It's impossible to say without doing an inspection. Offhand, given the quick restart and good running, I'd say you are most probably good to go. What options do you have beside just riding it and seeing what happens?
I overheated... think I'm ok?
So with the winter being as bitterly cold as it has been for the last few weeks, the one day it broke 40 degrees I decided to roll the bike out of the garage and crank it to keep it from sitting dormant for too long. I set it to max choke, after a couple tries it cranks up. I reduce the choke after a few seconds (thought I cut it all the way off, but I don't think it was quite all the way off) and after a few mins I head inside to check on the lunch I'm cooking. Anyway, I get distracted and when I get back out to the bike the temp light is flashing and the coolant is bubbling. So I freak out and shut the thing entirely off. After worrying about it for a couple minutes I cut the key back to the 'on' position and the fan cuts on for a couple more minutes and finishes cooling things down. I wait for it to cool down a little while longer and then give it a test crank to see if it's still working. Cranks up just fine, idles fine, fan doesn't even cut on. I cut it back off and get ready to head to work. Anyway, I've been worrying about it on and off so I just went out and checked, the oil in the crankcase looks exactly like it did when it was freshly changed a few months ago. Pull the radiator cap off, the coolant level appears to be good, radiator is topped off, coolant is light green and clear.
So does it sound like I'm o.k.? I'm not in a position to ride it any time soon (snow/ice everywhere) but I'm tired of worrying about it. I'm hoping this isn't one of those lessons I have to learn the hard way....
So does it sound like I'm o.k.? I'm not in a position to ride it any time soon (snow/ice everywhere) but I'm tired of worrying about it. I'm hoping this isn't one of those lessons I have to learn the hard way....
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Don't really have any other options for a while. I have no idea when it's going to clear up enough here to make it safe to ride, and after a close call at the beginning of winter I'm *extremely* anxious about riding it when it's really cold even when the roads are clear.
Any inspection I can do that doesn't require driving it around? I'm fairly new to this, and not exactly a mechanical genius, but with enough time I could probably figure my way around some basic inspection-y type stuff. I have the clymer manual.
Any inspection I can do that doesn't require driving it around? I'm fairly new to this, and not exactly a mechanical genius, but with enough time I could probably figure my way around some basic inspection-y type stuff. I have the clymer manual.
Any idea how long the bike was left idling?
My guess is that you're okay, but if you're paranoid enough about cooking the bike fluids along with your lunch, you could drain and refill the bike with fresh oil and coolant.
EDIT: Probably overkill, though, if the fluids still look and smell fresh. (In my experience, cooked motor oil actually smells burnt; not sure what cooked antifreeze smells like, but I imagine it might be a bit less sweet-smelling than fresh stuff.)
Did you at least make something good to eat for lunch?
My guess is that you're okay, but if you're paranoid enough about cooking the bike fluids along with your lunch, you could drain and refill the bike with fresh oil and coolant.
EDIT: Probably overkill, though, if the fluids still look and smell fresh. (In my experience, cooked motor oil actually smells burnt; not sure what cooked antifreeze smells like, but I imagine it might be a bit less sweet-smelling than fresh stuff.)
Did you at least make something good to eat for lunch?
Lol. Yeah, taco soup. (It's like chili, but way more flavorful). Not worth the cost of a new engine, or even the time/labor that would be involved in a new headgasket!
A new headgasket can be installed in about an hour if needed but I doubt you messed anything up. What I'd be more concerned about is why it overheated in the first place.
See, I wondered that too but I read somewhere that if you leave it idling for a while without moving so air can hit the radiator, it can get hot. No?
I'm betting you overheated cause most of your coolant was still an ice cube
what you describe is what happens when you run an engine that doesn't have enuf antifreeze and freezes the coolant, the small amount that is liquid boild quicly cause the ice won't let the coolant circulate
what you describe is what happens when you run an engine that doesn't have enuf antifreeze and freezes the coolant, the small amount that is liquid boild quicly cause the ice won't let the coolant circulate
You think it was ice? It seems like a long shot since was colder tonight than it was when I went to crank it the last time and the coolant seemed very liquidy tonight. And it's not like it started overheating from the start...?
Maybe you still had some choke on, and that had something to do with it? How fast was the bike revving, and for how long?
Agreed. I doubt you did any serious damage.Offhand, given the quick restart and good running, I'd say you are most probably good to go.
It's not leaking fluids now, right?
Starts / runs / idles OK, right?
You are probably OK.
It started and ran like normal that day, I'm going to give it another crank on Sunday (another 'above freezing' day). No leaks or anything like that. I think it was revving around 2000rpm? I'm not sure how long, but a little while... I kinda got distracted and lost track of time. It's not like it was an hour or anything, but it was a little while.
Meh, you're worrying too much. I think it's all good.
You think it was ice? It seems like a long shot since was colder tonight than it was when I went to crank it the last time and the coolant seemed very liquidy tonight. And it's not like it started overheating from the start...?
So with the winter being as bitterly cold as it has been for the last few weeks, the one day it broke 40 degrees
if it was bitterly cold as you say, I don't know what that means to you, but if it was bitterly cold as I think of bitterly cold, and not protected, the coolant might take more than a day to thaw, even if it was just slushy, your waterpump wouldn't be circulating the coolant properlywhen I get back out to the bike the temp light is flashing and the coolant is bubbling. ....
what you decsribe is exactly what happens when coolant freezes, the engine overheats
you say its colder not but not frozen, BUT have you had bitter cold in the meantime?
I'd check the coolant with a hygrometer
Hrm... I see what you're saying... it's been stored in the garage all winter, and it was below freezing in the garage in the days leading up to the 'warm' day (maybe low teens at night and 20s during the day outside)..... But it's been teens/20s the last few days (the same conditions leading up to the 'warm' day) and when I checked the garage tonight the coolant wasn't anywhere near slushy. So I dunno. The manual says a 50/50 mix would be good to -24... *shrug*
Anyone in columbus ohio have a hygrometer handy to settle this? lol.
edit: FWIW, any time it gets into the teens and stays there for days at a time, and you're from the south, that's 'bitterly cold' Maybe I should put that as a disclaimer.
Anyone in columbus ohio have a hygrometer handy to settle this? lol.
edit: FWIW, any time it gets into the teens and stays there for days at a time, and you're from the south, that's 'bitterly cold' Maybe I should put that as a disclaimer.
The only time I ever got my fan and light to come on was running it too long at high idle while parked. FYI, 50/50 coolant at 15psi boils at 276 degrees.
Edit: that's hyDrometer, $2 at auto parts store
Edit: that's hyDrometer, $2 at auto parts store
I think you're OK.
I got stuck riding in a parade last year... stop & go for 10 miles... the engine was way hot (and this was in November '07) and the fan kept running; The light came on once; after the parade, no issues. Once I cleared the parade & got her up to speed, all was good. Liquid cooling + electric fan + good coolant... not an issue.
I got stuck riding in a parade last year... stop & go for 10 miles... the engine was way hot (and this was in November '07) and the fan kept running; The light came on once; after the parade, no issues. Once I cleared the parade & got her up to speed, all was good. Liquid cooling + electric fan + good coolant... not an issue.
2,000 rpm means you either had the choke partway on, or your idle speed is set too high. Warm idle should be 1,300 -1,500 rpm.
Too high idle speed + sitting in one place without airflow = temp light on.
I would watch it for a while for any leaks and listen for any unusual noises, but if it runs okay, I'd stop worrying.
Too high idle speed + sitting in one place without airflow = temp light on.
I would watch it for a while for any leaks and listen for any unusual noises, but if it runs okay, I'd stop worrying.
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