| Author | Message | ||
     9rocket9 |
I'm new to this board and am looking for info regarding engine heat. I live in Arizona where its damn hot right now (110-115 mid day). Any sort of ride on my xb9s has the cooling fan coming on within minutes. Can the heat cause engine problems, is there anything I can do to lower the heat(engine oil or such)? Any more desert xbers out there?} | ||
| Mikej |
9Rocket9, If what I've read here and elsewhere is correct, you should be fine. Up here in Wisconsin last weekend there were a couple of XB9's and their fans were always turning on, and it was nowhere near 110°F. I have also heard that your region is one of the testing grounds for some of the new bikes, so if your summer heat was going to be a problem it would have been discovered before now most likely. You can probably add an oil cooler if you want, or run synthetic oil if you're not already running synthetic oil/lubes, but beyond that you are probably without concern. Ride and be happy. | ||
| Glitch |
I live in Atlanta. Not that hot here, but, it's been hot enough (humid too) for the fan to stay on most of the time on long rides. I did notice once I started using synthetic oil that the fan would turn off sooner than my friend's bike's fan. He hasn't gone to synthetic yet. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Switch to synthetic oil! It has a much higher break down temp than regular dyno juice. It costs more but is well worth it for a air cooled motor. My shifting improved when I switched the tranny to synth. I use Mobil One 20/50 V-Twin for the motor and Mobil One 75/90 gear lube. HD has their own synth flavor available now, it's all about the same $$ give or take. Good luck! Brad | ||
| 9rocket9 |
Good stuff guys.......thanks any suggestions on which synthetic oils? | ||
| Darthane |
I also use the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W50 in the engine and Mobil 1 75W90 in the tranny. Much better shifting and my oil is always in better shape when I change it than before. | ||
| Darthane |
Oh, kind of an odd suggestion, but if you're really worried about it, invest in a larger oil cooler (you could probably reuse the stock XB oil cooler mounts) and run some little electric fans to suck air through there so that even at rest the oil cooler is working well. | ||
| Aesquire |
So far, happy with the H-D Syn3. (but not a lot of miles on it yet, does improve shifting) I've liked Castrol Synth, but just read that they changed base stocks, so.... Go Mobile 1 or H-D synthetic & don't worry. (The fan comes on long before engine melts. lol) | ||
| Thad |
Another Desert XBer here. My 9S does the same thing. Have not had the bike overheat though. I don't pay a whole lot of attention to the fan, just doing it's job. According to the owners manual, the bike will let you know when it gets too hot. Flashing engine light and by cutting back on firing the rear cylinder.  | ||
| 9rocket9 |
Thanks to all, I'm also using the Harley syn3 so may stick with it for awhile. Thad, where have you found to ride between the cactus and roadrunners? I like the ride up to Prescott....higher you go the cooler it gets, some neat curves! | ||
| Thad |
Where I am still new to the area and to street bikes in general, I have not ventured to far outside of Chandler yet. I mainly ride in Chandler and up to Mesa and down through Ocotillo. I plan to head out with a friend from work who knows the area a lot better next weekend though. | ||
| Dmuz |
I agree with Darthane. Mobile-1 Synthetics are the way to go. I ride in Austin, Texas (y'all) and my fan is on most of the time on a hot day. After my break-in, I changed the oil to 20W/50 Mobile-1 Synthetic Motorcycle oil and my bike definitely spins the fan less which tells me it's running cooler. Also, don't forget that your engine is still loosening up far past the short break-in period. After 3000 miles, my bike cools down quicker when put-putting back into my neighborhood after a ride and seems to run a bit cooler. I'm glad that there's a "thermal" thread going in this site because I've got to ask a question I haven't seen anyone address about the new "12" models coming out. Everything is identical, spec-wise, to the "9" models except for breathing gear and stroke. Last time I checked, more power equals more heat. I think that anyone who's been riding for a while will tell you that modern bikes make much more power and are much more refined all around from older bikes. But there's a price. You've got to shed that heat and newer bikes put off more heat. In Texas during the summer, that's not a selling point. I'm being long-winded here, but my rear is already toasty from my XB9S... I can't help but wonder how much hotter the XB12S would run??? I have thoughts of swapping up, but not if it's going to cook me. I've always felt that my Buell's hot-rodded Sportster engine was already dealing with more heat that it was originally designed to make... the 12s will unquestionably make more heat than our 9s. Thoughts? | ||
| Darthane |
There was a picture posted a little while ago (can't find it at the moment) of a XB12R that had obviously seen some use - the exhaust pipes were blue all the down to the can! On mine only the top 8" or so are blued (admittedly, I don't flog it constantly, but still). I'd say they will definitely run warmer, but how much is up for grabs. I'm toying with the idea of a larger oil cooler w/ forced cooling like I suggested above. Running cooler is a good thing! | ||
| Dmuz |
Cooler is always better. I was looking at my oil cooler (radiator). It couldn't be much taller and still fit (and look right). But I think it could be a bit deeper (outside of bike to inside) and maybe wider (front of bike to back of bike). Also, if the scoop of the bike was slightly over-sized to force more air volume though at speed it would be a good thing. Wondering if anyone knows of a bolt-on replacement oil cooler radiator like that. I'm all over bolt-on mods that don't require more than hand tools and the cost of parts. Gives me time to spend with a beer and music in my garage with my SECOND favorite girl. | ||
| Glitch |
XB12R that had obviously seen some use - the exhaust pipes were blue all the down to the can! Do ya think that may be from the interactive exhaust? Back pressure holding the heat in... | ||
| Skully |
"Cooler is always better." This is not true. Oil must get hot enough to burn off contaminants and moisture. Have you actually measured your oil temperature after a long ride? Keith | ||
| Glitch |
Read me | ||
| Skully |
Glitch, I agree with most of what it says but I think it may be a bit outdated for synthetic oils. They typically oxidize at much higher temperatures. If needed, I'll be glad to dig up supporting documentation. Keith | ||
| Dmuz |
Didn't realize that there was a minimum heat to hit with oil... just took it for granted it was getting plenty hot enough. When I said, cooler is better, I really meant on my butt. ;-] Thanks! | ||
| Blake |
Try header wrap. Works great. |
