1986 oil cooler

[Scottie1]

I do a lot of riding and the temperatures are from 85 - 100 degrees in South Carolina. Should I be looking to upgrade the stock oil cooler to the RPM one.

[balky1]

 

I do a lot of riding and the temperatures are from 85 - 100 degrees in South Carolina. Should I be looking to upgrade the stock oil cooler to the RPM one.

No.

[Old Rider]

If the oilcooler you got has  smashed fins/ register  i would upgrade with the RPM cooler

[Pat Conlon]

My top 3 in order of importance are:

1) Airflow. No airflow, no cooling, period. Avoid low/no airflow conditions.

2) Carb jetting is important.
The USA Fj's were set on the lean side from the factory, thanks to the US EPA.

3) The RPM oil cooler is more efficient than the oem cooler. (Assuming you have airflow)

[Scottie1]

My top 3 in order of importance are:

1) Airflow. No airflow, no cooling, period. Avoid low/no airflow conditions.

2) Carb jetting is important.
The USA Fj's were set on the lean side from the factory, thanks to the US EPA.

3) The RPM oil cooler is more efficient than the oem cooler.

I had the carbs rebuild by you guys and the jets replaced. I do take the bike or fairly long runs about 75 miles each way and it's mainly back roads. There is airflow and no sitting in traffic to often. I just thought being its over 100f here having a better oil cooler would be better for the bike.

[Pat Conlon]

Hi Scottie, ok, you have your bases covered.
A RPM oil cooler will most definitely keep your oil cooler.
A good thing for sure.  

BTW, Robert @ RPM rebuilt your carbs, not me....I'm not affiliated with RPM, just a fan.

[racerrad8]

Scottie1,

I am not sure why Balky said "no" and I am interested in his reasoning for not recommending.

With that said, the RPM oil cooler does provide additional cooling capacity over the stock cooler. The oil cooler is a very popular improvement modification for the FJ.

I know that all of my "local" California customers have one installed on their FJ's. We have summer temps is the 90-100's regularly and cooling improvement has been noted.

I will offer this, if the oil cooler wasn't an improvement over stock, I would continue to research and test different oil coolers until I found one that did.

Randy - RPM

[balky1]

Scottie1,

I am not sure why Balky said "no" and I am interested in his reasoning for not recommending.

With that said, the RPM oil cooler does provide additional cooling capacity over the stock cooler. The oil cooler is a very popular improvement modification for the FJ.

I know that all of my "local" California customers have one installed on their FJ's. We have summer temps is the 90-100's regularly and cooling improvement has been noted.

I will offer this, if the oil cooler wasn't an improvement over stock, I would continue to research and test different oil coolers until I found one that did.

Randy - RPM

It's not that I think it is not an improvement, I'm sure it is 'cause I see you sell the tested things. I don't doubt the fact it reduces the oil temp. But, he asked if it was needed. Why would it be needed on those temps? Sounds like a normal summer here where I live.
With 1,4 million kilometers a friend of mine has on his 1100 and cca. 300k between any rebuilds, lots of riding in Sahara, India, Tunisia, etc. with even hotter climate, with stock cooler, proves more than enough.
On the other hand, if Scottie rides a lot in slow traffic, I can understand the need for it. But without air streaming through it, I think there isn't big enough cooler to cool it. Or?

[Millietant]

Scottie1,

I am not sure why Balky said "no" and I am interested in his reasoning for not recommending.

With that said, the RPM oil cooler does provide additional cooling capacity over the stock cooler. The oil cooler is a very popular improvement modification for the FJ.

I know that all of my "local" California customers have one installed on their FJ's. We have summer temps is the 90-100's regularly and cooling improvement has been noted.

I will offer this, if the oil cooler wasn't an improvement over stock, I would continue to research and test different oil coolers until I found one that did.

Randy - RPM

I don't think Balky is saying it wouldn't be a worthwhile modification, he just saying that the bike does not NEED the bigger cooler to operate, even in higher tempertures.

I agree with you Randy, that the cooler you offer is a big improvement over stock and if I lived in the USA I'd buy one, because I wouldn't have to pay shipping costs, import duty and then another 20% in tax (VAT), but I realise that after 70k miles, many in Southern Europe at mid 30's air temps, it's something I WANT rather than an absolute necessity. I don't honk the only issue here is the vagaries between the languages and interpretations of the terms we use 

[racerrad8]

It's not that I think it is not an improvement, I'm sure it is 'cause I see you sell the tested things. I don't doubt the fact it reduces the oil temp. But, he asked if it was needed. Why would it be needed on those temps? Sounds like a normal summer here where I live.
With 1,4 million kilometers a friend of mine has on his 1100 and cca. 300k between any rebuilds, lots of riding in Sahara, India, Tunisia, etc. with even hotter climate, with stock cooler, proves more than enough.
On the other hand, if Scottie rides a lot in slow traffic, I can understand the need for it. But without air streaming through it, I think there isn't big enough cooler to cool it. Or?

Balky, I understand now; Is the upgrade "needed" or "required"?

In that aspect no it isn't. But in the SE portion of the US, the temps don't seem that high, but the humidity that accompanies that heat make them hot & humid.

Now, to debate just for a minute...

Just like the clutch on the FJ, which was marginal and slips once there is some wear and heat cycles. The changing of the front brake calipers and master cylinders to have better braking over stock. Or the upgrade to a 17" rear wheel for better tires. Finally, upgrading to a RPM spin on oil filter over the stock canister.

None of these upgrade are mandatory, but they all offer improvements over what Yamaha designed and offered more than 30 years ago now.

The bike was a satisfactory stead from the factory, but the upgrading of so many items of the FJ platform make it an even better motorcycle.

Randy - RPM

[balky1]

It's not that I think it is not an improvement, I'm sure it is 'cause I see you sell the tested things. I don't doubt the fact it reduces the oil temp. But, he asked if it was needed. Why would it be needed on those temps? Sounds like a normal summer here where I live.
With 1,4 million kilometers a friend of mine has on his 1100 and cca. 300k between any rebuilds, lots of riding in Sahara, India, Tunisia, etc. with even hotter climate, with stock cooler, proves more than enough.
On the other hand, if Scottie rides a lot in slow traffic, I can understand the need for it. But without air streaming through it, I think there isn't big enough cooler to cool it. Or?

Balky, I understand now; Is the upgrade "needed" or "required"?

In that aspect no it isn't. But in the SE portion of the US, the temps don't seem that high, but the humidity that accompanies that heat make them hot & humid.

Now, to debate just for a minute...

Just like the clutch on the FJ, which was marginal and slips once there is some wear and heat cycles. The changing of the front brake calipers and master cylinders to have better braking over stock. Or the upgrade to a 17" rear wheel for better tires. Finally, upgrading to a RPM spin on oil filter over the stock canister.

None of these upgrade are mandatory, but they all offer improvements over what Yamaha designed and offered more than 30 years ago now.

The bike was a satisfactory stead from the factory, but the upgrading of so many items of the FJ platform make it an even better motorcycle.

Randy - RPM

I never doubted this. I like all the 'toys' you sell and I am sure they make bike better.