Long time lurker, I dont have much post history. Have tried the search function but I think my issues is unique.
My 2006 1000rr has been overheating recently. It's a weird problem though, it only happens on idle. It take about 5-10 minutes (depending on weather outside) for it to hit about 250+ degrees. I recently changed the coolant to Engine Ice and still experience the same problem. I burped the system as well (didn't stop until the bubbles stop showing up). Last time, I was riding in 80 degree weather and it overheated. I'm currently stumped. Below is quick run through of the issues:
Summary: 2006 CBR 1000RR Overheating only at Idle (1-1.5k RPM's)
Description: When having the bike idle for 5-10 minutes, the temperatures will reach 250+ degrees. I'm forced to shut it off or it will start to boil the the coolant and cause damage. My temps will drop 1-2 degrees while reving in Idle (rev to about 3-4k RPMS). But they will shot right back up after reving
Steps to Reproduce:
1) Start engine ice cold.
2) Let it idle for 5-10 minutes
Results: Temperatures will reach to 250+ degrees (F)
Note: When I'm moving my bike runs at a cool 185 - 190 degrees. In traffic I hit around 200-215. Weather is around 90-100 degrees. Fans come on with no problem. The bike was recently switched to full synthetic oil (300v - Motul - about 800 miles ago / 6 months ago)
Any idea what could be causing this? I don't think its the water pump. Coolant is flowing in the radiator. No white smoke or milky oil either. Although my oil case sometimes smells like gas after riding.
Interesting. I never dipped below 175 degrees while cruising - ever (nor in my F4i). As far as head gasket goes, how do I go about that besides having a pressure test? I see no milk / foamy oil nor white smoke (or any smoke) out of the exhaust. I also have no power loss or any of the classic symptoms of bad head gasket. I only overheat at idle.
did you install a second fan on it? i thought the '06's only had one fan and most people will add a second on that model with a manual switch for this reason. also, Enigne Ice is just a coolant that people mistake for products like Water Wetter, its not a solution for higher temps. Water Wetter can help with keeping the temp down, but it sounds like your fan is not kicking on. your temp should never go above 226 without the fan kicking into high gear to lower the temp.
Check to see if the fan is kicking on first and then update us
so my bro in law and buddy have an '06 and they both installed the second fan bc of TX heat in the summer, but its not a MUST DO as the factory fan is supposed to hold up as i'm sure it does with many people on this forum. riding my bro in law's 06' a couple times i have never seen the temp go over 226 and i never used the manual switch to kick on the second fan. i wouldnt let the temp get over 226 again, just a couple degrees overtemp and you can have some real issues besides the one at hand.
did you say the problem started after you did the coolant flush or before?
It was happening before. I flushed/drained (flushed with distilled water - like 3 gallons and refill with Engine Ice) the coolant because of the overheating @ idle. The coolant was dark (dark blue = used up Engine Ice *no signs of oil in coolant was pure coolant coming out* - hadn't flushed in 1 1/2 years...). The bike now runs about 10 degrees cooler than before though while in motion. So I guess I got some benefit lol. Still have the overheating issue only while idling.
Sounds to me that the thermostat might be partially stuck closed. When you are moving there is enough airflow/coolant flow to keep it cool but at idle there is not. I know typically the thermostats in these bikes are designed to stick open when they fail, but maybe yours is funky.
Thanks for the advice. I'm assuming I have to pop open the gas tank etc to look at it. You have any advice on how I can check that without taking all that apart? Also, I'd hate to lose the fresh Engine Ice i just put in . but if that's the cost.....
Thank you, sir. I spoke to my old mechanic earlier today and he's also suggesting the same thing (thermostat starting to go out). Luckily, he confirmed its not the head gasket (phew).
I'm hoping that's the problem. I'll keep this thread updated in case some one else runs into this. I spent hours searching yesterday and no one had a similar issue. Only overheating while riding which is a bit different.
My 06 runs about 177-178 at cruising speed and I would say if the T-Stat ends up not fixing it I would have to say the water pump is weak. The fan and water pump is what keeps the engine cool while it's not moving and if your saying the fan is working correctly and you flushed the cooling system with a properly working thermostat I'd put my money on the water pump
Hmm. Interesting. I'm seeing coolant flow from the radiator while burping the system. Is there anything else (besides the obvious overheating) that I should be looking at to troubleshoot the water pump?
^It's not that in his case tho because he says the temp drops while he is moving showing its reading correctly that's also why I wouldn't think it would be his headgasket
my 06 warms up to 175 in 50 degree weather and sits there pretty easily. 230ish is the highest ive seen in stop and go traffic in the summer. But it rarely got to 90 here in the midwest this year.
Yeah, I've seen 175 in 60 degree weather. Nothing below that though. I've read that anything below 175 is hazardous to the engine. I'm not sure if that's accurate though. BTW, I also have the blue/yellow combo on my 06. Best color.....ever
Thank you everyone for your suggestions, thoughts, and help. I'm hoping to have this resolved this weekend :-D
The coolant temp sensor could also be giving a false reading but I'm pretty sure it also wouldn't run that great if that was the case and they usually going negative degrees when they go bad
^It's not that in his case tho because he says the temp drops while he is moving showing its reading correctly that's also why I wouldn't think it would be his headgasket
my 06 warms up to 175 in 50 degree weather and sits there pretty easily. 230ish is the highest ive seen in stop and go traffic in the summer. But it rarely got to 90 here in the midwest this year.
