Overheat

[jlaban]

I notice the thread "Red Hot". Do oilheads have a tendency to overheat at idle. I do some driving in traffic, it would be good to be forewarned.

John

[bikerfish1100]

ANY air-cooled motorcycle will overheat if its left running and not moving. It's just the nature of the beast. If i'm sitting in stop-and-stop traffic on a warm+ day, I'll shut it off until traffic flow starts back up. Same thing if i'm waiting for a one-lane construction zone to open up for me to move. Why subject your bike (& body) to heat that it does not need? But I would do the same on any bike- even if water cooled. (Note- Keep a good on on what is going on behind you, too.)

[DarrylRi]

The oilheads do not like to sit in traffic, and will eventually overheat in this situation. If you're stuck in traffic, watch the oil temperature guage and pull off or turn off the bike if it gets into the red zone.

More importantly, the owner's manual will tell you that when the bike is cold, to start it with the fast idle lever ("choke") and then ride off. Do not let the bike sit around running on fast idle. It amazes me how many people buy a $10,000-15,000 machine and then never read the manual. When the original R1100RSLs came to the US, there were several fires where someone started the bike and then went back inside to "let it warm up".

[jlaban]

Thanks to both of you. I asked because the oil in oilhead is supposed to cool. Having just purchased an R1100RT I did not know how much cool as opposed to straight air. I have read that CHP puts a fan in the 1150's. Have either of you heard of that being done in civilian use? In an 1100?

John

[bikerfish1100]

the "oil cooling" in our oilheads comes from the oil flowing thru a radiator. that radiator requires moving air flowing across it to provide any apprecaible measure of cooling. if fans can be fitted to RTPs, there is no major reason that they could not be fitted to any other model oilhead. (the differences in functioning between an 1100 and an 1150 are inconsequential- certainly in this regard, as well as in many/most others).
Police would have fans on their bikes as they can not afford to have their bikes shut off- they encounter, on a irregular but predictable basis, a need to be moving NOW. We in the civilian sector are much less likely to encounter those conditions.

[rinty]

John:

The engineering challenge that BMW had when they developed the oiler series was to "air" cool the new, more efficent, 4 valve head. The solution involved incorporating oil galleries around the valve seats, coupled with a generous sump capacity (as much an Audi A4 Turbo) and large cooler.

Porsche faced the same design challenge when they were developing the engine for the 964 series, and gave up, staying with 2 valve heads (with a ceramic insert on the exhaust side!). Eventually they went to liquid cooling for the 4 valve heads in the 996 series.

In my humble opinion, BMW's cooling solution for the Type 259 was successful, but in severe conditions, such as very hot weather combined with slow or stalled traffic, they can get very hot, and you need to take appropriate measures, as mentioned above.

Rinty

[snoone]

How many of you actually have overheated.. I ride into NYC daily and in the summer I've gotten pretty close to the red zone but never have gone beyond the safe threshold. So for me in hot weather in stop and go traffic it is almost impossible to overheat.. Also using synthetic oil helps the heat situation.

[BubbaZanetti]

in regards to the fans, i've considered mounting 2 small 12V computer fans directly behind the radiator with a small switch that i can flip on in traffic. i think someone on the pelican board did this and it worked quite well. haven't looked under the faring in a bit so i can't remember if there's room or not.

[bikerfish1100]

in regards to the fans, i've considered mounting 2 small 12V computer fans directly behind the radiator with a small switch that i can flip on in traffic. i think someone on the pelican board did this and it worked quite well. haven't looked under the faring in a bit so i can't remember if there's room or not.

computer fans are pretty small, but extremely powerful. i'd guess that if you want it enough, there's room enough.
snoone- the S models do not have the RID that most other models sport, so we have no metered way of measuring our heat status. however, in hot weather you can feel the heat rising up from the radiator between the steering head and the instrument cluster. my guess is that you're right in your assumption that absenting the "i let it warm up while i finished another cup of coffee, and now i have a melted fairing" situations- the issue of overheating is mostly an academic discussion.
I have seen a few big-inch stroked-out Harleys lock up while doing an ERC, and need 15-20 minutes to cool back down before they would restart. but that ain't us, now, is it?

[rinty]

I had an 1150 RS for a couple of years, and never saw it get hotter than 5 bars. I was really impressed with it.

But I never commuted with it, and it doesn't get too hot up here in the north country....:laugh

Rinty

[ltljohn]

There was an article in the ON about 3 years ago showing how to install a fan with thermal switch in an RT. Anyone remember which issue that was??

