Hot running- oil temp gauge

[Rocketman]

I have an oil dipstick thermometer on my Valk, and I've noticed that recently it's been running hotter.  I know the air temps have been hotter as well, but not this much.  I'm used to seeing ~195 at equilibrium.  Last week, after the same type of riding (not stop and go, but occasional stoplights within ~45 mph cruising), I was seeing 210.  Yesterday, after some extended highway riding, I was seeing ~225-230.  It's been warm here (~95 yesterday), but it's Houston.  It's been warm like that for a month or more, and I didn't see this temp spike till last week.
I let 'er cool off some, then put some distilled water in to top off the coolant.  It wouldn't take more than an ounce or so.
I can't vouch for the fan coming on.  I didn't hear it on at a stoplight, but those were very rare yesterday.  I'll pay attention to try to hear it this week.

This is my first summer with this Valkyrie.  I don't know what temps are normal (never had the gauge on my other Valkyrie), but this seems like too much of a sudden spike.

Ideas?

Mark

[Daniel Meyer]

I have an oil dipstick thermometer on my Valk, and I've noticed that recently it's been running hotter.  I know the air temps have been hotter as well, but not this much.  I'm used to seeing ~195 at equilibrium.  Last week, after the same type of riding (not stop and go, but occasional stoplights within ~45 mph cruising), I was seeing 210.  Yesterday, after some extended highway riding, I was seeing ~225-230.  It's been warm here (~95 yesterday), but it's Houston.  It's been warm like that for a month or more, and I didn't see this temp spike till last week.
I let 'er cool off some, then put some distilled water in to top off the coolant.  It wouldn't take more than an ounce or so.
I can't vouch for the fan coming on.  I didn't hear it on at a stoplight, but those were very rare yesterday.  I'll pay attention to try to hear it this week.

This is my first summer with this Valkyrie.  I don't know what temps are normal (never had the gauge on my other Valkyrie), but this seems like too much of a sudden spike.

Ideas?

Mark

After highway riding, 225 is common for mine. I've never noted it over 235 though. Wouldn't worry it if it doesn't break that number.

[Rocketman]

After highway riding, 225 is common for mine. I've never noted it over 235 though. Wouldn't worry it if it doesn't break that number.

Two things were worrying me.  One was the lack of a baseline, and you've just given me that.
The other was what I perceived as a sudden jump.  Maybe I noticed it once, and now I'm paying more attention to it than I have since "winter" left us.

[R J]

I wouldn't worry about it......

Your water temp is running close to 220-230 range, and the oil gets hotter than the water does.....

As long as mine stays under 240, I no worry about it.....

Worry gives ya GREY hair........  LOL...........

[Hoser]

After highway riding, 225 is common for mine. I've never noted it over 235 though. Wouldn't worry it if it doesn't break that number.

Two things were worrying me.  One was the lack of a baseline, and you've just given me that.
The other was what I perceived as a sudden jump.  Maybe I noticed it once, and now I'm paying more attention to it than I have since "winter" left us.

unplg the wire to the sensor on lower left of your radiator,short it to ground, then you will know if the fan works.  It has a fuse under the right side cover.  Hoser

[BF]

I've got one of those thermometers too.  Are you sure it's calibrated correctly?  Water boils (at sea level) at 212 degrees.  Put your oil dipstick/thermometer in a pot of water and bring it to a boil and see if it reads 212.  

I don't have a clue what my water temp is, but (in 90 plus degree hot and humid Florida weather) my oil used to run about 200/205 cruising at highway speeds.....and it'd run 205/210 in town traffic.  The fan used to come on somewhere around 210 at just about every taffic signal.  

That was with 50/50 mix anti-freeze and 10w-40 synthetic.  

Have since switched to "Water Wetter" and distilled water.  Oil is now running under 200 (closer to 195) at speed and about 200 in town.  My fan comes on very rarely now.  

btw....mine is a '97 Red & White Valk and I'm using Mobil 20w-50 synthetic motorcycle oil with Purolator Pure One oil filters now (#PL14610 for the 3 1/4" one and #PL14612 for the one that's the same length as the stock one at 2 1/2").    

Water Wetter isn't a miracle product, but it does make your bike run just a little cooler.  I get Water Wetter at AutoZone.  

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Mark my I/S has a water temp guage and it's been running a little higher than normal. I think it's just a summer thing. I'm running about 100 degrees above air temp (95 outside 195 to 200 water temp) while cruising. Stop and go it'll get to 235 before fan comes on but cools quickly once bike starts moving again. If you have a volt guage watch it after you stop at a light for a while it'll tell you when the fan kick on and off.

[franco6]

mark you shoud hear the fan come on ,its noticable. i ve used water weter on most my cars and bikes st, tl. but not the valk as i understand it is prone to head gascket failure . water weter would accelerate the problem . i was thinking about getting the dip stick thermo but after the failure of the rad. cap thermo i think i ll go the way of the automotive type gauges instead. the st is running cooler than ever after i replaced the thermostat with one from a honda civic ,cooler, and a lot cheaper too. it is Texas, in summer! see you.  too dam hot!

