[silverbullet]

Hi folks

My 2003 SV650s is my first bike and I got a little concerned about the engine temperature (digital gauge) that register about 205 F during highway riding at 80 mph.

I experimented by taking the lower fairing out and it registered 191 F. Little wind blast protection without the lower fairing though.

My question is: Is this normal operating temperature? Thanks in advance

 

[jdewkilla]

thats about perfect. engine oil is best between 190 - 212F.

 

[nealt900]

mines always inbetween 165F and 180F

 

[Oh My Sack!]

I'd say just a little bit on the high side but not too bad. What was the ambient air temp that you were riding in?

Mine traditionally runs about 185-190 when travelling freeway speeds and above in our typical 80 degree weather on a summer day.

 

[silverbullet]

Today's high in sunny San Diego was 65 F.
I can't tell the level of coolant (empty or full) in my reservoir because the liquid inside is clear color. Is this normal? How do I flush the coolant?

 

[andyauger]

Not Again!

 

[andyauger]

NOT AGAIN!

The temperature you see is not the engine operating temperature. It's the temperature of the coolant coming out of the engine, more or less. The operating temperature is controlled by the thermostat. Coolant in the engine heats up until the thermostat reaches its setpoint. The thermostat opens, the observed temperature goes up, cooler coolant from the radiator flows through the engine until the thermostat cools below its setpoint and it closes. The cycle repeats.

If the cooling load gets high enough the thermostat will stay open all the time (steady, high reading). If it gets even hotter the fan will kick on to help get rid of heat. If the load is too much for even that to help then the high temperature warning will light up.

The sensor is not instantaneous. It takes several seconds for it to stabilize. The more often the thermostat opens, the higher the observed temperature will be. The higher the average temperature of the coolant in the radiator, the higher the observed temperature will be.

That's still not operating temperature, which (repeating myself) is controlled by the thermostat.

 

[Oh My Sack!]

Very good Andy!

But I think you're splitting hairs given the fact the coolant temp is the only frame of reference the operator has of temperature, it's just gonna get referred to as operating temp. Perhaps you could rig an array of sensors like I have on the aircraft that would give you Exhaust Gas Temp (EGT), Cylinder Head Temp (CHT), and while your at it, Manifold Pressure (MP)! ;D

 

[Aucar3]

Perhaps you could rig an array of sensors like I have on the aircraft that would give you Exhaust Gas Temp (EGT), Cylinder Head Temp (CHT), and while your at it, Manifold Pressure (MP)! ;D

you don't need and airplane to have those gauges, just a nice turbo diesel truck.

 

[Ninjabob]

I live in vegas and it gets realy hot in the summer, Up to 120F. one of the first things I checked was the maximum temperature the thermostat should display, I remember 260F. the thermostat kicks in at or near 191F. On a super hot summer day stuck in traffic ive seen it get up to 218F at most, the fan kicks in for a bit and the temp drops back down to 212F. the sensor that tells you the temp on your display is the brass plug on the right side of your radiator, so that temperature is whatever the coolant temp is at that point. if youre worried about overheating, or shock cooling (dramatic reduction in temp) run a heavyer or lighter oil respectively.

 

[Jay V]

The temp should change as the thermostat opens and closes (as andy described).

I was watching mine the other day - 55 degrees, steady 65mph, flat road, watched it for about 10 miles. Temp went from 176 to 193 exactly, then fell back down - always the same - 176 to 193.


Jay

 

[jakewest789]

mines around 180-190 while moving, but when sitting at stoplights it can get up there. highest i saw was 220, i thought the engine was gonna explode.

speeeeaking of that, funny off-topic story. some jetta goes blowing by me today while i was in the car and it was making a really loud tapping noise. i remarked how that thing sounds like the engines gonna explode and about 10 seconds later the engine blows lol. i almost went out and bought a lottery ticket hahah.

 

[SD 650S]

205 seems too high for a SV in motion. Sitting and idling, yes, some bikes fans will turn on anywhere from 210 - 220.

In motion, your SV's temp will hover anywhere from 178 - 195 as the thermostat opens and closes.

On my 2003: 184 - 195 range / Fan on at 210
On my 2006: 179 - 190 range / Fan on at 215

BTW - I'm also in San Diego, and even though it was a bit warm today, the bikes never got over 195 while in motion.

 

[easydoesit]

Sheesh, I've yet to break 200 on mine. My normal rolling temp around at about 50 MPH is like 175 - 185

 

[Livewire]

Sheesh, I've yet to break 200 on mine. My normal rolling temp around at about 50 MPH is like 175 - 185

Probably from all the easydoesit driving .

 

[easydoesit]

Probably from all the easydoesit driving .

[/IMG]
Maybe I'm just captain slow :\

 

[Flaerion]

30mph-55mph = 166F
55-75 = 166-173
hard use (twisties solo) = 177
Extreme use (twisties with riding buddy being a motivational influence) = 185

Won't breach 230F with water/eg/ww and won't breach 227F with water/ww while sitting on a 80F day.

Water/WW only. at least until I snag some eg for the winter season. Bike is a K8 with minor rad damage from a low side.

Call 165-190 normal, get a beer, call the day over at 12pm.

EDIT: HOLY SH!T HOUSE WITH EYES WTF

 

[DACTARI]

I'm gona go ahead and necromance this thread. What do I need to warm my bike up to before riding it. Is there a minimum safe operating temp?

 

[r0ckrat]

Unless it's outrageously cold where you are, you don't really need to warm up your bike. If you feel the need, once a temperature registers on the gauges (70* F?) you are fine. What you want to avoid is not riding it long enough (5 minutes?) for it to get to full operating temps (between 165* and 200* F, where it oscillates between ~170ish and ~195ish with the thermostat opening/closing).

 

[jbswear]

What year is your bike?