Wouldn't a clogged radiator cause overheating under any scenario? I'm currently overheating only at idle. My temps come down in motion (any speed). They even come down when I rev in idle. It drops about 1-2 degrees but then shoots right back up.
An engine being revved should increase the speed of the water pump, so if the radiator is partially clogged, the extra pressure could be helping it flow more...
Just an idea though. It really sounds like a fan issue, but it sounds like you've already got that covered. Good luck
I would believe that you would see flow while burping the coolant even with a weak water pump and I perhaps it could be a partially plugged radiator just like the the t stat could be partially closed it could even be a air pocket that just won't burp out
And for troubleshooting the water pump really only way I can think of is to take it apart and check the fins make sure there not worn and makes sure it spins freely and before you do that since you will have to drain the coolant anyways you can just run a water hose through the radiator to check it for a restriction but first and foremost I would try bleeding the coolant again maybe put the front end up on a stand and keep the rear on the ground they also make a vacuum filler if you have one available to you that would make sure there is no air pockets
Also I'm basing all this on the logic of how things work and the information your providing I personally have never had a water pump issue on my bike
Guys this is a subject that I am very interested in and have done extensive work on this cooling issue. First would someone please tell me where and how to add a second fan to my 2004 CBR1000RR.
Highercal, I have been working this issue and this is what I have found. Our bikes were never intended to be at idle for 5 to 10 minutes, guaranteed to over heat for sure. I don't ride my CBR anywhere that I will be in stop and go traffic especially on hot days in the Los Angeles area. Whatever thermostat you run the bike while moving at a good pace will run at or near that temp, but our bikes easily rise in temp 20 to 40 degrees at stop lights and in slow traffic and worse on hot days. Our water pumps actually push the coolent through the radiator way too fast. I put in a restrictor plug on the out going side of the thermostat body, upper hose, 1 inch diameter, 3/8 long with a 9/16 hole thru, this helped tremendously. I replaced the thermostat with a 160 degree F model from O'Riely's auto parts. (Thermostat is a Murray Plus, PN. 3846. This is the minimum temp I want to maintain. Put in a 12 volt switch for the fan and wired it to the fan relay on the left side of the bike so it turns the fan on and off. Zip tied the switch to the side of the ignition switch. Got mine from West Marine Products. I also removed the oil cooler line and left the cooler. It now acts as a heat sink. You will have to replace the the two tubes that feed the cooler (Heater). I don't want my oil getting up into the 200 degree and above area. You will need 1 inch diameter aluminum tubing. You can get this from Mcmaster.com The bike on the freeway runs at 160 degrees F and climbing in the mountains up to around 182 degrees with the fan on. I need that second fan for long stop lights and slow moving cars that get in my way in the twisties.
I'm sorry to say that you are doing your bike a disservice. They were never designed to run at that low of a temperature. Your ECU will constantly be in a state of over-fueling trying to bring the temperature up to "operating temp". These bikes are race bikes and as such were designed to run in the 180-240 degree range. I have had many Honda bikes over the years and none of them even missed a beat at these temps.
I'm not exactly sure what you did with your oil cooler, but you do know that the oil is also supposed to run at a higher temp than the coolant right? Keeping the oil too cool is just as bad as overheating it as modern oils are multi weight and don't reach their intended viscosity until they are at a certain temperature.
I have the same problem with overheating at idle. I have change out the radiator, waterpump, new coolant, checked coolant for oil, checked fan, fan turns on at 216-219 Degrees F. I even took out the thermostat to see if it helped = stills overheats.
I have check the outside of the motor around the head gasket, everything looks fine on the outside. haven't checked the inside. I have bought another fan, and are thinking to install it, but what else could cause this overheating
The sensor reads right and trust me you feel how right it reads.
anything i missed? Thanks in advance... Do you guys think if the timing belt is off time would it cause to overheat? i will take a look inside and check timing since i'm already checking the head gasket. will get back with what i find.
As already mentioned clean the radiator. AC coil cleaner works well & you'll be surprised @ how much dirt you flush out.
You mentioned your fan is working, but you didn't mention the condition of the blades. They are made of plastic & have been known to melt. Melted blade = no air flow.
My fan blades are good. I also feel it blowing air when its one (strong gust for a lil fan). The fan isnt the problem at all. I am going to try to wash out the radiator. I did flush the system with 4 gallons of distilled water. I waited until the the water came out clear. (it was black at first) but now it's squeeky clean. I think.
Welp, the overheating went away. But now my bike is running around 170-175 degrees on a cool day - in motion. At a stop I climb to around 225 or below. It doesnt go above 225 anymore but now it's running too cool. I'm definitely going to be swapping out the thermostat. How much damage will 170 cause to the engine?
Put tape over the temperature gauge and stop looking at it... Nothing wrong it.
You can pull your bike out and rag on it as hard as you want at 120 degrees... If it breaks at 120, it was gonna break eventually at 185 or 225. Temperature does not play as big of role as you think.
My 06 1000rr does same thing over heats at idle but while riding I'm at a loss as to what could be wrong... I've changed water pump and thermostate and radiator cap and still does same thing... No sign of oil in coolant or coolant in oil any advice would be great as what to do next bike only has little over 12k on it.
It will go to over 240 if I allow it to fan comes on around 195 seems normal just have no clue why it gets so hot sitting still... I realize it will get hotter sitting just seems over 240 is to hot I'm sure if I allowed it to the temp would continue to clime
Sorry wasn't paying attention. Missed it was an 06. I'm dumb.
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