Normal operating temp, '00 VFR???

Picked up my new-to-me 2000 VFR yesterday. Has about 5800 miles on it. On the way home, ca. 20 miles or so, the coolant temp consistently stayed in the 210F to 220F range, occasionally hitting 225F. A lot of heat gets dumped out over my right boot, too.

Air temp yesterday evening was in the mid-80's. Speeds were 45-60 on back roads.

What's "normal" operating temp for these machines? I have not checked the coolant levels but will this morning. I've already been advised to use nothing but non-silica Honda coolant. The nearest dealer is a good ways off - is there another coolant option?

Thanks in advance,
C

 

I've had my '00 viffer for about 12 months and the average air temperature in summer is around 35 C (95F). With those air temps I find my bike running about 80-85 C (175-185 F). The temps will climb in stop/start traffic but thankfully this is very infrequent (minimal traffic congestion).

Even if you have a service history - I would strongly suggest getting the radiators flushed and new coolant as well as getting the thermostat checked.

Let us know how you get on!

Cheers,

Skid

 

I have a 2006 and it ranges from 185F-225F depending on the outside temps. Any slow city riding in 80+ degrees has the fans kicking on at 225F. 40 degrees fluctuation in operating temperature seems excessive to me.

 

My readout is set to canuck temperature (celsius), and on the highway it reads 81 degress constantly. In the city it doesn't take long to heat up, but the fan kicks in at 106 degrees and shuts off once the engine temp is back down to 97-98. This seems pretty good considering my buddy's R1 runs a lot hotter all the time, although I am considering a switch to a more expensive and "high performance" coolant.:smokin:

 

225 Degrees F is nothing to fret about. Almost all VFRs run hot. Perfectly normal.

This has been covered a million times. Do a search.

HTH,
Jake

 

Yes, I agree with those who think there is no worry at 200 to 225 temp. The manual said it is normal at that temp. I would only worry if it hit 250 while riding.

 

Ok, well that answers one of my questions that's been on my mind as well. But what about the direction of the air that flows from the fan? When mine kicks on, it sucks air into the engine area, rather than blowing it out the fairings like you'd think it would. That seems like it would counteract with the air coming into the fairings from the front and make air flow through the left radiator a problem. Are they all like this? And has anyone used Water Wetter or Engine Ice?

 

The fan reverses direction automatically when the bike reaches 8-10 MPH or so and blows air the other way. This is why most Gen 5 VFRs are fine when stopped or going down the road, but tend to heat up in stop-and go traffic on a hot day. It's because the fan fights airflow (but only at those very low speeds).


HTH,
Jake

 

wow. that's some wierd logic i'd like to hear honda explain. i can't figure why blowing air into the engine area helps temps at low speeds. wouldn't you want to suck hot air out? strange is all i can say. but at least i know the fan is working properly.

 

I believe their logic was that a fan that sucked when sitting still blew less hot air at the rider when he was in stop & go traffic. Sadly, I believe the opposite may be true...


Jake

 

Operating Temp

My 1999 always ran at 77 C

 

+1 for my 2004

 

That is the reasoning, less hot air blown on the rider and not pulling hot air off of the exhaust headers.

Re: proper coolant. Honda is of course recommended and best but any non-silica coolant can be used. I think the new GM coolants are same spec as Honda. You just want to protect the aluminum water pump from any of the coolants with silica (very abrasive to aluminum).

keith.

 

I have a post up here about overheatin too. i just replaced the thermostat in my 96 vfr and what a pain in the ass. i also checked the water pump too. put'er all back together and seems to have nipped the problem. although it seems to run kinda hot when stop an go traffic comes up(mid 80's high altittude sun). my fan kicks on and keeps it from gettin' to outa control. it was mentioned earlier that some of the older bikes run hot anyway....for real? ....i wish i had a temp gauge on board to know some of these numbers.

 

My '04 runs hot, never below 174 deg F., usually somewher above 200 deg F. depending on how fast I am going and how warm it is that day.

I don't really like it, but have been assured that this is normal by normal; people who should know, .... OK!

Biggest problem I see is that I think that the heat may be contributing to what is destroying the voltage regulators, and there is no margin for a cooling fan malfunction.

Fortunatly it is a reliable bike with few problems.

 

I had similar problems with my 99 Fi-X and went through the usual stuff before relaising that what it really neded was for me not to use the short cut down by a building site to as not to have much chucked through the rads all the time. One careful fairingless power wash later, she is back to tip top shape!

Go for the simple stuff first I say!

A

 

This is my first reply so I'm just testing it out on an old thread and something I know about. My 2000 runs at 90-110 degrees over the outside temperature driving over 45mph (About 185 is average). I just drained and put new coolant in it. Prestone 50/50 for all engines. Before this it was running about 195. I bought it new and this is the second time I have replaced the coolant. 27K miles. The fan kicks on at 222 and cools it down to about 195 before it turns off. For some strange reason my fan didn't kick on in traffic last week and it got up to 137... but all is well now.

 

My 07VFR's fan kicks on at 221F, and sucks air in all the time and does not reverse direction at speed. It would be a good idea if my fan did switch directions when at speed. It wouldn't have to fight the natural air flow.The reason is, it pulls cool air into the radiator rather than the hot air that is under the body work. If it blew air out, the air coming into the rad. would already be hot from the headers. Honda says the design of the body work produces a low pressure area which sucks air out of the engine area and through the radiator, while at speed. But my fan rarely comes on while at speed, only when in heavy traffic.

 

If you're running at 225 degrees in the mid 80s at those speeds I'd recommend doing a flush and fill of your coolant system. I have a 2000 VFR, have had it since it was new, and it tended to run hotter and hotter as the years passed. Every time I flushed the coolant system and put in new coolant the average operating temps dropped. A lot.

Right now under the conditions you mention in your post I'd expect my bike to run at about 175-185 degrees (F).

Besides the ambient temp you also have to consider humidity and whether or not your getting clean air to your radiators. By which I mean air not disturbed by the traffic ahead of you. My bike always seems to run cooler when I'm not behind a car or truck.