Cardboard thermostat

[Rob S.]

Here's a photo of my oil temp gauge. Before the cooler was installed (back when I could take 50-mile or longer rides), the temp needle would sometimes touch the bottom of the "3". And this was in spring.

I would sometimes pull in the clutch and coast down long hills on the Pallisades Parkway to cool her down a few degrees.

Now, I don't know how accurate the gauge is, but are you telling me you wouldn't be concerned as the needle approached 320? Even if your running synthetic oil (which I am not).

[chuck hahn]

Well at 110 outside and running 80 i never got to 300 on the Cooley so . me personally, would be suspect of the sending units accuracy at a minimum..especially in a climate that isnt customarily above 95 or so on a hot season. I wouldnt worry about it at all..whats another 30 degrees or so above the 260ish I have seen on my temp gauge in the greater scheme of things. I just think you are way too over worrying the situation.

Well we know water boils at 212 and has a variance of a few degrees above that but it doesnt rise much above 212. Boil water and set the sending unit in it and see what the gauge reads to get some sort of idea of its accuracy.

[chuck hahn]

What would concern me if reaching 320 would be running too lean and burning a piston or valve. Running real lean increases engine temps tremendously where usually they would run way cooler.

[Scout]

Would temps approaching 300 worry you? I use dino oil (change every 2000 mile).

Now, about football: may we see some of your pics of Bigfoot?

Chuck is right on. Your gauge is most likely wrong to start with and even at that have you ever had engine troubles you could correlate to the high temps your seeing? Your motor can handle the heat but double check your not running lean. You should be using cheap diesel oil by now as that's what these old bikes like. If your that worried about the temps you could use synthetic but I don't see the point, plus it is more expensive. You need a motorcycle therapist to alleviate your anxieties brother. Bring your bike south and get some riding in!

[Crankthat]

Worth it to check how it is running, I would.

My experience with the city stop and go traffic in NY, things tend to heat up.
Just saying...

[hjfisk]

Yes I would tend to believe that your gauge is inaccurate or you are running on the lean side. Been riding these old Suzuki's in New England for over 30 years and have never had one run that hot [ Unless of coarse you count the time I filled my 83 750E with 112 octane fuel] but on pump gas never much over 250 0n a hot day. For the most part barley move the needle

[chuck hahn]

A think dunking the sending unit in some boiling water will tell the story. If the gauge reads close to 200 then its not the sending unit or the guage. If its way over then I would get a new sending unit and redo the hot water test.

[Rob S.]

Bring your bike south and get some riding in!

You are so right, Scout. I definitely have got to get out of the "Big Apple."

I was actually thinking of moving farther north in NY State when my commitment here is over, which looks to be months if not weeks now...cancer (like rust) never sleeps...a little bungalow on the Erie Canal perhaps...isolated...QUIET...I'll feed the feral cats and ride my bike on the desolate roads. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Maybe fix up an old boat, take my clients fishing. You remember the name of the town? Zihuatanejo.

Whoops...wrong movie. But you get the idea...a place with no memory.

Thanks for listening.

[Scout]

You are so right, Scout. I definitely have got to get out of the "Big Apple."

I was actually thinking of moving farther north in NY State when my commitment here is over, which looks to be months if not weeks now...cancer (like rust) never sleeps...a little bungalow on the Erie Canal perhaps...isolated...QUIET...I'll feed the feral cats and ride my bike on the desolate roads. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Maybe fix up an old boat, take my clients fishing. You remember the name of the town? Zihuatanejo.

Whoops...wrong movie. But you get the idea...a place with no memory.

Thanks for listening.

Don't know your situation but about a year ago I moved from the north to the southern states. I'd spent several years working in Alaska, Colorado, N & S Dakota and the pacific northwest. Let me tell you sir, the riding is MUCH nicer when your not freezing to death. Not a fan of Florida specifically but I also spend about a 1/3 of my time in Georgia and it's a lot warmer here than Fargo is right now. I have no kids and not married so it was easier to make a move, if your not held to your area I suggest a move south.

[Nessism]

My 1000S will hit 300F easily while running on the highway at 80mph at 85F. The gauge is accurate too (verified by dunking the sending unit in boiling water). This bike is stone stock including jetting, airbox, and exhaust, and runs flawlessly.

Suzuki added oil coolers on the GS bikes starting in 1983 for the 550 & 750, and 1983.5 for the 1150. Just because the early bikes didn't have oil coolers that doesn't mean they hold no value.

[Steve]

Bring your bike south and get some riding in!

"South" is not a bad idea, but do yourself a favor and stop before you get to Flori-duh.

I had the pleasure of meeting a few members while I was down there a few years ago, but the roads are downright BORING.

.

[GSX1000E]

Any motor oil that gets over 240 degrees Fahrenheit is bad news. Even some synthetic oils start to break down at about 250. Suzuki originally planned on running oil
coolers on all of their models (look it up) but did not to save manufacturing costs and to be closer to Kawasaki and Honda in pricing.
Did anyone besides Grimly and myself read what he/she(?) posted in the 19 banned oils thread???? Why do you think that most oil temp gauges have a red mark at 240 and above???

Here is the link for those that did not READ it: http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32279

[Chris G]

I used to wonder what temp my XJR ran at, so I bought and fitted one of those oil temp gauges where it replaces the oil filler cap, just screws straight in, I don't know the location of the sender unit in a GS1000 i.e. where it picks up the temp reading, mine cost around £26 a completely different bike I know but but could it be an option. This kind of thing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400752917030?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D400752917030%26_rdc%3D1

[GSX1000E]

Even at 120C that is roughly 248F at the TOO HOT mark.
Notice that the normal running range is not over 240... http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sww-214266/overview/
And on this one, 250 is pegged... http://www.amazon.com/Auto-Meter-434...8069825&sr=1-4

If you gauge is working correctly, and it normally goes over 250F, it should be changed very often.

[Rob S.]

Suzuki originally planned on running oil
coolers on all of their models (look it up) but did not to save manufacturing costs and to be closer to Kawasaki and Honda in pricing.

They certainly made it easy enough to install one, and I'm thankful for that.