Oil Coolers

[Guest]

An oil cooler will definitely help my bike run cooler, but I had a couple of questions I wanted to ask before I slap one on. Most of the threads I searched deal with which cooler, how to install etc, but I couldn't find a thread that addressed the "why?"
-Why does an 1150 need an oil cooler, but not the 1100 of the year before? Does it run that much hotter, or is it something more fundamental (like less porting thru'out the engine maybe?).
-If I'm only riding my 1100 normally (city/hiway, spring thru late fall), is there any chance the oil cooler would be detrimental, i.e. prevent the bike from running hot enough?

Thanks as always

[drhach]

You don't need one. You live in Quebec.

[Rudeman]

The cooler on the 1150 may have something to do with the fairing and the effect it has on airflow around the cooling fins...maybe. Air-cooled engines can always benefit from an oil cooler. If you are concerned about over cooling the oil you could get a thermostat to control the temp.

[posplayr]

a stock 1100 can run hot; some members in hotter climes report running at 300 degF typical. Mine when stock would easily get to 210 degF in relative mild 70 deg ambient (with an small 550 oil cooler).

With an 1166 over bore, there is a noticeable step up in heat. A little more than an 1150 . These were the years where Suzuki was transitioning their designs toward the 83-86 models which generally had coolers (except the 1100 in 83) toward the 1st Gen GSXR's that has separate oil cooling systems. These 1st/2nd Gen GSXR also know as "oilers".

[Nessism]

Suzuki added oil coolers to all the 3rd generation GS bikes as a precaution. It’s not that these bikes run hotter per say under normal usage, but because Suzuki ramped up the HP those bikes have the “potential” to make more heat.

One nice thing about those factory oil cooling systems is that they use a thermostat built into the plumbing. Overcooling the oil is a real concern with an unregulated cooler.

[reddirtrider]

If you feel you need a cooler for your 1100 it's pretty simple. You'll need an 1150 oil cover and then simply plumb the cooler to the external ports on the front of the engine.

[supersonictoys]

my 83' 1100 rarely gets over 200 degrees even when its pushing 100 degrees outside but it has a pipe pods and a jet kit which fattened it up considerably from stock. I think from the factory these bikes were jetted very lean for emission reasons and there fore just ran hot. I used to ride kz1000's and on a totally stock bike we would up the main jet size about 6 sizes and the pilots up one size. they would run way cooler and had better power all the way through. of course the kz's didn't have cv carbs so they weren't as difficult to jet properly.

[Nessism]

my 83' 1100 rarely gets over 200 degrees even when its pushing 100 degrees outside but it has a pipe pods and a jet kit which fattened it up considerably from stock. I think from the factory these bikes were jetted very lean for emission reasons and there fore just ran hot. I used to ride kz1000's and on a totally stock bike we would up the main jet size about 6 sizes and the pilots up one size. they would run way cooler and had better power all the way through. of course the kz's didn't have cv carbs so they weren't as difficult to jet properly.

If you upped the main jets 6 sizes and the pilot one size on a GS the bike would be a plug fouling blubbering pig.