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Oil Level and Overheating?

C

CelticDude

Joined Dec 2005
184 Posts | 0+
Sacramento, California
I was reading a test today in Dirt Bike magazine about the 2008 KTM 450 EXC. After swimming in a sea of superlatives, they finally arrive at a problem; the bike is overheating! The KTM guys come over and drain a bit of oil from the motor and off they go and the overheating is no longer a problem. Hmmm...
This got me thinking. Could this be the cause of a lot of the overheating issues with our bikes? When I first got mine, I was careful to run the oil level just above the window. No overheating problems. Then, I changed oils and began to toss in the whole quart. Now I began to experience overheating for the first time and subequently installed a radiator fan and overflow bottle to cure it. I figured that little bit of extra oil was a good thing. Has anyone tested these motors to see if this is in fact true? How is this possible? Overheating minds want to know! :firestarter:
 
Hi CeltiDude

In my experience with oil level at one liter all the over heating problems are from jetting issues.
:D
 
Hi Celtic Dude,

I was doing basically the same thing, I allways used 1litre of oil, assuming that it would be a good thing, the actual effect was as you suggest overheating, I boiled my bike twice while I was using 1L of oil, then my dealer and some discussion here regarding the waterpump oil weep prompted me to try only aprox 750ml of oil, so it just shows at the bottom of the sight glass when the bike is level, and have not had an overheat since & no weeping of oil from the waterpump housing.

jetting could of course increase engine temp, but it would be slight at best, like the difference between running avgas as opposed to premium unleaded.

Azza.
 
Whosa, I guess it was probably more, maybe 800 or 850ml, but it only shows at the bottom of the sight glass, what was leftover from a 1l bottle was useless for anything anyway.

but it solved the problem of overheating and the oil weep, and that advice was straight from the dealer.

Azza.
 
It would be interesting to put a Husaberg on a dyno with controlled conditions and monitor several points but especially engine temperature. A simple check with 750 mL versus 1000 mL and observe the effect. Meanwhile, I think I'll drain mine down just a bit before I go riding tomorrow.
 
If you add 1.3 liters, you will end up with probably 1.5 to 1.7 liters of oil total in your engine, increased air pressure and probably damage in your gaskets but hey what do I know.
 
Hello guys,my othorized mechanic recomends 850 ml of oil when we change oil without changing oil filter and 900 ml when we change oil filter to.I saw that with approx 850 ml,engine works better.


FS 650 07
 
My filter is the reusable kind and I clean it each time I change the oil, as well as the oil screen (because I find particles of metal and -ahem!- sealant). I always drop a quart of oil and it gets back exactly halfway to the middle of the window.

The one time I put too much was after I fixed my top and put in a new chain, as I had cleaned up a lot of oil out of there. I put in 1.2l, it took it way over the top of the window and the bike started to leak oil as soon as it got hot. I dropped a little and things went back to normal.

I guess a quart of oil is just the right amount.
 
hello all,

I have installed on my 630 cross a metre to measure the oil tepmerature.(sond at the small oil filter)
I always use 900cc of oil,no more no less.
I measured in cross a max output of 98degrees celcius and average about 85-88degrees,my water temperature measured with a laser temp on the watercooling was on top temp about 60-62degrees celcius.

I use same oil +the same amount on my supermoto-monobike,also no problems.
Both are running in watercooling on pure water admitted to Belgian regulations.

Greetings Madero
 
Tholen, thanks for the information. Hey, I lowered my oil level last night before riding today and my new radiator fan never even started up once! My Husaberg roosted all my riding partners! Life is good!
 
I was just about to start a thread re my 501's developed a very minor oil leak and should I get all concerned about this or just keep an eye on it whilst it's so minor..then I read this thread; droped about 100ml down to about 1/2 way accross vision panel..problem solved.

Great site isn't it.

Cheers.
 
So I finally got my 650 today :D This is how much oil it has in it warm. From what I have read I think it is to much. Shouldn't it be at the bottom of the site glass?

Thanks,

Mike
 

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That looks fine. You might run a bit extra in the window during breakin. The motors tend to burn a bit of oil during that time. I just drained my FE-550 and refilled it with 850mL. I started it and ran it until warm. The glass now indicates 1/4. Make sure you follow good breakin procedures and let the bike cool down inbetween runs. You are going to have a lot of fun with that bike! :D
 
arkley123 said:
I was just about to start a thread re my 501's developed a very minor oil leak and should I get all concerned about this or just keep an eye on it whilst it's so minor..then I read this thread; droped about 100ml down to about 1/2 way accross vision panel..problem solved.

Great site isn't it.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Arkley, where is it leaking from?

My 2001 will leak while running. I have been fighting against all those leaks and tried different solutions, some that work.

It seems that the magnesium covers from the 2001-2002 models tend to warp with time and are not well adjusted.

When you run hot, with all the oil sloshing about and the increased pressure it starts to seep from under these covers. Mostly the clutch cover and the rocker cover.

I have got myself into trouble by trying to overtorque the bolts, and I managed to do some damage (broke one bolt and Berger saved my life).

Now I used a better sealant, made by Wurth. It totally solved the rocker cover leak issue. BOSS sold me one can and told me he would give me my money back if it failed to work. Well, he kept my money.

I have used it for the clutch cover and it solved the problem in part. I still have little leaks here and there and I have decided to just make sure the bike runs well, clean it up and top it off.
 
Hi Le Frog,

It seemed to be leaking from the rocker cover on the kick start side only, but it was all very dirty and so I jet washed it at the same time as I dropped the oil level and so far the leak hasn't re-appeared.
 

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