aniwack
Site Supporter
I’ve decided to wade back into this issue (because I’m a glutton for punishment Larry says) and tell you the sure fire way to resolve your heat problem once and for all. I’ve used this method on five bikes and have five happy owners.
STEP 1: USE A THICKER OIL.
Its that easy. The problem is the Honda 5W-20 oil is just too thin for how hot these engines get under the covers. My Shadows and V-Stars were air-cooled so this is a completely different type of fix. The thinner oils are fine for those open air engines. But we need the oil to pull the heat away from the block. So how do we do that?
15W-40.
Yup, I’m that crazy AND IT WORKS! Pair it up with a Mobil 1-110A and you’ve just solved 80% of the problem. My bikes idle cooler and lower than Honda Oil bikes. “BUT ITS DIESEL OIL!!“ you say. That’s more of a marketing gimmick. The thicker oil does work! So what do we do now with that heat, it must go somewhere...
STEP 2: DON’T NEGLECT YOUR COOLING SYSTEM.
When was the last time you swapped out the thermostat? If you can’t remember, it’s a good time to do it. The heat in the oil transfers to the coolant and goes to the radiator. The radiator dumps that heat down the vents and out. The fans work less because the bike is in a natural balance. Your bike will run cooler and (secret result) you will get a better MPG. I’ve got cooler bikes running better than 48.5 MPG. I have achieved frame temperatures of 86* at the knee point. While you are at it, fresh coolant never hurts.
The heat issue is a very simple fix. There is absolutely no need to cut the cowls or take drastic action installing insulation under the tank. There is a website that does a tutorial on how to do all that insulation. DON‘T DO IT! I’ve already had a horror story with two bikes with insulation that the trapped heat melted sensor connectors to the harness and the main harness actually bubbled!
Oil and the thermostat is the easiest and cheapest fix to deal with your heat problems forever.
STEP 1: USE A THICKER OIL.
Its that easy. The problem is the Honda 5W-20 oil is just too thin for how hot these engines get under the covers. My Shadows and V-Stars were air-cooled so this is a completely different type of fix. The thinner oils are fine for those open air engines. But we need the oil to pull the heat away from the block. So how do we do that?
15W-40.
Yup, I’m that crazy AND IT WORKS! Pair it up with a Mobil 1-110A and you’ve just solved 80% of the problem. My bikes idle cooler and lower than Honda Oil bikes. “BUT ITS DIESEL OIL!!“ you say. That’s more of a marketing gimmick. The thicker oil does work! So what do we do now with that heat, it must go somewhere...
STEP 2: DON’T NEGLECT YOUR COOLING SYSTEM.
When was the last time you swapped out the thermostat? If you can’t remember, it’s a good time to do it. The heat in the oil transfers to the coolant and goes to the radiator. The radiator dumps that heat down the vents and out. The fans work less because the bike is in a natural balance. Your bike will run cooler and (secret result) you will get a better MPG. I’ve got cooler bikes running better than 48.5 MPG. I have achieved frame temperatures of 86* at the knee point. While you are at it, fresh coolant never hurts.
The heat issue is a very simple fix. There is absolutely no need to cut the cowls or take drastic action installing insulation under the tank. There is a website that does a tutorial on how to do all that insulation. DON‘T DO IT! I’ve already had a horror story with two bikes with insulation that the trapped heat melted sensor connectors to the harness and the main harness actually bubbled!
Oil and the thermostat is the easiest and cheapest fix to deal with your heat problems forever.