[Rocketman]

unplg the wire to the sensor on lower left of your radiator, then you will know if the fan works.  It has a fuse under the right side cover.  Hoser

The fan is definitely running.  I thought I had heard it before, and yesterday I left it idling after a short ride until it kicked on.

i ve used water weter on most my cars and bikes st, tl. but not the valk as i understand it is prone to head gascket failure . water weter would accelerate the problem .

Has anyone had this happen?

i was thinking about getting the dip stick thermo but after the failure of the rad. cap thermo i think i ll go the way of the automotive type gauges instead. the st is running cooler than ever after i replaced the thermostat with one from a honda civic ,cooler, and a lot cheaper too. it is Texas, in summer!

Is the Civic thermostat just set to open at a lower temp, or is it a higher flow unit?  (yes, I see that you're using it in the ST1100, not the Valk, but I'm curious).

I've got one of those thermometers too.  Are you sure it's calibrated correctly?  Water boils (at sea level) at 212 degrees.  Put your oil dipstick/thermometer in a pot of water and bring it to a boil and see if it reads 212. 

I don't have a clue what my water temp is, but (in 90 plus degree hot and humid Florida weather) my oil used to run about 200/205 cruising at highway speeds.....and it'd run 205/210 in town traffic.  The fan used to come on somewhere around 210 at just about every taffic signal. 

That was with 50/50 mix anti-freeze and 10w-40 synthetic. 

Have since switched to "Water Wetter" and distilled water.  Oil is now running under 200 (closer to 195) at speed and about 200 in town.  My fan comes on very rarely now. 

Water Wetter isn't a miracle product, but it does make your bike run just a little cooler.  I get Water Wetter at AutoZone. 

Have not checked the thermometer at all.  It used to read ~200, so I'd be disinclined to believe that the thermometer changed.
I actually have a bottle of Water Wetter in the garage.  I picked it up to use it in the truck, but never put it in.

[BF]

 
[/quote]
Have not checked the thermometer at all.  It used to read ~200, so I'd be disinclined to believe that the thermometer changed.
I actually have a bottle of Water Wetter in the garage.  I picked it up to use it in the truck, but never put it in.
[/quote]


Anolog thermometers can need periodic adjustment from time to time and can get out of cal quite easily.  Have you dropped it....ever?  A good shock can cause it to be inaccurate.  Even shocks or vibrations from the bike can cause it to go out of calibration. 

You can check it's calibration yourself.  Put it in a pot of boiling water (just the stem...the part that sits in the engine).  If you're at sea level (or close to it) the water will reach 212 degrees and will not go over 212.  If you look at the stem and under the dial indicator, you'll see on the stem a hex built into the stem body.  Just above that, you'll see another hex adjusting nut.  Get yerself a couple of cresent wrenches and loosen the top nut...then twist the thermometer dial untill it reads 212. 

If you're at a higher elevation than sea level, find out what water boils at your elevation (it'll be a lower temp) and adjust it to that.  Tighten the nuts back and you're set. 

If that thermometer where to read below 32 degrees, you can calibrate it at that.  Siimply put the thermometer's stem in a cup of ice water untill the thermometer's temp settles.  If it reads anything other than 32, adjust it in the same manner as above.   

I freeze and bake things for the DOD for a living.....and this is how we calibrate our smaller anolog thermomoters all the time.   We have plenty of digital instrustments that we go by, but depend on our anologs for back up....and they're pretty accurate. 

[MP]

Also, on those oil temp dipsticks, you are NOT to screw in/out using the dial.  It can screw up calibration.  You need to use the small knurled area under the dial.
MP

[Rocketman]

Anolog thermometers can need periodic adjustment from time to time and can get out of cal quite easily.  Have you dropped it....ever?  A good shock can cause it to be inaccurate.  Even shocks or vibrations from the bike can cause it to go out of calibration.

After thinking about it, and reading your and MP's posts, I think I may have tweaked it a bit too much when checking the oil recently.  I'll check it with some boiling water, and see what comes of that.  The oil check could easily explain the sudden jump in temp.

If you're at a higher elevation than sea level, find out what water boils at your elevation (it'll be a lower temp) and adjust it to that.  Tighten the nuts back and you're set. 

Oh, we're at sea level, alright.  Sometimes we're even below it, but being in Florida, you know about those things.

I freeze and bake things for the DOD for a living.....and this is how we calibrate our smaller anolog thermomoters all the time.   We have plenty of digital instrustments that we go by, but depend on our anologs for back up....and they're pretty accurate. 

Your job looks rather interesting.  I've spent a good part of my life working on air force devices, and just watching the constant airshow outside was one of the perks.

[KCvalk]

i have a standard 2000 with about 8k miles on it and my fan comes on about 180 according to my temp gauge,  The gauge has read about 220 at its hottest but thats not sitting on the highway in 90 degree either.  The fan brings the water temp down pretty quick but the oil stays hot alot longer.

If 235 is your reading on oil the you could have hotter water temp, which would indicate that the fan is not triggering.   I can actually feel the increase in heat when the fan kicks on and the water temp starts dropping in less than 30 seconds.