Operating temperature variations

[maverick2076]

My wife and I both ride S10’s. Mine is a ‘15 ES, 26k miles. Hers is a ‘14 non-ES, 8k milesI’ve noticed that my bike seems to run a bit warmer than hers. Running down the highway here in the summer, my temps will be between 208-215, whereas hers seems to run more in the 186-195 range. The highest I’ve seen on mine is 219, stopped in traffic. Mine was reflashed by Anthony, while hers is stock. I checked my radiator, and it is clean and undamaged. The fan comes on just fine. Coolant levels are fine. Radiator is full, and the overflow is just above the bottom line when cold. Is this an issue, or am I just being paranoid? I’m leaving on a 3 week, 4000 mile trip in two weeks, and I’d like to either take care of it if there is a problem or put it out of my mind.

 

[WJBertrand]

That sounds too hot for when the bike’s in motion. Mine is a ‘15 ES and typically runs in the 170s at normal ambient temps. In hot weather and loaded it’ll run in the upper 180s. I’ve never seen it go about 190 underway at highway speeds. It’ll hit over 200 in traffic or stopped though.


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[RCinNC]

My experience is the same as WJBertrand's; I rode out in Moab last summer and it was balls hot, but I don't think I ever got past 190F while cruising loaded and two-up. The only time I've ever reached temperatures like you're describing is when I was sitting still in traffic. Normal operating range for me here in NC in the summer while I'm riding is in the 170's to 180's .

That being said, I couldn't find anything in the service manual or owner's manual that proscribes an operating temperature range while riding; only that you'll get an "H" warning on the instrument pod if the coolant temperature gets too hot, and that coolant temperature will vary with riding conditions. If you aren't getting a warning at those temperatures, you must be okay.

If yours is a '15 model and you've never replaced your coolant, I probably would do that first. Drain the old stuff, flush it with distilled water a couple times, then add the new coolant. I'd see if that made any difference.

 

[airmed]

I'm with WJ. That's way too hot when the bike's moving at speed. 170's for me as well.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Mine will occasionally get close to 220F if I'm sitting in traffic and it's a humid 90+ degrees out. As long as it doesn't boil over or empty the reservoir I don't worry about it.

 

[Mak10]

I notice some variation with how the wind is blowing as well. If the wind is blowing with me I have seen temperatures run 195. Slower speeds under 30mph and my fan cycles.

 

[EricV]

The coolant change is a good idea and won't hurt anything. There is also a question to if the sensor is correct or not. It might be worth either breaking out the FSM and checking the coolant sensor for correct operation, or a trip to the dealer. Especially if you have the YES warranty.

Have you double checked that the air intake slot doesn't have any debris? I've had birds go in there in the past. Finally put a screen across it.

 

[dell835]

Mine doesn’t get above 180 degrees unless there is a reason.

 

[RCinNC]

The coolant change is a good idea and won't hurt anything. There is also a question to if the sensor is correct or not. It might be worth either breaking out the FSM and checking the coolant sensor for correct operation, or a trip to the dealer. Especially if you have the YES warranty.

Have you double checked that the air intake slot doesn't have any debris? I've had birds go in there in the past. Finally put a screen across it.

I had a bird strike last year in Colorado, right up the right side intake. If I hadn't looked directly inside the intake, I'd have never seen it. He was wedged in there so tight that I had a heck of a time prying him out, and he definitely blocked the whole intake, like a feathered cork.

 

[jeckyll]

I had a bird strike last year in Colorado, right up the right side intake. If I hadn't looked directly inside the intake, I'd have never seen it. He was wedged in there so tight that I had a heck of a time prying him out, and he definitely blocked the whole intake, like a feathered cork.

Jeezz, I'd never considered that!

Messy to get out I'm sure!

 

[Lux]

I agree it sounds like a sensor issue. Can you swap the two sensors from bike to bike and see what the readings are?

 

[maverick2076]

I’ve had it for a year. No idea if the PO changed the coolant or not, so I’ll do that. Radiator and the intake are clean. The radiator cap felt a little gritty, like maybe the seal is dry, so I ordered a new one. Maybe I’ll swap the sensor while I am at it.

 

[RCinNC]

Jeezz, I'd never considered that!

Messy to get out I'm sure!

LOL, yeah, it was pretty gross. I saw him fly right in front of me and then dive down, and I thought he missed me. I was probably going 65 or 70 at the time. We stopped in a hardware store to get some Gorilla Tape to reattach a Sena cable to my helmet, and my girlfriend said "hey, I can see a foot back in that hole-thingy on the bike". I'm taking dramatic license with that; she may not have said "hole-thingy", but whatever it was, it was close. Looked inside the vent and I could see a claw, attached to a big yellow lump. Getting it out was like trying to pull a water balloon through a kid's plastic bracelet.

 

[maverick2076]

I did have the Rumbux engine guard bags on, although I don’t see how that could make a difference. I pulled them off. I also had the 26k service done about a thousand miles ago, so they did valve checks, changed fluids, put in new spark plugs, changed the air filter, etc. They did not change the coolant.

 

[RCinNC]

Funny you should mention that. At one time I had some crash bar bags on my bike. Left side one was attached to the top of the crash bar, right in line with the exhaust from the radiator fan. I began smelling something hot while I was riding, and I noticed the temperature was creeping up. I stopped to check the left bag, and found that the rear of the bag was so too hot to touch comfortably. It makes sense, if you think about it; if you block the airflow that's trying to exhaust heat from the radiator, then the heat removal is getting slowed down and the heat is staying in the system. I moved the bag lower down on the Altrider bars so the left one wasn't blocking the fan exhaust, and didn't have the issue again.

 

[maverick2076]

Took it for a ride without the crash bar bags. No difference. However, I think I found the problem. Check out the picture. Side cover on the left is from my wife’s bike. Side cover on the right is from mine. Notice anything different?

 

[RCinNC]

Looks like you're missing something...

 

[maverick2076]

Yup. No air guide. No idea why that would have ever been removed, but as I have discovered through other issues, the previous owner of my bike was a fucking idiot. Kinda hard to get air to the right place without that guide there, I’d imagine.

 

[jeckyll]

Yup. No air guide. No idea why that would have ever been removed, but as I have discovered through other issues, the previous owner of my bike was a fucking idiot. Kinda hard to get air to the right place without that guide there, I’d imagine.

Good that you found it!

 

[maverick2076]

Me too. I’m going to put my wife’s panel on my bike to verify that that is the issue, but it makes sense to me.