Oil Cooler
 

Somebody mentioned to me that SV's not fitted with oil coolers (K3 and before I think) can be prone to engine problems after about 15k, has anybody heard anything to prove / disprove this theory ? I ask as mine is a K3 so now worried.
Cheers

Re: Oil Cooler
 

I thought K3's had oil coolers :confused:

Re: Oil Cooler
 

If your's is a K3, it should have an oil cooler. Think it was just some curvies that didn't....

http://www.hamicad.co.uk/SV650_Radiator/IMAG002A.JPG

That's a k3, and the bottom radiator is the oil cooler.

Not sure it makes any difference anyway, seem to have read on here that the oil cooler is more for looks than anything.

Re: Oil Cooler
 

They do, but it could be a late K2 registered on a 53 or 03 plate possibly.

asgc40 - some pic's of your bike would help.

Re: Oil Cooler
 

Yep, no curvies have oil coolers- apaprently the cases actually have some of the machining (or casting, perhaps) for the takeoffs, they just never used it. Cooler oil is always good, but there's never been any convincing suggestion of it causing problems. Ask RandyO if he needed an oil cooler on his. On the street, it's complexity without much gain as far as I'm concerned.

The counterargument is "Suzuki wouldn't have added it to the K3 if it didn't need it, why would they spend the extra". The K7 GSXR doesn't need its power step button, but they added that. The VFR didn't need VTEC. Sometimes need isn't the driving force. Maybe you're supposed to think "Ooh, the SV's injected now, must be more powerful and better. And look, it has an oil cooler, only proper bikes have oil coolers".

Re: Oil Cooler
 

I can confirm mine is a '02 K2 and has no oil cooler. Also with no problems @ 23,500 miles....... yes of course until now that I've just said that :scratch:

Re: Oil Cooler
 

I know several very high miles Curvies, there's no problem not having a cooler.
As Andy says cooler is better, but the reality is that the SV doesn't need a cooler.
If anything the Pointy engines aren't as strong as the earlier ones, there's been ever so slightly more bottom end failures K3 on than the early ones.

Re: Oil Cooler
 

Yup, and cracked cases, and a few more dodgy rods too (was that fixed with the K5? Not sure.)

Re: Oil Cooler
 

Can you easily install an oil cooler on a first generation or would that be a major undertaking?

Re: Oil Cooler
 

Thats a K4.... Sorry just being picky. :)