Cooling Issue / Second Fan Mod?

This past Friday coming home from work my bike started to over heat. It was about 100-102*F, in Friday evening / holiday week traffic, splitting lanes. Temp started climbing, and kept climbing. When it hit 245*F, I decided to pull over for a few minutes. By the time I was stopped under a bridge, the bike was at 251*F and the temp gauge flashing. Waited for it too cool off a bit (with the fan running), then made it to the next exit to a parking lot to let it sit for 30 minutes (temp dropped to 160*F). From this point, I was able to make it 30 miles to the bike shop which is on my way home. Traffic started moving again, but the bike was still at 230-235*F running at 65-70 mph.

Bike shop could not duplicate this on Saturday, but think the temp switch may be going bad. Since I have had this bike less than two weeks, I'm still learning its habits. It does run hotter on average compared to the inline fours with front rads I've owned.

Has anyone added a fan to the right hand rad and had success with it? I've read several threads about doing this, but didn't quite see anything after they rode a summer with it.

I have read the threads about having the fan turn on at a lower temp, but not sure this would help in my situation of hot days and heavy traffic, which I'm in frequently.

Thanks in advance.....

 

Did you hear the fan kicking on?

 

Dukiedook - I could not tell if the fan came on initially when the temp was climbing. It was on while I was on the side of the road waiting for it to cool off, but this was after a power cycle (turning the bike off then turning key back on without starting).

 

Don't forget the possibility that coolant amount might be too low......Radiator cap could have failed......

Runs cooler without the lower fairings if there's no other cure !

Probably never gets to 100F in Japan, so the bike never got proper testing !? :crazy:

 

Is your fan kicking on at 220? Are we sure your stat is working?
Have you flushes and replaced coolant? More water / antifreeze 40/60? Tried water wetter?

All stuff to check before adding a fan etc.

 

squirrelman - the bike is at the Honda dealer (still under warranty). They said everything checked out; coolant level, system pressure, fan turning on at temp........... Sounded like they wanted to change the temp switch to be pro-active. I am trying to think beyond what they do.

I suppose I could make a street fighter out of it (no fairings)...

 

If the VFR runs warmer normally, I need to figure out how to keep control of it because I do live in a hot environment. 90-100*F plus, summer days, surrounded by cages doing 20-30 mph is "normal" for me. And yes, I average about 16,000 miles a year doing this. Reliability is not an option, it's a must.

bitterpil - Flushing the system, installing water wetter, and blowing out the radiator fins is all on my list of things to do once I get the bike back.

 

May want to run more water than antifreeze. Water cools better, but yeah, you may want to install a fan switch to allow you to run the fan manually. Also use a blower fan rather than a puller.
Check the site for fan mods. Pay prticular attention to anything from norcalboy.

 

Wish I could be more help. As others have stated, my fan kicks on around 220F. Even on days like today (100+F degree commute) I never get above 230F. I personally would check yet again for air in the coolant system.

 

Thanks for the info jarboe3. It's good to know that your bike doesn't overheat in the same conditions.

 

Fan goes on at 220F ?? No, i don't think so. Switch has numerals stamped on the side that read "100", which i take for 100C or 212F.

 

My fan kicks on about 220 and off around 215. There are plenty of people that ride in very hot temps that are not having the issue you are. We have seasons here but in the summer it is not uncommon for me to be in 104 temps with stop and go traffic. I dont think I get over 235.

I wonder if your water pump isnt working or maybe you have a broken impeller etc. maybe your pressure, level and thermo are good but your pump isn't circulating the coolant. Or maybe they filled the fukin think with 100% antifreze and not a mix. Shit! Ya never know.

 

Sorry to hear you don't think so. Maybe I need to update the procedure I have been following for this.
Step 1: Listen for fan
Step 2: Look at gauge

 

UPDATE - Honda shop replaced the thermostat, which actually tested good along with the rest of the system. So far, bike has been running within temps. I had one day it climbed to 232*F; in slow moving traffic at about 95*F outside temp. Hoping next week to have time to do complete flush and install water wetter. More to follow.......

 

Not sure how to reply, other than my bike doesn't turn on the fan that early. In the garage, my fan turns on at 223F, and off at 205-210F. Did this three times one night, and twice another night, same numbers.

 

UPDATE #2 - Drained coolant, flushed, and installed a 60/40 mixture with water wetter. Result, not much change. The temps seem to be more stable, or less fluctuation. It still runs warmer than I like to see. For example, outside temp is 93F, moving at 80 MPH, and the bike temp is 232F. Honda shop did all their checks and said the system is good. Personally, the bike is fine, I don't think I am in the best environment for the side radiator system. Just my opinion.

 

Hey brathabit

Not sure if this helps or not but just for comparison sake I quite often ride my bike in stop and go traffic and summer temps are quite often in the mid 100's here. I went for a ride with my son last weekend and the outside temp was 40 degrees Celcius (around 104 F) and my bike ran at approx 90*C (194 F) as long as I was doing over 50 mph. When I started riding around in town and going much slower it peaked at about 106*C (223 F). My fan normally kicks on at 96 C (205 F) and then shuts off at 88 C (190 F).

My bike is a 2000 VFR so it is a bit older but it sounds like your bike is running a bit hot if it is at 232 F when doing 80 mph. There have been more than a few people on the forum that have installed a manual fan so that you can turn the fan on manually when you hit slower traffic. The switch goes inline with the auto switch so it does not interfere with the operation of the automatic switch just gives you the ability to be proactive. I'd never profess to being a mechanic but personally I still think you may have an issue. If the bike is under warranty, is there another shop you could take it to for a second opinion?

 

If you're riding at 80mph, and your bike is at 232, you have a problem somewhere. I live in Las Vegas. The high for today is only 103. And I deal with a lot of heat issues, but not like that. I think you have a problem somewhere.

Separately, I put a fan switch on mine, and it was super easy. Iv'e done it before with other bikes, and it allows me to switch the fan on when I get into traffic, not after it's already really hot. So I'd suggest that, but I also think you have a cooling problem somewhere else.

 

^^^This.

That is WAY too hot. At speed in 90+ degree weather (80 mph), mine never gets above 190. Max sitting in HOT traffic has been 221, dropping quickly when the fan came on.

 

At 80mph and your at 230 degree then something is going on . My 2007 VFR at 80mph never gets over 180 to 185 . even at 55mph never gets over 185 .
even in town at 25mph never over 227 . Something is going on . I just recently took my bike in to Honda for service and they told me the radiator cap should be changed every 2 years . so maybe take a look at that .