[syoung]

I installed a cooling fan (1150RT) last winter. The installation is easy, remove side panels, loosen dash to install the switch and connect the switch and ground to the battery and reassemble the dash and side panels. I placed the switch on the upper left dash and turn the fan on when ever stuck in traffic during the heat of the summer. Sam

[beeryboats]

I may really need to look into a fan. I had one hot, stuck in traffic, day and it scared me. As many of you Brickyard 400 fans know, August in Indy can get a little warm and sticky!
Jay

[Greenwald]

As a veteran motor officer, sentenced to do time on a H-D 'Road King,' I am all too familar with overheating an air-cooled engine and it's consequences (loss of power, potential engine damage, oil burning, clutch plate glazing, clutch failure).

When I got stuck in slow moving (not STOPPED, so turning off the BMW was NOT an option) traffic on a hot Milwaukee afternoon, I watched the bars on my oil temp indicator climb way too high for my personal comfort.

Solution: Went to Nick's BMW of DePere, WI, spoke with John, a Master Tech, and ordered up a cooling fan just like the ones mounted in police R1200's. He installed it neatly, along with a weather-proof switch.

Now, if stuck in traffic in hot weather, I hit the switch and don't worry about cooking my oil. And then there is the 'damage' you don't see or notice until a service interval, and then it's too late.

If you cannot pay Nick's a personal visit, perhaps you could have your local BMW tech talk with John Eng and an exchange of technical advice could take place.

Very happy I made the modification - great peace of mind when touring.

Good Luck!

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

A couple of years ago now I had spent about three hours of quality time with the bike in Chicago's construction traffic trying to get through the area, and the GSA did get very hot despite the rain.

The headers glowed reddish and the valves began to really voice an opinion of the situation. I had 5/50 full synthetic in the motor. After pulling over and letting it cool off a little things returned to a level of normality. I don't believe the Boxer engine to be a high tech piece of precision engineering with tweaky race worthy tolerances, it will withstand a great deal before it breaks. That is definitely a nice attribute at times.

[jlaban]

Thank you all. Might seem strange that a rider in Maine would want to know about overheat. I too got stuck in traffic on a cross country out and back to Montana last fall (Ottawa, Ont.), but I was riding a K1100RS which is water cooled. I would feel a lot easier with a fan. Pudgypaintguy, I'll contact your lead.

John

[Jfixit]

I worried all last winter about possible overheating problems because my RT was my first non-water cooled bike. Since then I've traveled a good bit including Louisiana and Texas. Don't worry about the heat the bike will be fine, I don't think you will find a posting where someone claims engine damage from overheating. You live in Maine, the bike will be fine.

[Greenwald]

A couple of years ago now I had spent about three hours of quality time with the bike in Chicago's construction traffic trying to get through the area, and the GSA did get very hot despite the rain.

The headers glowed reddish and the valves began to really voice an opinion of the situation. I had 5/50 full synthetic in the motor. After pulling over and letting it cool off a little things returned to a level of normality. I don't believe the Boxer engine to be a high tech piece of precision engineering with tweaky race worthy tolerances, it will withstand a great deal before it breaks. That is definitely a nice attribute at times.

I would urge caution with this version of 'engineering logic.'

Think of it this way: the guy who smokes a pack of Camels every day, goes to bed, wakes up the next morning, and looking and feeling the same, rationalizes that he is no worse for the wear?!

If it didn't matter how high or often we cooked our oil, why would BMW (or all other manufacturers for that matter) waste time and money putting warning devices on our bikes?

Just my 2 cents worth, but I'll error on the side of safety, and do whatever to keep those temp bars from creeping up into the upper half of the on-board computer display.

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

I would urge caution with this version of 'engineering logic.'

Think of it this way: the guy who smokes a pack of Camels every day, goes to bed, wakes up the next morning, and looking and feeling the same, rationalizes that he is no worse for the wear?!

If it didn't matter how high or often we cooked our oil, why would BMW (or all other manufacturers for that matter) waste time and money putting warning devices on our bikes?

Just my 2 cents worth, but I'll error on the side of safety, and do whatever to keep those temp bars from creeping up into the upper half of the on-board computer display.

What engineering logic? I was simply relating a situation that occurred to me on my own bike.

We don't always have the time and opportunity to do a full oil service on the bike after an excessive heat cycle...besides it was a Monday too and we all know that BMW don't break down on Mondays otherwise the dealers would be open for business wouldn't they? LOL

[jlaban]

I'm sorry, I meant to say Greenwald. I'll contact your lead.

John

[Greenwald]

I'm sorry, I meant to say Greenwald. I'll contact your lead.

John

Good Luck. John at Nick's is a BMW Master Technician, and what he 'lacks' in bedside manner, he makes up in technical knowledge and skill. He does top-shelf work. Hopefully, he can set you or your trusted tech on the path to the RTP cooling fan system for your R1200RT.

Better to prepare for the worst, than to deal with it afterwards.

