How to prevent overheating?

[klingon]

Riding home from work yesterday in the 30-something degrees heat and heavy traffic, I thought my poor wee Volty was going to melt. She was fine while moving but I got quite worried when I had long waits at red lights!

The Volty doesn't have a temp gauge so I can't tell you exactly how hot she was getting, but I could feel the heat off the engine through my boots and draggins, and I have never felt her being so hot before.

So with an air-cooled engine, when you're forced to sit still in the hot sun, what can you do to keep the temp down? I considered turning off the engine while stationary but that would mean no oil circulation in a very hot engine. Would that be worse?

[Squiggles]

Not really sure what you can do other than try to keep moving
But do change the oil more regularly as it'll degrade quicker with higher temps...

[mark247]

I would say it is probably fine, air cooled engines are made to run a bit hotter ( so im told )

If it was water cooled I'd say hook up an electric fan on a manual switch, but with air cooled there is really not much you can do other than keep the oil fresh.

I'd say you have nothing to worry about.

Just my opinion.

[klingon]

Not really sure what you can do other than try to keep moving
But do change the oil more regularly as it'll degrade quicker with higher temps...

Thanks Squiggles. The oil & filter were just changed last month (well actually the entire engine was changed last month...) so she's fine for now, but I will keep that in mind.

...If it was water cooled I'd say hook up an electric fan on a manual switch...

Hmm... I could do that. Or I could carry a fan with me and hop off at each set of lights and fan her...

[Pwalo]

FWIW I really wouldn't worry about it. Air cooled engines are designed to run in a lot hotter temperatures than what you are experiencing.

Even water cooled engines will run hot in slow running. (Hold your hand close to the frame of a sportsbike after it's been out for a run).

[Ixion]

Just use a good engine oil. It's an air cooled engine, it can take high temperatures. I've seen air cooled engines with the cylinder head glowing red hot. Nothing we'll ever get in NZ will be hot enough to be a problem.

[davebullet]

Riding home from work yesterday in the 30-something degrees heat and heavy traffic, I thought my poor wee Volty was going to melt. She was fine while moving but I got quite worried when I had long waits at red lights!

If a long wait... What about turning it off and saving fuel at the same time?

[klingon]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I still think I should get myself a punkah wallah to follow me around and fan me when I stop, but perhaps that's more for my own benefit than the bike's.

davebullet, I wondered about turning it off at the lights but if that stops the oil circulating it might not be such a great idea...

[jrandom]

Just use a good engine oil. It's an air cooled engine, it can take high temperatures. I've seen air cooled engines with the cylinder head glowing red hot. Nothing we'll ever get in NZ will be hot enough to be a problem.

What he said.

Aircooled engines are designed to absorb huge amounts of thermal cycling. It's why they make less power; the tolerances in the bits that go bang have to be sloppier.

I'd say your average modern aircooled motorcycle engine, as Ixion implies, will be able to handle pretty much any temperature change during normal operation. When the metal actually starts to melt, then you have to worry. But I don't think it'd be physically possible to burn enough gas fast enough in the cylinder(s) to inject that much energy into the body of the engine.

And therefore, the issues with temperature changes causing metal expansion and consequent seizing that high-strung water-cooled engines with fine build tolerances have don't really apply to bikes like your Volty or my GSX1400.

Go go aircooled Suzukis!



Also, yes, you'll do better to leave it idling (with the oil pump running) at the lights than you would to turn it off and then start it up again.

[Laava]

Definately go for the punkah wallah!
You deserve it!

[klingon]

Definately go for the punkah wallah!
You deserve it!

Thanks. We can mount the punkah on the back of your bike and tie the string to your helmet. All you need to do is nod continuously whenever I'm behind you. Won't look at all odd, although your aerodynamics may be affected at speed.

[xwhatsit]

Yeah I don't enjoy sitting in traffic in summer. I've got a very similar engine to your Volty in my bike. It's got an oil leak from the valve cover which is normally slight, but in the crazy heat you get in that sort of traffic it starts to leak a bit more and drops the occasional drip onto the hot exhaust headers, making a burning smell and wisps of smoke which add to the effect

I'm sure the engine itself is OK but the clutch starts to feel pretty soggy and can rattle like a Ducati when slipping it to get away from the lights.

All the more reason to split to the front if you can.

[Tony W]

You don't need oil circulating if your engine is off

[Chooky]

If you do plan on turning it off, make sure it will start again when it is hot.
There nothing like getting a green, all the traffic goes and your still there kicking the sh*t out of it....