Curious about improving the oil cooler

[Dr.McNinja]

Has this been done? I don't have a very good understanding on engine cooling systems except that a radiator acts like an oil cooler in the sense it circulates a cooling substance through the engine and cools it via some means using a heat sink and (in the case of a radiator) a fan. What's stopping someone from attaching a similar set up to a GS500? That is, to attach a fan or something to the oil cooler to allow the bike to be ran at idle without a greater risk of overheating.

Is there something I'm missing here? I think it would be a sick modification if it was possible.

[crzydood17]

one big thing is that because of how small the radiator (yes even if its a oil cooler its a radiator) is on a GS it packs a lot of heat into a small area and can melt plastic, also oil is FAR hotter than coolant because of the smaller amount of it.

[BaltimoreGS]

My big question would be why bother?  The GS engine is not prone to overheating so unless you are experiencing a problem it seems like a lot of work for nothing.  And if you are overheating then I would say there is something mechanically wrong with your bike (running lean, etc.).

-Jessie

[twocool]

My big question would be why bother?  The GS engine is not prone to overheating so unless you are experiencing a problem it seems like a lot of work for nothing.  And if you are overheating then I would say there is something mechanically wrong with your bike (running lean, etc.).

-Jessie

Yes,  whay create a fix when there is nothing to fix?  I thought the older non faired GS had no oil cooler......While the newer F models (with fairing) does have oil cooler.  Figuring that the fairings actually prohibit some airlow over the cyclinders, the oil cooler made up for that.  (although in airplanes, a properly designed cowling and cooling baffles will make the engine run cooler that no cowling at all)

Running an engine too cool is possible, and not good.  On some of our airplanes, in winter, we block off the oil cooler so it doesn't get any air flow (40 degrees usually) and also we sometimes put little insulated jackets over the oil tank and the intake tubes to keep everything warm enough.

Oil should be running at about 185 degrees or so.....at least where the temp measurement is taken...this means that internally in the engine the oil is over boiling point of water ...212 degrees...so water is "steamed" out of the oil during normal operation.   This is also why many very short trips is bad for an engine as it never gets the oil up to enough temp to clean out the water.

The solution to an aircooled engine getting too hot during idling (because poor airflow over cylinders) is to not do long idling.....(shut her down) and start up later.  I suppose a cooling fan might work fo rthis  (like VW bug had)...but still probably not necessary.

Cookie

[DoD#i]

Heat is only ever a problem (on a properly adjusted bike) with too much idling in traffic with no airflow over - and that's exactly when the F fairings are doing more harm than good, which is why the F has the oil cooler. If the bike is running too lean, an oil cooler (or a fan on one) is not the solution.

One big problem with adding an electric fan is that the GS electrical system is very, very wimpy. Another is that the fan itself is an impediment to proper airflow when the bike is actually moving. Finally, it's a harsh location for a fan - water and mud from the front tire, hot exhaust, hot oil cooler.

If you really wanted to overthink the "problem," a no-power solution would be to have a thermostatically controlled (ie, only when the oil is too hot) cooling loop that ran somewhere like the back of the bike, where you could get good convection cooling when the bike was standing still in traffic (as a further plus, it would not be dumping heat on you, if it was located behind you.) Excess complexity, opportunity for leaks, and expense are all reasons not to do this.

If you have one of the years with a non-black engine and are concerned about cooling, you can start simple, by painting the engine black. Change the oil more frequently if you spend a lot of time idling in traffic in the summer. Consider changing your commute to have less time idling in traffic, if at all possible - take back roads and small streets where possible.

Finally, you could get one of the temperature sensors and readouts (most often seen with complete gauge replacements, but some may be available just as temp readout) that clamps under a sparkplug to read engine temperature, and shut down if you get too hot while stuck in traffic.

[Dr.McNinja]

All good points, most of my question stems from wanting to improve it because after work during summer I spend a good amount of my commute home at sub-30 mph speeds. Because my bike is bone stock for now it runs lean and causes it to get real hot. I've never had a true overheat, but I've had a few close calls. It gets to be as hot as 112F here during summer and you can guess it's not friendly to air cooled bikes.

I'm sure the rejet when I get my exhaust and air filter will help with engine cooling as well. Thanks guys.

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

A common miss-conception is that you have to worry and be carefull, of over heating with air cooled bikes. This is very false. You have to be carefull with water cooled bikes because there is a lot to go wrong in the cooling system, and once you hit the boiling point for water, you have big problems. Where as oil cooled bikes can sustain much greater temps for longer periods with little worry of damage.

[BaltimoreGS]

A common miss-conception is that you have to worry and be carefull, of over heating with air cooled bikes. This is very false. You have to be carefull with water cooled bikes because there is a lot to go wrong in the cooling system, and once you hit the boiling point for water, you have big problems. Where as oil cooled bikes can sustain much greater temps for longer periods with little worry of damage.