[Brownie]

Thanks to all for re-visiting the fan discussion.......I too have thought about it.....I "don't" stop in bumper-bumper interstate traffic, and generally don't face stalled traffic on secondary roads...lucky I guess......BUT.....

I can tell you that coming home last year from Asheville...I was running 2 -up with my wife at 95-100 temps @ 75-80 mph.......never saw 6 bars of heat until things got slow going thru Atlanta on I-75 @ 45 mph.....

more info on fans wanted.............;)

[PGlaves]

Thanks to all for re-visiting the fan discussion.......I too have thought about it.....I "don't" stop in bumper-bumper interstate traffic, and generally don't face stalled traffic on secondary roads...lucky I guess......BUT.....

I can tell you that coming home last year from Asheville...I was running 2 -up with my wife at 95-100 temps @ 75-80 mph.......never saw 6 bars of heat until things got slow going thru Atlanta on I-75 @ 45 mph.....

more info on fans wanted.............;)

Oilheads seldom get hot while moving - through the air. It is the stop 'n' go or paddlefoot stuff that warms them up.

My personal gospel is that I use MC specific SG rated dino oil per BMW specs, but dump the oil immediately if I cook it. Synthetic might have better temperature tolerance - depends on whose it is. But I seldom cook the oil so seldom need to do more than 6K changes (per BMW specs) to my dino oil. This is not an oil thread. It is about needing or not needing a fan. A fan simulates that "moving" and you should never need to worry about it. Or get off the road and don't cook the oil.

[beeryboats]

I got worried last year when I was stuck in a construction zone on the freeway. There was no shoulder to pull off, and there was a semi stalled in the slow lane. I had nowhere to go and all I could do was watch the bars appear. The temp never went full range, but it was close. I'd like info on fans as well.

[bikerfish1100]

I got worried last year when I was stuck in a construction zone on the freeway. There was no shoulder to pull off, and there was a semi stalled in the slow lane. I had nowhere to go and all I could do was watch the bars appear. The temp never went full range, but it was close. I'd like info on fans as well.

Was traffic stopped, or just moving very slowly? if traffic comes to a stop for a few minutes, shut the bike off. repeat as necessary.

[Brownie]

B Boats......you're experience is what I fear most......I'm not above doin' 5 mph in "emerg" lane to keep things sane.....but someday I'm gonna run outta pavement.....

[syoung]

what I did was check the parts Fiche then contacted chicago BMW with the parts numbers. As I recall in about 7-10 days all necessary parts were shipped to me. Then the windshield comes off, the side panels removed and the dash loosened for placement of a switch. The only tricky part was getting the fan up behind the radiator. As I recall, the parts cost was around 200 dollars. Sam

[bikerfish1100]

.....but someday I'm gonna run outta pavement.....

hey, never let a lack of tarmac keep you from rolling along, smiling and a groovin'..
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/bikerfish1100/ourDSbikeson261.jpg..

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

hey, never let a lack of tarmac keep you from rolling along, smiling and a groovin'..
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/bikerfish1100/ourDSbikeson261.jpg..

Now that was a heck of a neat looking ride route! Good on you.

[bikerfish1100]

Hey, you can do that one too. It's the Mokie Dugway, just north of Monument Valley, UT 261. this was the ride up to the top..
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/bikerfish1100/roaduptoCedarMesaonUT261.jpg

and the view looking east once you got there
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/bikerfish1100/longviewfromMoquiDugwayon261.jpg

[Dick]

[QUOTE=bikerfish1100;283759]Hey, you can do that one too. It's the Mokie Dugway, just north of Monument Valley, UT 261. this was the ride up to the top.. [/QUOTE=bikerfish1100;283759]

Sold - be through there next weekend :dance

[Dick]

Hey, you can do that one too. It's the Mokie Dugway, just north of Monument Valley, UT 261. this was the ride up to the top..


Sold - be through there next weekend :dance

[chrisZ]

Hi,

I've installed a couple of case computer fans on my RT some 3 years ago. They are very cheap ($1 at computer recycler store) and a 90C thermal switch mounted on the rad with thermal epoxy. Once the rad gets hot enough both fans start. The fans are very quiet even with the bike turned off. Because of the thermal switch they will run even after the bike has been turned off, for about 1 minute on a hot day. But they use so little power, there are no issues with affecting the battery power.

Photo attached in previous post (2007). Search: R1200RT Oil Cooler Fans?

[LCBIKEMAN]

Last week I was stuck in Washington DC, 95 degree F, slow moving, if moving at all, traffic. Watched the oil temp go right to the top. Shut it down, and rolled along with feet, gravity, and brakes for those numerous half a car length moves. Once I started moving again, the temp dropped
back to normal. My oil sight gauge looked normal the next day, and I neither smelled nor saw any change during a 180 mile ride yesterday. What say you? Oil change or not? Yes, I've read the fan ideas.