Engine Temp - air cooled

[Disco Dan]

What is a safe range for air cooled engine 650cc

I do not have the stock guage, using a vapour digital dash which measures the temp from a copper ring around a spark plug.

Temp ranges from 80C to 160C on a very hot day.

[ryonker]

What is a safe range for air cooled engine 650cc

I do not have the stock guage, using a vapour digital dash which measures the temp from a copper ring around a spark plug.

Temp ranges from 80C to 160C on a very hot day.

I am not sure what the exact ranges are. If you do a search lots has been written about engine temps and possible issues.

I just put an oil cooler on and don't think about it anymore.

Rick

[bwringer]

Those cylinder head temps sound about right to me.

Most people measure oil temperature, which is a more useful indication.

Most useful of all is to stop fretting over measured temperatures and pay closer attention to how the engine runs.

If it's too lean, you should know by the way it runs long before a gauge will tell you the cylinder head temps are too high.

[Nessism]

Synthetic oil is a good hedge against the heat. Shell Rotella is a popular choice for reasonable money. Check your local Walmart.

[trippivot]

head temp over 450 degrees F is where I 'd look for a cooler spark plug

exhaust pipe temp over 500 degrees F you need to richen up the mixture

aircooled engine temps are normal at 300 400 degrees F. no one likes these numbers because they are used to looking at oil temp or coolant temp in their liquid cooled machines never getting much over 250 F in traffic and on hot days.
another reason to change the oil and have the right heat range spark plugs.
a oil cooler is an option that helps a little. I say a on board fan to move air over the engine surface is a better choice. better yet is a fan on the oil cooler if you are in stop and go traffic in 100 degree summer days.

[Disco Dan]

Cheers folks, appreciate it.

It's not that I'm fretting about it getting too hot - more so that the warning lights are set up right and not coming on after 5 minutes freaking me out for no reason.

I drive a classic mini as well so know all about the bad running and 'cooked' smell of overheating engines!

[ryonker]

head temp over 450 degrees F is where I 'd look for a cooler spark plug

exhaust pipe temp over 500 degrees F you need to richen up the mixture

aircooled engine temps are normal at 300 400 degrees F. no one likes these numbers because they are used to looking at oil temp or coolant temp in their liquid cooled machines never getting much over 250 F in traffic and on hot days.
another reason to change the oil and have the right heat range spark plugs.
a oil cooler is an option that helps a little. I say a on board fan to move air over the engine surface is a better choice. better yet is a fan on the oil cooler if you are in stop and go traffic in 100 degree summer days.

How do you set the fan up? Have you done this?

[BigRob113]

Hot 83 1100e

On a recent road trip my 83 GS1100e started to run hot. My gauge at one point got to 300 degrees. The bike has just over 20,000 miles on it. I am looking into putting an oil cooler on it but was wondering if any ideas on why it would be running hot?

[gixerbike1]

Oil Cooler

I'd like to add an Oil Cooler to my GS650E.

Does Anyone know:

1.) how to add one to a bike that didn't have one originally

2.) What parts are required to add the cooler, and

3.) where can we get the parts to add a cooler to our bikes?

Tommy

[posplayr]

On a recent road trip my 83 GS1100e started to run hot. My gauge at one point got to 300 degrees. The bike has just over 20,000 miles on it. I am looking into putting an oil cooler on it but was wondering if any ideas on why it would be running hot?

Looks like you put a 4:1 on from your avatar; did you rejet?

Also check the timing.

Is it stock otherwise?

[Guest]

On a recent road trip my 83 GS1100e started to run hot. My gauge at one point got to 300 degrees. The bike has just over 20,000 miles on it. I am looking into putting an oil cooler on it but was wondering if any ideas on why it would be running hot?

What Posplayr said, +.. was it getting that hot whilst normal cruising? What was the rough ambient temp? In stop & go traffic or heavy gridlock on a hot day, temps will climb as you've described, even with a cooler....the bike relies on airflow, to carry away heat. Lastly, it might be worthwhile checking the accuracy of the gauge itself....a couple members here have found faulty gauges responsible for their exceptionally high readings.
Tony.

[BigRob113]

Yes it has 4 into 1 exhaust, carbs off GS1150 with jet kit.