Temperature Light ON, overheating?

[ediot]

Riding into the city (Sydney) this morning one hour commute, my temperature light came on for about 2 mins then switched back off. I did notice that there was smoke/steam coming from the radiator but wasn't sure whether this was from the rain this morning hitting the radiator and letting off steam or whether it was getting real hot.

I did notice my overflow tank was under the "L" line two weeks ago but the liquid was full when I opened up the radiator lid. So I didn't top it up (was meaning to but just held it off). what level should the overflow tank be at?

I'm parked in the city and won't feel comforatble riding home unless I get some liquid topped up but not sure where to get some from?

I did a google search and theres Close Motorcycles in Redfern. Would it be best to go here and get some anti-freeze, distilled water or can you top up the bike with another liquid I can get somewhere within the CBD (Wynyard) for the trip home.

What is the best option?

[Wattie]

the coolant should be above the L line when HOT and below the full line when cold if you know what i mean.

When it gets hot it expands.

If the fluid was belopw the L line when cold, when hot, then maybe you should top it up.

When the light came on, was your fan working? a bike running coolant shouldnt overheat while idling away on its own. the fan should kick in to move air through the radiator and cool the bike enough.

Considering it is a cooler day today. it should be getting too hot. maybe wortth getting it checked over. maybe your leaking some coolant some where?

Can help with shope int he city, im a westie.

[ediot]

Sorry I'm a real noob to this. Let me try get this right.

If it's hot and expands, doesn't that mean the water level should be rising? - Hence below the full line when hot and above the L line when cold? I must be missing something haha

Should I always be topping it up with the 50/50 coolant/water mixture? - Or can I just use distilled water for now? - Is this recommended?

At other times I have noticed the fan working but this morning in traffic was hard to hear whether the fan was running or not. Most probably was but not 100% sure sorry.

There was quite abit of traffic on my way in to the city this morning so alot of gear 1, gear 2riding which may have caused the bike to not get enough cool air even though the weather is very cool today.

Thanks for replying so quick Wattie. Really appreciate it.

[marksesh]

Try Motor cycle accessories supermarket in wentworth ave. between hyde park and central, they have everything. phone number as below

Sydney City Store
36 - 38 Wentworth Ave Sydney NSW 2000
Phone 02 9261 5182 or 9261 5183
Fax 02 9261 5214

[Wattie]

Even if your bike its parked, they are designed for the fan to cool it enough to keep it from overheating.

Most bikes have a HOT and COLD level on the bottles. to lets say for arguements sake, that your L is the cold level. and H is the hot level.

When the bike its hot, you want it up around the top mark.

when cold, you want it no less than the bottom mark. make sense?

I think just chucking in some distilled water will be ok if your only adding up to around 300mls.
any more than that, and you probably should add coolant also, (make sure the coolant is the same colour at you already have, dont mix red and green coolant.

You should be able to feel the warm breeze on your hand if you put your hand down behind the fan while stopped. maybe when you get home, or even at lunch time, start the bike and let it idle and see what temp the fan cuts in at. it should come on before the light.

[tim]

If you're going to be sitting in traffic I'd probably be getting it to a mechanic before the commute home.

Wattie, you win the award for best intention, but most confusing post of the year

[Wattie]

If you're going to be sitting in traffic I'd probably be getting it to a mechanic before the commute home.

Wattie, you win the award for best intention, but most confusing post of the year

what can i say, i have no way with words...

[ediot]

I went down to the motor mechs to buy some coolant but they advised me not to use the coolant to top up. If it's low just use abit of water to top it up and it'll just dilute the existing coolant.

If the coolant is still full when I open up the radiator lid to check then there may be other problems that they will need to check. Best to take the bike in.

Your thoughts?

[dilligaf]

Went through this with my bike. Turned out to be wiring but took over a year to find it. Finally got it to a mechanic while the light was on. Before that I put a temp gauge on it.
Could be the temperature sensor, a leak somewhere or air bubbles in the radiator. Shouldn't really have to take the radiator cap off, just look at the overflow tank.