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Overheating and oil coolers ? Overheating and oil coolers ?
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 4 Apr 2007
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Overheating and oil coolers ?
Iv just been talking to a guy who took an XT600E over Africa. He said while riding, the oil was constantly around the 120-150c range which is close to boiling and deffo not lubricating as it should.


Under his advice, im thinking of fitting an oil cooler as im planning on some very hot countries and off road too.

Has anyone got any experience of oil coolers on the XT, where to buy them and any pitfalls !! ?

Thans in advance.

Ed
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Old 4 Apr 2007
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Try and get an oil cooler and pipes from an earlier Tenere from a breakers, should (with slight adaption) plumb straight in to XT600Es oil feeds. Just remember you will need to increase the amount of oil when filling up, not sure how much you bike takes but Teneres take about 2 litres. You will then have to mount cooler to frame, not sure how much space you will have to do this. Or use one from a Honda XR400, this mounts below headlight, you will probably need to have flexible oil pipes made up and once again find a way of conecting cooler to the bike.
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Old 4 Apr 2007
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Hi I am fitting mine next week, here is where it came from

http://www.offtheroad.de/

Then click on 'Enduro Zubehör' on the left hand side, when when the page reloads click 'Ölkühler + mehr' and hopefuly this is what you are looking for!

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Old 5 Apr 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikerfromsark View Post
Hi I am fitting mine next week, here is where it came from

http://www.offtheroad.de/

Then click on 'Enduro Zubehör' on the left hand side, when when the page reloads click 'Ölkühler + mehr' and hopefuly this is what you are looking for!

bikerfromsark
Yer.. i have found this too and also a KEDO one.

All in Germany.

Are you fitting to a XT600E.. I would be very grateful if you could send me some pictures of how it plumbs in.

Thanks, ed
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Old 5 Apr 2007
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We ride daily where the air temp can be well over 40C++ in the summer months and have not 'yet' fitted oil cools and to date have not had any problems.

I know it sound logical, but the more load you place on the engine the hotter its going to get. By load I mean physical weight and the type of terrain, soft terrain really does take it out of the bike and rider.

I guess we have not see any 'real' issues so far, because of the loads and speeds that we are doing, therefore plenty of cooling is taking place. So maybe you don't need one?

However, I am seriously thinking about it, as oil degredation is a very real issue with the temps we are talking about. Let me know how it goes and a few pictures would be nice
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Old 5 Apr 2007
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Well it seems like its a dont bother situation.

Iv just had a good chat with David Lambeth (Who I think is the leading authority on Xt's in the UK)

Oil cooler is just not necessary at all... He thrashes them all day through the desert and although the oil gets hot, its fine..

Modern oils can withstand those temperatures with no problem at all and he has been proving the fact for many years..


Soo people... Save your money.
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Old 5 Apr 2007
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Would be interesting to know what grade of oil you choose for these very hot conditions - SAE 20W/50 or something else?

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Old 5 Apr 2007
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Ted, thanks for the update from what is considered the 'XT' Guru. His comments appear to echo my own experiences.

Again, we have not fitted them yet, but I was seriously thinking about it. If David Lambeth says they not needed, then that is more than good enough for me.

As like the previous post, it would be nice to know what oil weight he recommends.

Thanks again. You just saved me money
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Old 5 Apr 2007
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I dont know what he recommends but ill be using semi syth 10w40.

Its not cold enough to warrent 5w
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Old 19 Apr 2007
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Further research proves that a FULLY synthetic 20W50 is recommended for high temps.

Im looking at Castrol Activo 20w50 and Dave Lambeth recommenes Millers CVT oil. Its not motorcycle specific but its designed for wet shared sump engines (like bikes are)

I emailed a guy who works for shell and he said oil is fine upto 150c as long as its not all day everyday and the temp should bother the oil if its changed at correct intervals etc.

Its pretty much what I thought but I wanted to be sure.
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Old 20 Apr 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tedmagnum View Post
Further research proves that a FULLY synthetic 20W50 is recommended for high temps.

Im looking at Castrol Activo 20w50 and Dave Lambeth recommenes Millers CVT oil. Its not motorcycle specific but its designed for wet shared sump engines (like bikes are)
Think you might like to change that to 'Like most bikes are'
It would be wrong for BMW, Moto Guzzi, Harley and Enfields plus all old Brit Bikes.
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Old 20 Apr 2007
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Indeed
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Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
Think you might like to change that to 'Like most bikes are'
It would be wrong for BMW, Moto Guzzi, Harley and Enfields plus all old Brit Bikes.
True... But that oil will be fine in the engine.
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