Possible cooling problem

[UK Bloke]

Hi
2014 XTZ
Over the last few weeks I have been noticing a hot smell coming from the engine, when riding normally the temp is ok but when I hit slow traffic or stop the temp seem to increase really quickly.
I got back from a ride today and pulled onto my drive, it was ticking over for 2/3 mins and the temp was at 99, a few weeks ago it was really cold, almost frosty but the temp went to 100+ and the fan came on when I was waiting a traffic lights.

Poss water pump issue?

 

[tomatocity]

It should cycle between...

... 212 F and 221 F
... 100 C and 105 C

Have you ever rinsed the radiator?

 

[Checkswrecks]

+1 to Tomatocity's comments.


Getting a hot smell happens sometime and has nothing to do with coolant. It can be as simple as rain lifting oil off the road, and the oil cooking off the headers.

 

[tomatocity]

+1 to Tomatocity's comments.


Getting a hot smell happens sometime and has nothing to do with coolant. It can be as simple as rain lifting oil off the road, and the oil cooking off the headers.

Or a plastic bag sucked into the radiator air intake area... just guessing.

 

[UK Bloke]

Thanks all.
It'll smell hot when I've been out for a dry day.
The bike has only done 8k miles so don't think it'll need a rad flush and no plastic bags in the rad

What do you mean by: cycle between 100/105 ?

The problem is it gets up to 100 far too quickly, I timed it today, got to work, the temp was 78, within 2 mins it was at 100 and the air temp was only 6 deg, doesn't seem right to me.

 

[Dogdaze]

Thanks all.
What do you mean by: cycle between 100/105 ?

The problem is it gets up to 100 far too quickly, I timed it today, got to work, the temp was 78, within 2 mins it was at 100 and the air temp was only 6 deg, doesn't seem right to me.

The temp should rise quickly, but if ambient air temp is around 6°C then as long as you are moving, bike temp will be around 78-84°C, only when in very slow stop-go traffic will the temp rise to 100-104° at which point the fan kicks on. I would go back to very basics, check rad fluid level, even change it, better safe than sorry? Then look at the thermostat could be sticking, they have been known to fail on all sorts of bikes/cars.

 

[Ramseybella]

What does your reserve thank under the seat look like is the cap snapped on tight is it at correct level? ::024::

 

[Davesax36]

I don't know that the po ever changed the coolant in the 38k miles he had it. I'm going to change it as insurance pretty soon. My fan comes on a lot. It works, but it seems like it shouldn't have to be working as often as it is.

 

[WJBertrand]

For fear of stating the obvious and perhaps I missed it in the thread (apologies in advance if so but I checked twice), but have you removed the radiator cap and confirmed the radiator is full? An air leak or bad cap could allow a bubble to form between the radiator and the overflow bottle, leaving the bottle to appear full when the radiator is in fact low.

 

[tomatocity]

Thanks all.
It'll smell hot when I've been out for a dry day.
The bike has only done 8k miles so don't think it'll need a rad flush and no plastic bags in the rad

What do you mean by: cycle between 100/105 ?

The problem is it gets up to 100 far too quickly, I timed it today, got to work, the temp was 78, within 2 mins it was at 100 and the air temp was only 6 deg, doesn't seem right to me.

- 105 C to 100 C or 221 F to 212 F . If you let the engine idle the radiator fan will turn on at 221 F (105 C) and turn off at 212 F (100 C).

- I did not say to flush the radiator, though rinse the outside of the radiator with a garden hose. The large air intake is at the front of the riders left side fairing. And the fan exhaust is on the side of the left side fairing. I rinse the radiator from both of these ports then let it dry. I use a box fan to help with drying.