something weird going on with the temp readout

[dcstrom]

When I got on the bike this morning it read 73. By the time I got to work it was 99. Ambient hadn't changed much. I know that the temp gauge is not accurate, but it's never been THAT inaccurate.

I'd been doing a few electrical things, so unhooked everything I'd added - in the process disconnecting the battery. Thinking is that this would reset everything that might need resetting. Nope - it's reading 106 just sitting there. Actual temp is probably mid-80's. Bike is sitting in the sun so let's give it the benefit of the doubt and call it mid-90's. Still way over.

The other thing I noticed is that disconnecting the battery resets both trip meters. Anyone else noticed this?

Trevor

 

[~TABASCO~]

Trevor,

I think the temp gauge is for the air box intake temp. That's why it went up.. When I bought my bike it was 105* out.. When I stuck the key it it would start off at 105-106* after a few minutes of riding it would show 122-125*... They are pulling that temp from the AB... Just a thougth.

 

[markjenn]

The other thing I noticed is that disconnecting the battery resets both trip meters. Anyone else noticed this?

Never seen a bike with elec trips that didn't do this.

As the previous poster said, the ambient temp reads airbox temp. While in motion, some rise over true ambient will probably occur as the engine becomes heat-soaked, although 20+ deg seems high. But with the bike sitting after running, I would completely expect it to read much higher than ambient.

- Mark

 

[stevepsd]

I have noticed the same thing (somewhat higher than ambient normally, and 10-15 degrees higher when in the slow, twisty off-road stuff), so thats why I am installing a dedicated temperature gauge....

http://trailtech.net/tto.html

 

[tomatocity]

AB = airbox (learned something new today)

The Temperature Gauge on my XTZ seems to be true considering the airbox sensor. My gauge begins at "Lo" and "104" is the first numeric reading. The temperature will vary as the XTZ is moving or stopped. The normal moving operating temperature is between 163 and 181. The fan comes on at 221 and off at 212.

Hope this helps.

 

[dcstrom]

Ok I think I know what happened - not confirmed, but I think the Temp readout is the default after a reset - so, disconnecting the battery resets the trips as well as the info display. I do use the temp readout on occasion, but pretty much only when cycling through things on the highway - at this time the temps are fairly close to true. I never have it up on my commute though... this morning it happened to be up because of the reset - and temps are far less accurate in traffic. Mystery solved!

BTW - I never noticed the V-Strom resetting trips after disconnecting the battery...

Thanks

Trevor

 

[dcstrom]

AB = airbox (learned something new today)

The Temperature Gauge on my XTZ seems to be true considering the airbox sensor. My gauge begins at "Lo" and "104" is the first numeric reading. The temperature will vary as the XTZ is moving or stopped. The normal moving operating temperature is between 163 and 181. The fan comes on at 221 and off at 212.

Hope this helps.

Yep, mine's the same - but that's the coolant temp. There's another readout for ambient temp, measured at the airbox. That's the one that was confusing me.

 

[tomatocity]

Yep, mine's the same - but that's the coolant temp. There's another readout for ambient temp, measured at the airbox. That's the one that was confusing me.

OK you are correct. I just checked my gauge and it was 88* while sitting on the back porch in shade. The advertised temperature at this time is 86*. I will check it later tonight.

 

[tomatocity]

I rode around a bit tonight, 10:30p, and found the AB temp was 82ish when running 3500 or more RPM in agricultural and industrial areas. I was surprised to find the temp at 77 when I returned to town and was running 3000 or less RPM in stop and go traffic.

 

[Tremor38]

I rode around a bit tonight, 10:30p, and found the AB temp was 82ish when running 3500 or more RPM in agricultural and industrial areas. I was surprised to find the temp at 77 when I returned to town and was running 3000 or less RPM in stop and go traffic.

That makes sense to me. At 3500 RPM, you are pulling more air across the sensor which will actually cause a 'temp rise,' (rise in indicated temp). At 3000, there is less airflow over the sensor, so the reading will be lower. I know that's counter intuitive when we think of wind chill factor, but it's what you see from the external temp sensors on an airplane ...provided your altitude remains the same ::008::

 

[dcstrom]

You know - after convincing myself that there was nothing wrong with the temp gauge - I'm now convince there is (or was). The day I first noticed the problem it was reading 95 in the underground car park when I was leaving work. Probably about 20 degrees over and no engine heat to interfere with anything. Yesterday, same situation, was reading 73. Today it's behaving normally...

So yes there was something weird, but I "fixed" it...

Trevor

 

[~TABASCO~]

Cool.... glad ya got it fixed !

 

[tomatocity]

You know - after convincing myself that there was nothing wrong with the temp gauge - I'm now convince there is (or was). The day I first noticed the problem it was reading 95 in the underground car park when I was leaving work. Probably about 20 degrees over and no engine heat to interfere with anything. Yesterday, same situation, was reading 73. Today it's behaving normally...

So yes there was something weird, but I "fixed" it...

Trevor

And... whats the Fix?

 

[dcstrom]

And... whats the Fix?

the fix was - nothing... I didn't do anything and it's back to working as normal.

 

[tomatocity]

the fix was - nothing... I didn't do anything and it's back to working as normal.

Have not ridden or started my Super Tenere today. It is sitting on a covered patio. I checked the gauge about noon and it was 79* and again at 5p and it was 93*. Guess it is working well and this is good.

Now about the coolant temps. I don't like the fan coming on at 221* and off at 212*. I understand a pressure cooling system but those temps also affect the oil temps.

 

[markjenn]

I don't like the fan coming on at 221* and off at 212*. I understand a pressure cooling system but those temps also affect the oil temps.

You think they're too high? These temps are completely normal and about like every other similar bike.

- Mark

 

[Don in Lodi]

You think they're too high? These temps are completely normal and about like every other similar bike.

- Mark

And like every car with electric fans.