Well said   

I think a lot of people are thinking in liquid cooled terms when they talk about overheating.  Think in terms of a lawn mower when you think of a GS.  A lawn mower is an air cooled engine that is used on hot summer days and gets little air flow yet doesn't over heat.  And as a more relevant example, I picked up a GS parts bike that hadn't been run in years and I wanted to see if the engine was any good before I stripped the bike.  I let that thing run sitting still in the backyard for over half an hour and it didn't over heat.

-Jessie

[Suzuki Stevo]

Heat is only ever a problem (on a properly adjusted bike) with too much idling in traffic with no airflow over - and that's exactly when the F fairings are doing more harm than good, which is why the F has the oil cooler.

Yes the oil cooler and the fairings showed up in the same year, but you don't need one because of the other. Oil coolers are not a prerequisite to a fairing. The oil cooler being added because of the  fairing is pure myth.  If your sitting at a light the oil cooler needs the same thing the engine does, forward movement to dissipate heat. And as soon as your moving forward the bike is cooled as if the fairing wasn't there.

[adidasguy]

True Stevo.
There was a fairing as an option for the "E" models by TCP available in Europe only, and it was more restrictive in air flow than the "F" fairing. You can see how it really encloses the entire engine. I found one and it is still in the original box. On a day I'm bored I'll get it down, take it out of the box and put it on Trey or Junior. Mine is red & black so it would look good on Junior.

[twocool]

Heat is only ever a problem (on a properly adjusted bike) with too much idling in traffic with no airflow over - and that's exactly when the F fairings are doing more harm than good, which is why the F has the oil cooler.

Yes the oil cooler and the fairings showed up in the same year, but you don't need one because of the other. Oil coolers are not a prerequisite to a fairing. The oil cooler being added because of the  fairing is pure myth.  If your sitting at a light the oil cooler needs the same thing the engine does, forward movement to dissipate heat. And as soon as your moving forward the bike is cooled as if the fairing wasn't there.

Oil cooler will dissapate SOME heat when you're standing still, by convection only......

Same for engine cooling fins.

Lots of aircooled engines are build for stationary use (like in generators).....even your lawn mower does not go very fast to pass air thru the fins due to air flow......cools mostly by convection....

Agreed that long idling is not good for aircooled motorcycle....


In my weekend commute, I have to wait for a 3 minute red light.......somtimes the light is not triggered to change because it does not sense motorcycle...so I have to wait two cycles until a car comes along.....

I have never seen signs of overheating...but I often just shut down and wait, restart on green light..

Cookie

[DoD#i]

.....even your lawn mower does not go very fast to pass air thru the fins due to air flow......cools mostly by convection....

Thank you for playing, but no. Your standard lawnmower (etc.) engine has a built-in fan on the flywheel, and forces quite a lot of air past the cooling fins. <start old fart mode> Clearly the age of not fixing things is impacting what every kid knows. </end old fart mode>

Now it is true that the cooling path is often far from pristine, what with grass clippings and all, but the usual screen at the intake (and on the better motors the screen spins with the flywheel, so it self-cleans a bit) does keep most of that out.

[Jim Knopf]

Servus,

We are here in Germany just to convert an oil cooler kit to turn the old models of year 1989 to 2002.

The kit consists of:

1 adapter flange
1 Oil cooler
1 O-Ring
1 oil filter
1 holder
One oil line kit

Pictures will follow in the coming weeks.

[twocool]

.....even your lawn mower does not go very fast to pass air thru the fins due to air flow......cools mostly by convection....

Thank you for playing, but no. Your standard lawnmower (etc.) engine has a built-in fan on the flywheel, and forces quite a lot of air past the cooling fins. <start old fart mode> Clearly the age of not fixing things is impacting what every kid knows. </end old fart mode>

Now it is true that the cooling path is often far from pristine, what with grass clippings and all, but the usual screen at the intake (and on the better motors the screen spins with the flywheel, so it self-cleans a bit) does keep most of that out.

You're right...I forgot about that "fan"...(just got an old B&S engine on a generator up and running last week...there is some shroud that helps direct some air over head and cylinder.....but still cools mostly by convection as I mentioned.......)

So I guess if you idle your GS 500 it's going to get ruined? (I still say it will keep cool just by convection)...When idling, the rpm is low...so not a tremendous amount of heat to get rid of...but then again if it 's112 degrees outside you may have a problem with a long idle.....Is it really any fun to ride at 112 degrees??

Cookie

[Bullfrog]

Servus,
We are here in Germany just to convert an oil cooler kit to turn the old models of year 1989 to 2002.

Aktualisiert Ihr dann auch das Wiki? Oder sieht das geplante Kit anders aus?