Temperature Gauge
 

Hi,

I ride an SV650S K4 and noticed last night and this morning the temperature gauge on the LCD display was jumping around between 82c and 92c. Whilst driving at a constant speed in the same gear the gauge was displaying 82,84, then jumps to 89, then drops down to 85, 81 and then randomly goes back up.

I realise sitting in traffic and higher revs will increase the temperature but this occurred during a stint on the A2.

The bike runs ok, doesn't cut or anything.

I don't know how long this has been happening, I'd say fairly recently or...perhaps its always been like that and I've just noticed it :oops: .

Thanks
T0mm0

going down the A2 is sitting in traffic!
have never noticed my my k6 :smt102

It's the thermostat opening and closing on the coolant system

They all do that sir :wink:

82-89C? Blimey, that's normal running temp range as far as I'm aware!

IMO, stop looking at the temp reading, and keep riding :)

:winner:

I would have expected the temp to be fairly constant whilst travelling at the same revs, speed, gears etc. However, the fluctuations between 82c and 90c are over a space of a few seconds.

Fair enough though, thanks for your advice.

As said, it's not at all unusual for thermostats to cycle like that, it's more likely in cold weather due to the rad "overcooling" to some extent.

If the coolant starts from a low value the stat is more or less closed, so negligible flow through the rad, so what's in the rad gets very cold. The engine heats the coolant going round the by-pass circuit till it opens the stat, this pushes coolant through the rad, but what's in there is very cold and goes into the engine and pulls the temp down so the stat closes down again.

Part of development is to make sure this cycling is sufficiently damped, but bike systems tend to be relatively primitive compared to most cars and therefore I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the sort of temps you describe.

have you checked the coolant level?? i.e. the rad is full to the brim?

I wouldn't expect to see rapid fluctuations. The thermostat will adjust, but to be honest this a relatively slow moving item, ... I suspect low coolant or a faulty wire ...

My K5 suddenly started doing this on the way home tonight i was gonna give the bike a check over tomorrow and make sure it was ok.
But like you i can't think if if ever really looked at the temp gauge before.
Mine was going from 80 right up to 97, and that was going along at around a constant 90mph for about 50 miles.

He's right you know.