Oil change on 10yo VFR

My bike has started to heat up more then usual and is due for an oil change. I've been using 10W-40 in it. Should I stick with that or can anyone recommend something more suited to a 2001 model. 80K, engine never cracked open.

 

What kind of weather do you ride in typically? At first blush, I'd think stick with the 10/40.

When you say heating up, assume you mean the engine temp. You might get some relief with an oil change, but I'd be more inclined to think coolant flush. Or possibly even a T-stat going bad? When was the last time the coolant and system was drained and flushed?

 

Oil change is not your issue and what kind of temp change are we talking aboot?. As stated previous T-stat sounds more likely.
And call him Snake.

 

Mid north coast Australia, so mostly warm weather tho winter riding is bit chilly.

I topped up the coolant yesterday, it wasn't below the 'low' line tho. System hasn't been flushed in a while.

Thermo fan wasn't on yesterday either at 102 degrees cel

I ride it every day as my work vehicle, it's only taking about 5km to get to 100 at the moment.

 

Not that there's anything wrong with a oil change, but I'm going to stick by my initial thoughts. You probably need to flush the coolant.

102 Celsius is hot, but not terrible. You're fan is not designed to come on until about 105 Celsius. When it kicks on, it will stay on until temps drop back down to about 100 or 101 Celsius.

5km does sound pretty quick to get to that temperature. I'm thinking your thermostat might be stuck or not opening fully. Could be time to have that replaced.

 

I'd second the coolant flush. Mine was doing something similar last year (2001 as well), routinely hitting 104+ on chilly evening rides on the praries. Changed the coolant, now it rarely gets above 95 even in the city. Your mileage may vary...

 

coolant flush, and don't forget to 'burp' the system. The VFR's tend to run hot, particulalry when stationary at lights for example. I have a fan overide switch installed, so i can choose to kick the fan in early when stationary rather than wait for it to get too hot before it decides to kick in by itself.

 

Engine Ice helped mine a lot. Before I did that I installed VTR fan blade. That helped a lot too. You need to dump the coolant to flush it. You need to dump the coolant to get to this fan blade to change it out. May as well do both.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/6th-generation-2002-2009/29785-vfr-fan-mod-vtr-fan-blade.html

 

Took it out fo a town this arvo for a job. It got up to 110 at highest, pretty much sat at 108. Cool ride home this evening and it still sat about 108. Anyone know the model number of the thermostat? I'd like to change it even if it's not the problem.

 

I don't have the part number available for the t-stat, but based on those temps, it has to be the issue. You'll get her fixed up and cooled down soon!

 

Cheers for that. I have the factory manual but not all the part listings. My local Honda dealer is a knob that destroyed my Vulcan nomad so will need to order one from elsewhere.

 

Managed to get the tank and air box out but the throttle body is stuck... I haven't tried to pry it yet tho.

Is there anything else holding it on other then the hose clamps? I have all 4 of them loosened but the fuel system is stuck pretty tight.... what a nightmare this job is but better then paying sme monkey $1000 to do it and has less idea then I do.

 

I Did it! gently pried the fuel system off! what a pain in the butt! Now for the air box reinstall.... I'm no mechanic but Honda sure as hell put the thermostat in the worst possible place! Thanks for the help guys, i'll prob be screaming out for help to knwo which hose goes on where next.... lucky they are all numbered

 

Good job and good luck. Keep us posted and how everything goes.

 

It should get down to between 79-83 cruising at about 100K on the highway in sub 25C weather. Try hosing the bugs out of your radiators, if that doesn't work it'll be thermostat.

 

Whilst you are there I would have a good look at the hoses. I had one of the hoses to the Thermostat spring a leak last year, which meant every time it got hot and the T-stat opened I dumped green liquid down in the V. You are right it is an absolute pain in the butt to remove the air-box adn throttle bodies, so if you got that far then perhaps consider replacing some of the hoses if they are starting to look a bit bulged. There is a really good how-to post which i folllowed in order to do mine, with red silicone hoses.