fj100 overheating in traffic any solutions??

[peter]

  my 1100 1984 fj gets hot in summer and overheats as this is a common defect of the bike has anyone developed a solution? larger oil cooler? spark plug change?
thks
peter

[racerman_27410]

what do you mean by overheating?

what symptoms are you having?


Kookaloo!

[Harvy]

my 1100 1984 fj gets hot in summer and overheats as this is a common defect of the bike has anyone developed a solution? larger oil cooler? spark plug change?
thks
peter

Welcome to the group Peter.....your email address suggests you are in Italy...... I don't think we have any other members from Italy yet.
FJs do tend to get hot on slow commutes on hot days. One member here has fitted a fan under the tank above the valve cover, some have fitted computer type fans in front of the oil cooler. Many have swapped out the OEM cooler for one that is similar height but twice as deep. A good idea is to fit an oil temp gauge just so you can keep an eye on it. I doubt changing plugs to a cooler heat range is going to do much to engine temp.

Harvy

[RichBaker]

I live in Tucson, AZ.... 100-110F+ during the summer. I ride year-round and have not had any overheating issues with my '90 except when I  got stuck in a traffic jam, once.... now I avoid them.
NOT a common "defect"..... what makes you think she's overheating?

[Pat Conlon]

Hello Peter,
I also live in the desert, and summers are brutal both on our aircooled bikes and riders.
Please describe your bike for us, mileage and any modifications.

If stock, I have 3 words for you... Jetting, Jetting and *Jetting*. 

The '84's ran lean from the factory.
The largest oil cooler you can fit, and the best synthetic oil will help, but not still not cool the bike down if you are running lean.

[teeeeeceeeee]

+ 1 for Jetting.

I ran a high comp 1100 with stock oil cooler in the tropics & NEVER had overheating problems.

TeeCee

[ccsct203]

Sorry for the size
the real one is larger still



This works for me
the largest "bolt-on cooler I could fit

[scottg]

My '84's idle mixture adjustment was set too lean due to a failing sniffer at the dealer, it ran really hot in traffic until it was readjusted correctly.

[peter]

what do you mean by overheating?

what symptoms are you having?


Kookaloo!
well my symptoms are sluggish gear changing, and an increase in rpms by about 500

[peter]

Hello Peter,
I also live in the desert, and summers are brutal both on our aircooled bikes and riders.
Please describe your bike for us, mileage and any modifications.

If stock, I have 3 words for you... Jetting, Jetting and *Jetting*. 

The '84's ran lean from the factory.
The largest oil cooler you can fit, and the best synthetic oil will help, but not still not cool the bike down if you are running lean.

great thanks will do

[peter]

my 1100 1984 fj gets hot in summer and overheats as this is a common defect of the bike has anyone developed a solution? larger oil cooler? spark plug change?
thks
peter

Welcome to the group Peter.....your email address suggests you are in Italy...... I don't think we have any other members from Italy yet.
FJs do tend to get hot on slow commutes on hot days. One member here has fitted a fan under the tank above the valve cover, some have fitted computer type fans in front of the oil cooler. Many have swapped out the OEM cooler for one that is similar height but twice as deep. A good idea is to fit an oil temp gauge just so you can keep an eye on it. I doubt changing plugs to a cooler heat range is going to do much to engine temp.

Thanks will do yeah in rome with my FJ next is Greece

Harvy

[peter]

Sorry for the size
the real one is larger still



This works for me
the largest "bolt-on cooler I could fit

Is this real?? dont you have problems with air flow to back of engine which could create a larger issue?

[Pat Conlon]

Good instinct Peter, I agree with you. Remember our bikes are aircooled, not oil cooled. There has to be a point of diminishing returns when blocking airflow to the top of the cylinder head with a large oil cooler.
Oil coolers shed heat when air is flowing, but not so well in stop and go traffic.
If you want to reduce your cylinder head temps, again, fatten up your mixtures.

Is this real?? dont you have problems with air flow to back of engine which could create a larger issue?

[RichBaker]

Yep, especially idle mixture.... the Japs were running very lean idle and off-idle for emissions reasons. These big-bore bikes run the emissions certification tests at very small throttle openings so they didn't mess with mains or needles too badly..... I went up a size on the pilots in my '90, from 37.5 to 40. It made a big difference....

[ccsct203]

Sorry for the size
the real one is larger still



This works for me
the largest "bolt-on cooler I could fit

Is this real?? dont you have problems with air flow to back of engine which could create a larger issue?

No issue with air flow
Engine stays cooler then I would have thought
I still get air over the head