Motor runs hot on longer rides
- Thread starter Tripod
- Start date
Mikeinjersey
Well-Known Member
I can't help you with the oil cooler info but If your running hot your engine may be running too lean. Double check your carb adjustments especially if your experiencing excessive Decel pop. Make sure your not blocking air flow over your engine with stuff that's been added to the bike. Use a quality oil.
Tripod
Member
Is the oil cooler a bad idea ?
Mikeinjersey
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say "bad idea" but maybe unnecessary. After all, most guys don't use them and they didn't come stock or as an option when manufactured. Others may have a different opinion though. I've heard of people adding a fan to help cool when in traffic but I haven't seen it.
SKOGDOG
One of the old ones.
Mike inJersey has a point here. And how do you know the engine is too hot? Cooler isn’t always better. The thing to check besides blue exhaust pipes would be your oil temp. Keep in mind our engine oil not only lubricates, but also provides some engine cooling too. I was pretty interested in what might be the recommended operating oil temps for our air cooled bikes, thinking that oil probably has an optimal operating temp. It was hard to find good data, but I concluded that oil works best between 180-220 degrees. Oil coolers are useless in a traffic jam, and living in the Midwest, I wouldn’t have oil coolers if they weren’t on the bike when purchased. Mine does have oil coolers, which I cover from October through June (or so).
Jersey Big Mike
100K mile club
Hey, I live by that, oh wait -- you meant the bike!
Jersey Big Mike
100K mile club
I wouldn't say they are useless in a traffic jam but they are of limited use.
They do slightly increase the amount of oil in the system, they expose a greater surface area to cooling. Which might only make a 1-2 degree difference but if that thedifference between running and going into limp mode I'll take it.
I did have my old K-9 go into limp mode before I had dual coolers, and once when I only had a single BDM cooler but that day was insane.
Temporarily I'm back to a single but will run duals again (had a leak) just for that added little bit since I live in the South.
Where do you live? If you're not in 100degree days and traffic you shouldn't require them especially with synthetic oil.
I'm not a fan of Lucas oil, I prefer Castrol synthetic or Mobil One when I can't get the castrol.
Try a run with an alternative oil next time and check the jets and plugs for running too lean as mentioned.
Tripod
Member
Thanks guys, great advise, the reason I mentioned the oil cooler was - A partner of mine , make that 2 partners , both just went through their motors , they both had over 300.000 miles on their bikes, they swear by them ! 1 rides a 03 flh I believe, the other an old shovelhead ! Thought it might help ! Thanks very much , I don't have a oil temp gauge on my bike , but I will get one........
knothead
Second Chance Customs
I have a almost like brand new oil cooler and a stash tube kit with lines but with that said im not sure what size your down tubes are so they may not fit your frame...im fixing to go home from work so i will get you the mounting size and post pics of the cooler and stash tube...just let me know if you are interested ...they where on a 04 ridgeback for 2 summers and they look like brand new.
I live in Florida and don’t need them on my choppers
Tripod
Member
M
My down tubes are 1 1/4 outside and thank you for the response (offer) I am very interested! I had accumulated a oil cooler from some place or another , but I don't think it's going to work with future plans I have for my bike ! The style you are talking about are more what I was thinking !
Nope . If you’re committed to a cooler get what Knothead has. They will look dope on your bike.
Feedback to watch the seasons change. Raise your hand if the engine got so hot it seized the engine? Show me a shitting running bike being too lean and sticks a piston on the hottest day of the year.
No hands raised. Ride the bike, change the oil a lot. I saved your ass from so many oil leaks I just had to have a cooler. Show me a HD and old HD with zero oil coolers and are still running. Grab a beer and cool off is the day you stop on the bike, the hottest day of the year, and it starts right back up and rides you home.
Signed,
NOLTT (no one listens to temperatures)
No hands raised. Ride the bike, change the oil a lot. I saved your ass from so many oil leaks I just had to have a cooler. Show me a HD and old HD with zero oil coolers and are still running. Grab a beer and cool off is the day you stop on the bike, the hottest day of the year, and it starts right back up and rides you home.
Signed,
NOLTT (no one listens to temperatures)
