How do I know my engine temperature

Morning,
I have a Suzuki GSF650 '06, which is oil cooled.

How do I know if my engine is running at trhe correct temperature, and
is not too hot/cold

Thanks

 

Buy one of those temperature gauges that replace the oil filler plug.

Swot I did with my Zephyr, gives a reasonable indication of the engine
temperature.


--
Dan L

Too much time to think, too little to do.


http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Put your hand on the engine.

 

If it seizes up it was too hot. If there's no smoke coming out of the
exhaust pipe it's too cold.

HTH.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/ DS#8 BOTAFOT#3 SbS#2 UKRMMA#13 DFV#8 SKA#2 IBB#10
`\\ | //'
`\|/`
`

 

1. Why would you want to know?

2. What could you do about it if it is running outside parameters?

Oil cooled engines are capable of operation at a huge range of
temperature - sure, they might run a bit cooler in winter and a bit
hotter in summer, but it really isn't anything to get worried about.
Should the engine get a bit sick, it may run hotter, but you'll be
able to tell by the smell of hot engine paint.

 

The R-GS consumed a fair bit of oil in hot weather and the LCD oil temp
gauge showed an extra bar or two. Especially when on summer hols in
southern Europe. Changing from 10W/40 oil to 20W/50 oil was recommended on
a number of related forums. This has helped reduce oil consumption.

Even BMW GB eventually caught on, using 20W/50 in their workshops for
boxers. Castrol have made their GPS oil available in that multigrade, at a
price. My local motorworld sells 5 litres of Duckhams hypergrade for £7.99
which is fine for the old bus.

 

As pretty much every BMW ever built does. Although my 1150RT seems to be
pretty good so far, but it's still winter.

Erm, if you look in the owners manual you'll find that 10W40 is only
recommended up to outside temperatures up to about 20C, and has been for
quite a while. It's just that most people don't seem to be willing to
RTFM.

 

Just Ride it and enjoy.
If it's a serious problem, and outside of design limits, I'm certain it will
tell you, and you will know!

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy2!)
Trumpet Trophy 1200-03
Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

The chart in my year 2000 service book is confusing. They show a
temperature range for 10W40 from -20 to 20C as you say. Then, underneath
they refer to special oils of viscosity 10W-X where X>=40, which are fine
for temperatures over 30C. If someone is paying £35 for 4 litres of Castrol
10W/40 then they are entitled to think it is pretty special, don't you
think

Then, you add into the equation, that BMW GB used 10W/40 Castrol across the
range until a service bulletin not that long ago, clarified the situation.

 

Na, that's just cheap oil . Actually sticking 10W50 oil in for summer
may not be such a bad idea after all, if I can find a decent oil that
I'll get past Brian.

Oddly enough I had to convince Brian to use 20W50 in my GSA in the
summer. He did concede that it was a good idea though once I pointed out
to him what BMW recommended. It also made a big difference to the oil
consumption - I don't think it used any on 20W50.

 

Maiden's piss. Sir needs Castrol Formula RS10w 60 like what the Tart
demands.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Bear in mind it is 'car' oil. Not that the clutch or sprag clutch on the
Tart seem to be suffering, and Patrick at Pointe de Corde recommends it.
The Voxan is the hottest running engine I have ever known, despite being
liquid cooled. I really should get round to fitting an oil cooler
(standard issue on the latest models).

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Car oil is fine in a BMW boxer - after all, they have car-type diaphragm
clutches and the engine oil only lubricates the engine.

 

D'oh, it's a long time since I owned the R90/6.

 

Some things don't change, at least not with the Ks and Rs....