On running hot - musings in the desert

[sunnbobb]

The recent trip to deadwood gave me a chance to evaluate the running temp on my bike in various conditions. It certainly helped relieve the boredom on long Montana highways. I also had plenty of time to contemplate how to deal with heat.

THE ENGINE
I run a digital gauge that allows me to see micro changes in engine temps. It also reads in Celsius.

For the sake of appearance, I have long removed the heat shield and radiator fins on my bikes. Around these parts, I have never had to worry about the cooling effect of the fins. This trip was different. Outside temps soared into the mid to high nineties when I ran through Montana. I was also running at about 3-4K elevation.

My high normal operating temp around here is about 98C-103C on the gauge. It seldom every stays near 103, as the fans kicks on and the temp drops to about 96C. While climbing a grade at about 75 MPH, outside temp 97F, and 4K elevation I watched my gauge start climbing. 103..104...105...106...107. Hmm, time for some evasive action, me no likey this.

As a whim, I put my legs up over my cylinders, placing the soles of my shoes next to the radiator. Within 20 seconds, the temp began to drop. I got it all the way down to 99! The wind deflected from the soles of my shoes into the radiator lowed the temp by 8C. I continued to do this all day long until I was convinced it was actually working. LOL.

THE RIDER
Coming across Eastern Washington, the temps were reaching close to 105F. Opening the face shield simply forced hot air into my helmet. The first thing I was grateful for was my mirrored face shield. It most definitely kept the hot sun off of my face. I will never run with a clear shield after witnessing how effective the mirrored shield was.

Building greenhouses, we have a few tricks to keep ourselves cool during the day. One of them is a garden hat. It is basically a straw hat with a cloth liner. You soak the hat in water, and the wet brim continually feeds cool water to your head band. This knowledge in hand, I tried the idea with my helmet. I stopped at a rest stop and filled my helmet with water, turned it over and let it drain. I then wore it riding through 105F heat at 75 MPH. OMG, was it ever effective. My head was cooled down, and I was far more comfortable.

The second trick I employed was the use of a Chill-it around my neck. I soaked it in a cup of water then wrapped it around my neck.

Lastly, I wore a tshirt under a loose fitting light blue cotton dress shirt. The shirt kept the sun off of my skin, and the tshirt wicked the sweat away. I probably should have been wearing my leather, but it was too friddin' hot!

THE OIL

Running in this kind of heat, the engine oil goes through some serious punishment. It becomes thin as water. I don't have to tell you how tough it can be to see the oil in the famous goldwing oil-check window. However, when the oil is super hot on a day like this, you can lean the bike over and literally wash the inside of the window clean. And you can see the oil wash up and down in the window. Amazing.

I was able to drop my temp by about 1-2C by slightly over filling my case. I added about 1/2 of a quart extra when I topped my oil up (by accident). I did, however, notice the engine running ever so slightly cooler.

Lastly, it goes without saying, after running 2800 miles in the heat, the oil needs to be changed.

[Oldewing]

Good stuff, love to see a pic's of you running with your boots over the heads Don't sound all that comfy.

[Whiskerfish]

Interesting that your feet worked so effectively as rad fins.

A tip for you in your work environment. On the hottest days of the year here my Wife mixes Rubbing alcohol with her water that she dips her neck rags in. The Alcohol evaporates much quicker and wicks away a lot more heat than water alone. She basically carries 2 water jugs, one for drinking and one for keeping neck rags wet in.

[zavikan]

I too find it interesting that the fins are important in more extreme climates, but I can't help but think that this time would have been better spent taking more vaincre pictures. You have unfortunately been typecast sunnbobb.

(more seriously though, that is nice information to know)

[sunnbobb]

Great tip WF, what ratio does she mix the alcohol? Would gin work? lol. I was quite surprised on how effective my shoes worked as well. There has been much debate on the effectiveness of the fins, it was cool to be able to actually document it.

[Sagebrush]

Great tip WF, what ratio does she mix the alcohol? Would gin work? lol. I was quite surprised on how effective my shoes worked as well. There has been much debate on the effectiveness of the fins, it was cool to be able to actually document it.

Well the fins are worthless but apparently we all need to mount shoes either side of the radiator now

[Rat]

What size ?

Is the colour important ?

Laces or slip-ons ?

Does the heel affect the function at all ?

What about wear ? Is there a recommended replacement interval/mileage ?

Gord (I need a new pair) Jones

[kb0ou]

Every now and again throw a bunch of water on each shoulder, it helps keep ya cool while ridin in the heat.

What size shoes?????????????

[sunnbobb]

Another test I did was using high vs low octane gas. My final analysis was that my bike ran smoothest and coolest on fuel in the 87 Octane range. I tried some 102 non ethanol, and it just did not have the high rpm power that I was used to. Running the 102 octane I got about 41 MPG, running the 87 octane I averaged 46. Conditions varied on the route, however, it was pretty consistent regarding speeds, temps and altitude.

[fish]

"Outside temps soared into the mid to high nineties"

I have flogged my NGW all over AZ in temps waaaay over 100F
Altitudes from 1500 to 5500
Never a problem at all, I assume because my temp gague don't work.
I guess I need to fix my gauge ?

[Whiskerfish]

Great tip WF, what ratio does she mix the alcohol? Would gin work? lol. I was quite surprised on how effective my shoes worked as well. There has been much debate on the effectiveness of the fins, it was cool to be able to actually document it.

4 to 1 water to alcohol. It is especially effective here as our bad days are very humid and normally sweat just hangs on you but the Alcohol really helps to wick it away.

[Fred Camper]

Keep in mind that 110 C coolant temperature is not particularly hot but it is hotter than we are used to. The coolant boils with a 15 PSI cap at 125 C coolant temperature if it is a perfect 50/50 mix. Too much glycol or two much water is not as good.

[KYpondman]

Re. high octane, I tried 2 tanks full 91 and 93 octane on the eastern run and got better mileage with the cheap stuff!
Claude

[joedrum]

reality is high octang gas now days starts as gas thats not good enough for regular gas ....and has all kinds of additive in it to make higher octang ...the additives evporate and it the first gas to go bad ...its self life so to speak worst than 87 ...pass that the gas is just crap period no matter what you buy today crummyest gas ever offered to the public period

[sunnbobb]

Fred, I have been trying to find that info for a while regarding boiling temp in a wing.. where did you find that? Thanks!!! Are you saying that 107C is nothing to worry about? The fan comes on at 102...