gday to all , another newbie here - i posted the same topic in my welcome

my zx is running rather warm - one gauge reading off the top in city traffic - this gets worse when then waiting at traffic lights , its getting to the stage where it keeps increasing towards the point that no one wants... the high temp display.

Im after advice - a way ahead

Im no stranger to high temp bikes in city traffic - i also own a SP2 which get rather hot at lights and when sitting at 60 k's.

I trying to figure out if this is a zx thing or is it something more sinister.

any advice for a zx newbie is appreciated - can anyone in the know enlighten me to the tem the fans kick in? they dont seem to be up to the task of cooling the bike temp or keeping out of my worry at the moment.

thanks in advance

nicho

The only two things you can do (assuming everything is in proper running order) is to change out the coolant to Engine Ice or Redline with Water Wetter and/or add a second radiator fan.

I had this problem with my 2008 ZX14. Especially on hot, humid days.

I put a second fan on, wired in parallel with the oem fan, so both come on together. I switched to Engine Ice coolant.

Those two things solved my problem, and she was running two bars down from the top sitting at long lights in 95 degree humid weather, after coming down from the mountains (where she was run hard and near redline).

Then, after a number of long multi-day trips, the temps lowered again across the board, as she got well broken in. By the end of that riding season, temps dropped another bar in all situations.

Sometimes I'd be sitting at the same light in the same conditions and the temp gauge would be at the halfway mark.

* Last updated by: privateer on 5/10/2012 @ 9:40 AM *

I tried all the various coolant tricks and none have made enough difference to justify the added expense except water wetter.
I wired in a manual switch to the fan for city traffic. When I am in town or pulling off the highway I just flip the fan on and turn it off once i return to speed or park the bike. Too easy and really cheap.
I just ran a hot lead to the switch and tapped into the fans hot lead. Tapped in on the fans pigtail inside of the main wiring harness for obvious reasons. I am considering adding a Shultz fan later in the year for quicker cooling.

Try and find an overheating, I'm on my 14th head gasket leak, the damn bike is a pieceashit kind of thread.

Happy? Are you relieved now?

His He Overheating more than the bike?

One way to be sure a second fan is a good idea, the Concours 14 comes stock with dual fans.

Considering the engine doesn't make as much horsepower as the ZX14, it runs cooler to begin with. And the Connie has a big opening in front of the radiator, and the radiator holds more water.

When those fans come on, the water temp drops rapidly.

KHI wouldn't put 2 on them if they didn't think it would lower the water temperature better and faster.

thanks for the advice -
will try the engince ice coolant (havent heard of that type before) and see how things pan out
appreciate the tips fellas

One of these aftermarket coolers deteriorate the water temp sensors is what I've heard. Lots of trackday bikes cropping up it seems with this computer virus. Just a warning with the sheepshit heard'ding is you herd it here. Bunch of water wetters behind the ears is reengineer go head, make your day(s).

Switching to Amsoil synthetic oil helped mine run a little cooler, and shift a little smoother.

The 2012 comes with 2 fans. The single fan on my 08 is larger than the two on the 2012. Even though the 08 would get hot at a stop light, the fan would always come on and it never boiled over nor did any bells and whistles pop. My 2012 will start fans @ about 200/F and run till I get moving. No problems. I spent 22 years in Arizona and I think if I had my 08 back there in the desert I would go with a second fan. You can also buy more efficient metal blades from aftermarket suppliers.

Engine Ice is just propylene glycol. Which you can buy for 1/4 the cost at any auto parts store marketed as LoTox etc..Save your money. Neither makes that much difference in my experience. Sorry to pop that dream.

* Last updated by: skiffman on 5/11/2012 @ 11:08 PM *

skiffman, that is your opinion. Lots of folks here, including me, have documented clear reductions in operating water temperature from Engine Ice. And no, its not just plain propylene glycol.

The problem with buying metal blades (like from Muzzy) is you have to trim them down.

This is so wrong on so many levels. First, you have to make sure the end result blade shapes are identical, or it will set up a harmonic that will kill the motor shaft bearing a lot sooner than it would normally go bad.

Also, you need to balance the blade which might help lessen the impact of the blades not being identical in shape and mass.

If you cut it down on a CNC water jet table, you might not have to balance it because the blades would all be identical. Tin snips don't cut it for "identical". Oh, I made a pun. Not intended.

Finally, the oem plastic fan blade probably moves almost as much air as a perfectly cut and balanced Muzzy aluminum fan blade, and are quieter running to boot.

I'd slap on a Spiegler fan as a slave secondary (comes on when the main fan comes on, so wired parallel) and just be done with it.

* Last updated by: privateer on 5/12/2012 @ 4:57 AM *

Didn't have to trim or balance the Muzzy fan on my 2010 - still runs quiet. But added a second fan to boot - no cooling issues for the past year or so with this set up. Also use Water Wetter not Engine Ice, but similar product from Redline.

* Last updated by: bigwilliezx on 6/6/2012 @ 7:09 PM *

Special coolants like Engine Ice and Redline with Water Wetter work by breaking the surface tension of the liquid (the force that causes water to bead up on freshly-waxed paint or keeps soap bubbles from popping) This makes the coolant more efficient because it can get closer to the surface of the water jackets and radiator fins, picking up more heat in the engine and sloughing off more heat in the radiator.

* Last updated by: Danno on 6/7/2012 @ 5:34 AM *

I try not to ride in town or several reasons.Like riding in the country at 3 bars and no traffic.No cops and no idling.Had a ZRX1100 and the fan started to melt.
Craig