R1150R Running hot

[Dreamrider]

Lately my R bike has been runiing quite a bit warmer then usual. It used to run around 120 - 175 degrees and now has been running 225-250 and the temp guage hitting hi in slow traffic. It never hit hi before unless you were in stop and go traffic for about an hour.
My thought is the thermostat is acting up and needs to be replaced depending on the its condition. I usualy replace engine parts that don't work properly.
The air coming through the coolers is not very hot when the temp is hi, thus telling me the thermostat isn't alowing the hot oil to pass through properly.
Anything else anybody can think of that might cause the engine to run warmer then usual?
The temp guage is accurate.
Dave

[DarkCloud]

slow flush the radiator?

[bikerfish1100]

never heard of doing that. how would one go about flushing an oil radiator?

(i'm leaning towrds malfunctioning thermostat or valve)

[DarkCloud]

After years of bugs and road dirt the radiator can become a fused mass of filth. No air passage to cool. So you eed to clean this similar to cleaning a dirty screen on a refrigerator. Get a spray bottle filled with water and or something that won't stain the finish on your bike. Keep it saturated, and daily use a low pressure hose from the backside of the radiator to flush the filth out of the radiator.

Plugged thermostat or more? the bike has two oil pumps, one for cooling and the other for oil circulation in the engine. You could use an infared sensor and trace the lines from the engine through the radiator to see if there is a stopage. JON

[bikerfish1100]

After years of bugs and road dirt the radiator can become a fused mass of filth. No air passage to cool. So you eed to clean this similar to cleaning a dirty screen on a refrigerator. Get a spray bottle filled with water and or something that won't stain the finish on your bike. Keep it saturated, and daily use a low pressure hose from the backside of the radiator to flush the filth out of the radiator.

Plugged thermostat or more? the bike has two oil pumps, one for cooling and the other for oil circulation in the engine. You could use an infared sensor and trace the lines from the engine through the radiator to see if there is a stopage. JON

okay, you're just talking an exterior cleaning. i was translating "radiator flush" into/from/thru cooling system terminology, and couldn't figure how you would pressure feed oil thru a radiator to clean it out.

[cycleman2]

Is the exhaust restricted in any way? Is the bike running leaner, check the colour of the plugs.

There is something wrong with your first readings. They are too low on a fully warmed engine. I don't know where you where getting your temp readings from but a normal engine is going to run around 200 - 210 F degress when fully warmed up and being air/oilcooled slightly higher when idling in traffic etc. If you use an infrared temp gauge and move it around the engine, heads, exhaust etc. you'll find a range of temps, some as high as 400 F degrees or so on the exhaust. That is perfectly normal.

Something isn't adding up. As others have said, any restrictions in the fins of the oil cooler.

[Acejones]

When did they put a temp. guage on the R1150R ?

[Dreamrider]

Nothing wrong with fuel mixture.
Cooling fins have always been clean free fo bugs.
As stated earlier temp guage accurate, when temp guage says HI I would already have noticed a different sound in the engine.
Have had bike 4 years and 65000 miles, I feel comfortable that I can sense when engine getting hot.
Bike had 15000 when I bought it.
Bike came with aftermarket temp guage.
Lots of air flow through cooling radiators.
Repair manuel definitly shows restriction in oil flow can cause my problem and even suguest cleaning the thermostat.
Dave

[cycleman2]

You could try some Sea Foam in the crankcase and then change the oil & filter. Just follow the directions on the can. If I was getting to the stage where I was going to tear something apart I would try that first before I took anything apart. It's basically a solvent that works good in small doses in the crankcase or gas tank.

I would also confirm the temp with an infared temp tester and see if they are reading near the same.

[j-budimlya]

The only time I have seen a similar condition is when the bike was running very rich and burning lots of fuel.....check the plugs to see if this is occuring.
Has the bike been dropped or banged on the left side? The TPS could have been bumped....

[jm1515]

When did they put a temp. guage on the R1150R ?
They didn't ..OP must have some sort of farkel...like I do.
FWIW, my normal temps can be anywhere from 210* ~ 230* F in 85*+ weather....slightly less if I remove the oil cooler screens I've made.

[cycleman2]

I would suspect the aftermarket temp gauge is acting up. If you've been religious about changing the oil at specified times, grades, quality etc. you are not going to have sludge building up in the engine.

I was heartened to hear that when the oil cooler screens where removed from the members bike it ran cooler. I've always been an advocate for not putting screens etc in front of cooling rads be they oil or water, because it does restrict air flow and makes the engine run warmer.

[PGlaves]

Clogged or dirty coolers, internal or external,
Lean mixture,
Retarded timing,
Constricted oil flow to PART of the engine.

Those options just about cover all the options.