Oil Cooler - SV650.org

11-09-07, 03:51 PM

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

11-09-07, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asgc40

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

I thought K3's had oil coolers

11-09-07, 03:55 PM

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

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.

fizzwheel · 11-09-07, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

I thought K3's had oil coolers

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.

northwind · 11-09-07, 04:30 PM

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".

11-09-07, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

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.

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

Sid Squid · 11-09-07, 07:16 PM

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.

northwind · 11-09-07, 07:21 PM

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

11-09-07, 07:23 PM

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

11-09-07, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rigor

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

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.

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

11-09-07, 03:51 PM	#1
asgc40 Guest Posts: n/a	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

11-09-07, 03:55 PM	#3
rigor Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Oil Cooler If your's is a K3, it should have an oil cooler. Think it was just some curvies that didn't.... 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. Last edited by rigor; 11-09-07 at 05:32 PM. Reason: Fix broken image

11-09-07, 04:30 PM	#5
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	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". __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

11-09-07, 07:16 PM	#7
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	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. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

11-09-07, 07:21 PM	#8
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	Re: Oil Cooler Yup, and cracked cases, and a few more dodgy rods too (was that fixed with the K5? Not sure.) __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

11-09-07, 07:23 PM	#9
pilot Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Oil Cooler Can you easily install an oil cooler on a first generation or would that be a major undertaking?

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