Anyone removed the oil cooler from their air cooled motors? It seems to be an occaisional mod on some of the US sites and doesn't seem to cause any problems despite the generally higher summer temperatures over there. Its a cosmetic thing really, I'm looking at both my 800 and DS1000 motors and wondering what the potential problems may be. (overheating doesn't seem to be a significant one)
like your topic Dave - total removal in a cold climate could even be a good thing as far as engine longevity is concerned. A fully warmed up motor can take significantly longer and with the lack of an oil temp gauge on many there's a chance that a bike could be ridden too hard too early. There is a shut off valve true, but this doesn't prevent an additional cooling effect.
Good thread... Considered removing my SS cooler over Winter? Could get a longer hose and simply plug the engine outlet into the inlet? The motor would get up to temp sooner meaning a happier engine & oil, less mayo in the oil etc? Got my cooler taped up at the mo but did think about removing it completely...
Could be done - if I could get a male/male connector to join the hoses together where the cooler would be? Looping just one hose back on itself would stress the hose too much IMO? Kinked/flattened etc... (1098 oil cooler conversion :biggrin: )
Does the oil HAVE to go through the cooler in its route through the engine - or does it have another route it can go if the cooler is blanked off?
I'm not sure!! I know basic 748's dont run oil coolers but have the provision to run one, I think!! Maybe worth exploring that route mate.
I saw one of these plates on ebay the other day whilst I was window-shopping on ebay? This fits above the male/male fitting the filter screws to?
Yep the plate is to divert the oil around the cooler, it has to be removed when the cooler is not in use. Steve
Here: Ducati Oil Cooler Bypass Spring Washer 750s 750ss 900s 900ss 800ss 1000ss SS | eBay Hmmmm.... Changed my oil yesterday! Fek. :frown:
On Monsters with carb heaters there's a (manual) tap/valve that diverts oil through the carbs if required. Surely such a tap/diverter valve setup could be used to bypass the cooler with a bit of thought without having to remove anything? Edited to add; you can even get an automatic valve , checkout; http://www.jagg.com/by-pass.htm
go ahead and do it the motor will run fine for a while.................. heat destroys motors which is why ducati went to water cooling for the more exotic motors, read any book on hot rodding an aircooled 2 valve motor and heat ultimately becomes the limiting factor ridding around cities / built up areas heats motrors up a lot more than open road riding on hot days have one bike fitted with an oil temp gauge, and the difference a oil cooler (with thermostat) made was about 20 -30 degrees personally I wouldn't remove it
Agreed, although maybe a thermostatic bypass valve is a good idea for quicker warm-up in cold weather riding? Personally I only ride in warm weather and am looking at fitting a larger oil cooler (or even two oil coolers) plus uprated oil pump etc to my Monster due to the state of tune that I'm expecting will make it run hotter. 748 is mentioned above as not having a cooler but it is a water-cooled engine and so doesn't get too hot in the first instance.
Agreed on keeping the cooler on & having some sort of bypass valve... finding one compatible with the hoses & oil pressure would be the next challenge?
For me a bypass valve would be a pointless mod as I'm only interested in the cleaner more open look of the motor without the cooler so it's an all or nothing type of change. I'm very sceptical of the actual need for it in the first place unless you do a lot of town riding or trackdays and suspect it was put on there to make it as flexible as possible in most situations, but I'd like to hear just what portents of doom await. I've seen 122degrees on my 800 motor sitting in traffic a few years back and the oil cooler wasn't much help as there was no airflow was going through it. The heat is a by-product of power as far as I was aware and as motors got more powerful the heat was best managed by water cooling but emissions played a role in water cooling too which isnt an issue with our engines. A proper set of pro's and con's would be useful in making a decision.:smile:
