SuzukiSavage.com - Will air cooled engines overheat during long idles

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Will air cooled engines overheat during long idles
06/07/15 at 14:52:26

Maybe some experts on this site can help.

Since the Suzuki S40 is an air cooled engine, will the engine overheat during long idles? ... Such as when you get caught in a long traffic jam, or slow moving traffic, or slow traffic from commutes or accidents?

Where I live one can easily get caught up in traffic where you may have stop and go traffic for miles ... sometimes up to a half hour of slow movement. Kind of worried about how it may affect the lack of air flow in the S40 air cooled engine.

I understand that some companies offer cooling fans (also called parade fans) for Harley Davidsons (which also have air cooled engines). The claim is that they really help.

Should I be worried? Open to your thoughts and ideas.

Thanks,
Ron G

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i Reply #1 - 06/07/15 at 15:02:23 This could turn into a lively discussion... I know a really smart guy in Houston who runs premium when it's hot. He has much experience with engines, building and racing,
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Matt_greatlakesstate Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 58 Midland, MI Gender:	Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i Reply #2 - 06/07/15 at 15:02:59 Im not 100% but i would think it would overheat but would take quite awhile if it was running at idle.
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Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i
Reply #3 - 06/07/15 at 17:59:59

My opinion is an air cooled engine should be able to idle until it runs out of fuel without overheating. However, given how scant the cooling fins are on this engine, I don't know. I have seen it recommended several times that if you're going to be sitting for a long while, turn it off.

I have not tried idling for long periods with this engine. I have sat at long lights in the summer and driven slowly at meets and stuff and never had it overheat. I guess if you're worried, you could always get a parade fan. It couldn't hurt to have more air moving over the cylinder in the heat.

Just remember that idling is barely if even charging so you'll most likely be running it off the battery. Too long and your battery will get weak.

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28657 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i Reply #4 - 06/07/15 at 18:13:12 Yup,... they'll overheat... Harley's do it Beemer's do it, my 225 Yamaha, Honda 360, Hodaka 125... I think any air-cooled bike will... on a hot day, in still air... They ain't generators, they are designed to move...
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Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i
Reply #5 - 06/07/15 at 18:24:58

I had a a temperature gauge mounted on the the head for a while, and it would approach 300 degrees on 95 degree days crawling up a gravel mountain road while at the Dragon, and while MMRanch made me ride down the main street in Pigeon Forge on a similarly hot day. I turned the engine off multiple times when we were just sitting.

I do worry about excessive heat when those conditions arise. It may not be overheating....but it certainly is abusing the rubber seals and gaskets if nothing else.

Might be that you should consider driving on the berm and taking the next side road when you hit those long traffic jams.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i Reply #6 - 06/07/15 at 18:44:22 Question How to increase heat sink surface/capacity/efficiency.. Something removable Not horrid looking
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gizzo

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Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i
Reply #7 - 06/08/15 at 00:26:40

Years ago I was skiing at the river and saw this guy with a home built kneeler (like a little hydroplane kind of thing) that had a Beetle engine in. He'd rigged up some kind of sprayer that picked water from the river and ejected in an atomised spray through the barrels and heads. Everwhere he went he was followed by a cloud of steam. According to him there was never a problem with it. Might be a little impractical on the Savage though.

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Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i
Reply #8 - 06/08/15 at 04:03:23

There is no doubt that the water cooled bikes with radiators are better able to handle the heat when idling for long periods. They have fans that kick on when the radiator temperature rises.

Our Savage does not really have an excess amount of cooling fins for the engine size. Also we have a pretty low oil flow volume at idle speed, and the camshaft does not have any bearings and spins in the machined aluminum head. I believe the crankshaft bearings can handle periods of low oil flow and high temperatures pretty well, the big concerns in my opinion would be the breakdown of the oil film in the piston/cylinder and the cam shaft in the cylinder head...as well as the heat deteriorating the gaskets and rubber parts like seals and the problematic head plug that is prone to leaking oil.

If you are going to be in those scenarios that make you sit for extended periods - you may want to use the Rotellat T-6 synthetic oil which can handle heat a little better than the Dino oil. And you may want to consider turning the engine off when you are going to be sitting for a while.

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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i
Reply #9 - 06/08/15 at 05:16:56

Dave wrote on 06/08/15 at 04:03:23:
And you may want to consider turning the engine off when you are going to be sitting for a while.

If I were stuck in traffic like that I would consider:

1) turning off the engine and doing the Fred Flintstone crawl; i.e move along using foot power

2) if the conditions are right, lane split my way through until the pace picks up.

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pg Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 5273 In Transit	Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i Reply #10 - 06/08/15 at 05:24:08 For those who ride an air-cooled V-twin, how does the rear piston stay cool? I always wondered about that? Best regards,
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Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i
Reply #11 - 06/08/15 at 07:25:36

pg wrote on 06/08/15 at 05:24:08:

For those who ride an air-cooled V-twin, how does the rear piston stay cool? I always wondered about that?

They don't,..not if they are air-cooled...
Newer big Harleys now have a "parade" mode, in which the rear cylinder shuts off at a certain temperature...
Harley thumpers!... finally!... Grin

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gizzo Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiCabbage. It's Savage. Posts: 1318 Australia	Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i Reply #12 - 06/08/15 at 07:56:37 Proper v twins have the engine in an "L" configuration where the front cylinder lays down and the rear one is vertical,thumper style. Or a transverse v with a pot out each side. Either layout gives good airflow.
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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i
Reply #13 - 06/08/15 at 08:14:26

Call me impatient. Sitting on a bike, its hot, no fun...
I carried a water bottle, that pumped up and had valve and nozzle, cool mist. Refilled water bottles in the bag.
A stop at the water hose, to wet the tshirt under the long sleeve, left partly unsnapped. Tractor Supply welders shirts, heavy duty.
Anyway, I ll drive out of my way, drive farther and longer to avoid sitting.
Even if im in a car and I have AC, I despise sitting at a light for more than two cycles. Once is plenty for me.

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Art Webb Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 3007 columbus, Texas Gender:	Re: Will air cooled engines overheat during long i Reply #14 - 06/08/15 at 10:31:42 I won't use the drive through at a fast food place, or the bank If I gotta wait, the folks I'm waiting on can provide the AC and I'll save the gas
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