I thought I may have a problem. but I will keep an eye on it and even tho it may not be needed, I will replace the coolant.. can't hurt, well, it can hurt dogs and the environment...

Thanks for the advice.

[keeena]

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That's a little hot.

+1. You should not be hitting 230+*F, something is wrong. I personally wouldn't ride it until its fixed. When moving along your temp should generally be in the 175-190*F range. Once you stop moving it will start to creep up past 200*F and fans start kicking in at ~220*F. I think manuals warn to shut the bike down if it gets to 240-245*F

I'm thinking you might have a stuck thermostat. Did you check the level of coolant by opening the radiator fill cap? Are your fans turning on? What are you currently running for coolant?

I agree with a doing a flush, but I can't imagine it being that being the problem unless you have an air lock. I would test the thermostat, temp sender and fans for starters.

[Billy]

LIke what Degsey said, 170-180 on the highway. Stop and go traffic can get as hot as 220 and then the fan kicks on and brings it down to 200.

[Cerberus]

Maybe flush the coolant and replace with some new stuff

that would be my advice too.
emphasis on the flush

although, before hand i'd make sure the radiator is full (when cool)
i've seen obstructed nipples on coolant overflow tanks cause a bike to over heat because the reservoir was at level, the owner didn't check the radiator

[ReeseSD]

it runs on the highway at 170-180. and stop and go traffic it's at 220 and the fan does kick on, no problem there. I have not checked the coolant level via the cap. I am running stock coolant right now. I will take it for a quick ride right now and see what happens.

brb...

[jayth]

I've seen 230 after a hot shutdown on my new to me fz1. Slightly alarming, but with only 2k on the odo, a proper coolant level and fan functioning as designed I'm going with nature of the beast

[Cerberus]

just for the sake of saying it, flushing the cooling system will never cause a cooling problem and may fix one.. and many bike service intervals say it should be done every 2 years.

the size of the cooling passages in most bike engines are quite small, so it doesn't take much corrosion build up to significantly effect the cooling effectiveness.

I've seen passages full obstructed with scaly green crap..

[JettaJayGLS]

Does it feel like its running hot, or does it just say its running hot?

And out of the ordinary temp gauge reading is 99% of the time either a themostat, temp sensor, fans, or coolant issues. The fact that you are fine while crusing, but when you're stopped it heats up too much makes me think its the fans not coming on or the thermostat stuck closed. Since you said the fans are working, my best bet would be the thermostat being stuck closed.

[Cerberus]

Does it feel like its running hot, or does it just say its running hot?

And out of the ordinary temp gauge reading is 99% of the time either a themostat, temp sensor, fans, or coolant issues. The fact that you are fine while crusing, but when you're stopped it heats up too much makes me think its the fans not coming on or the thermostat stuck closed. Since you said the fans are working, my best bet would be the thermostat being stuck closed.

if the thermostat was stuck closed it would not be dropping to 170-180 while underway

[JettaJayGLS]

if the thermostat was stuck closed it would not be dropping to 170-180 while underway

You are right, my bad, here are my new best guesses if it is in fact the thermostat malfunctioning

If the thermostat closes fine, but will only open partially, it will come to temperature normally, but overheat and take longer to come back down to normal temperature.

If the thermostat is stuck only partially open, meaning it will not close completely and will not open fully, it will take a long time to come to temperature, but eventually overheat and take longer to come back down to normal temperature.

Either of those sound like your problem?

[Cerberus]

You are right, my bad, here are my new best guesses if it is in fact the thermostat malfunctioning

If the thermostat closes fine, but will only open partially, it will come to temperature normally, but overheat and take longer to come back down to normal temperature.

If the thermostat is stuck only partially open, meaning it will not close completely and will not open fully, it will take a long time to come to temperature, but eventually overheat and take longer to come back down to normal temperature.

Either of those sound like your problem?

*fair warning, i'm bored and halfway picking on your diagnostic process, don't take it personally*

1. you seem fixated on thermostat failure.. which is certainly possible but not the best way to diagnose a problem. diagnosis requires that you not jump to conclusions and then substantiate them, but rather consider all the possibilities based on the known symptoms then narrow your focus progressively eliminating possible problems as you go.

2,

If the thermostat closes fine, but will only open partially, it will come to temperature normally, but overheat and take longer to come back down to normal temperature.

true but incomplete. a thermostat that only opens partially would only be likely to overheat in warmer weather where the temperature differential is less able to dissipate the engine heat. In normal/cool weather, overheating would be very unlikely.

3.

If the thermostat is stuck only partially open, meaning it will not close completely and will not open fully, it will take a long time to come to temperature, but eventually overheat and take longer to come back down to normal temperature.

This one is a lot harder to agree with. first of all, a thermostat rarely sticks in a partially open state. some may fail in that they don't close right, but then go wide open when hot, but i've never seen one fail the way you describe.

again, not trying to be a dick, just bored.

[Degsy]

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My bet is there's nothing wrong with the bike.

[JettaJayGLS]

*fair warning, i'm bored and halfway picking on your diagnostic process, don't take it personally*

1. you seem fixated on thermostat failure.. which is certainly possible but not the best way to diagnose a problem. diagnosis requires that you not jump to conclusions and then substantiate them, but rather consider all the possibilities based on the known symptoms then narrow your focus progressively eliminating possible problems as you go.

2, true but incomplete. a thermostat that only opens partially would only be likely to overheat in warmer weather where the temperature differential is less able to dissipate the engine heat. In normal/cool weather, overheating would be very unlikely.

3. This one is a lot harder to agree with. first of all, a thermostat rarely sticks in a partially open state. some may fail in that they don't close right, but then go wide open when hot, but i've never seen one fail the way you describe.

again, not trying to be a dick, just bored.

No offense taken, this is how problems get solved

I'm solely basing my experience off the fact that I own a VW, and my dads a VW mechanic....and anyone that has owned one knows they are notorious for both the temp sensor and the thermostat malfunctioning, mine, my moms, my dads, and my sisters VW's included. Needless to say, this is not motorcycle knowledge.

[csmutty]

No offense taken, this is how problems get solved

I'm solely basing my experience off the fact that I own a VW, and my dads a VW mechanic....and anyone that has owned one knows they are notorious for both the temp sensor and the thermostat malfunctioning, mine, my moms, my dads, and my sisters VW's included. Needless to say, this is not motorcycle knowledge.

I just replaced mine on the VW truck

[Cerberus]

No offense taken, this is how problems get solved

I'm solely basing my experience off the fact that I own a VW, and my dads a VW mechanic....and anyone that has owned one knows they are notorious for both the temp sensor and the thermostat malfunctioning, mine, my moms, my dads, and my sisters VW's included. Needless to say, this is not motorcycle knowledge.

fair enough.
i've been a gear head all my life and was a Master Mechanic for 6 years until i got sick of the business.

[ReeseSD]

Well.. After another ride today, a short one, mostly highway or clear of traffic, the bike is fine. I am wondering if last night I misread the gage, there is a spot on the plastic where the temp is shown and maybe it looked like 239 when it was 229, 229 would be ok when stopping it, right?

But, I will say that last night was not the first time the bike felt like it was running hot. I also remember (because I blocked it out) that last year, the bike was being trailered and a strap snapped and the bike fell over, not off, just onto it's side. after that happen, I put it away for the winter.

I will say that the bike over all seem to be running the best it has - aside from the running hot issue, which i will monitor...