Cool weather...oil cooler...cover/not cover??

[moosehead]

Well, cooler weather is coming to these parts of the northern hem, not snow mind you, but, cool...0-10C ...still great riding weather with all the autumn leaf colour changes etc...

Question...how many cover up oil cooler in the cooler weather??

I run 20w50 during whole riding season (Mid March - mid Nov) so early/late in season temps can be anywhaere from 0-10C. I don't switch to 10w40..I cover the oil cooler on the GS when it gets below 12C and going to do it on the RS (with cooler) as well...just wondering what other guys do? Go to 10w40 or cover oil cooler?

When below 10C I "heat up" the oil with a small space heater in the garage before I crank the bike over...always concerned with thickened viscosity due to cold temp.high start up oil pressure ..yadda yadda...

Well, off the "Pumpkin' Fest" in Port...see the vintage bikes and car show...turn on the heated vest...ahhh

[Garnet]

With today's oils an oil cooler on an airhead is not realy needed, unless you are dragin a chair or it's REALY HOT out. I personaly would cover an oil cooler at or below 15C.

Do some models come with a thermostat?

[Rob Frankham]

If we're talking about the 'RS, then I wouldn't bother... the cooler is thermostatically controlled and probably very seldom comes on anyway.

The 'GS is a different tale. I believe the oil cooler on that model doesn't have a thermostat so... cover or not? Once again, I probably wouldn't do so unless the ambient temperature dropped well below freezing. Even then, I think I would probably just fill up with the specified oil for the temperature range and leave it at that. My reasoning is this...

The time when airheads overheat (if they're going to) is when they are travelling slowly. This is when the cooling effect of the airflow is at it's least effective. When the temperature is below zero, we tend to ride slower so the reduction in cooing from the slower airflow will tend to offset the fact that the air itself is cooler. I believe (with some reason having run ai airhead with an acurate oil temperature gauge) tht ambient temperature has far lss effect on the oil temperature when the bike is runnin in the 'normal' regime than on might imagine and, provided you pay at least lip service to the oil specifications you won't have much to worry about

Rob

[gspd]

402,000kms, never covered my cooler (no thermostat either).
20W50 (My manual says that's OK down to -10C or 14F)
I never beat on it (for the first few miles) when it's cold.

I'll let you know how it pans out when I get some serious miles on it.

[moosehead]

Interesting thoughts...I don't have a thermostat on the GS come to think of it and forgot that the RS has one...I don't ride below freezing point...so the hell with the cover on the GS and the RS...20w50 does it for me...and I do take it easy for the warm up miles.

On the R75 I just run it as is...20w50... although I did find a great deal on a Hannigan fairing and boy is that nice to ride behind in the cooler weather.

Hey GSPD, do some riding up in the Laurentians or down in the Townships this time of year? Bet the fall colours are awesome?

OK, today some sun today and the leaves are making the colour turn...time for a tour.

[moosehead]

Interesting thoughts...I don't have a thermostat on the GS come to think of it and forgot that the RS has one...I don't ride below freezing point...so the hell with the cover on the GS and the RS...20w50 does it for me...and I do take it easy for the warm up miles.

On the R75 I just run it as is...20w50... although I did find a great deal on a Hannigan fairing and boy is that nice to ride behind in the cooler weather.

Hey GSPD, do some riding up in the Laurentians or down in the Townships this time of year? Bet the fall colours are awesome?

OK, today some sun today and the leaves are making the colour turn...time for a tour.

[gspd]

Hey GSPD, do some riding up in the Laurentians or down in the Townships this time of year? Bet the fall colours are awesome?

I was there (Eastern Townships) yesterday, and may be going again today.
SPECTACULAR colors for sure!
It's hard to keep your eyes on the road.