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Message started by ThomWill on 08/01/06 at 05:15:52

Title: Heat wave
Post by ThomWill on 08/01/06 at 05:15:52

All,

I am a newbie (got my mostly stock 2005 S40 just over a week ago). I have been commuting 16 Miles each way at about 45-50 MPH for a week and loving every minute of it. I do have to sit at some long lights in the afternoon. This week it is very hot here. Supposed to be 99 today which means that on the pavement it is hotter than the hinges of hell.

So to the newbie questions:

1. With an air/oil cooled engine, how hot (ambient) is too hot to consider commuting? Is there a good rule of thumb. I know others live in hotter places, but I do not know when they ride or how many stop lights they have to wait at.

2. Any special considerations for the bike when it gets this hot? More frequent oil changes? Tire pressure concerns?

Any advice from hot weather thumper riders would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Thom

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/01/06 at 05:33:01

Well, the folks in Arizona have had hotter temps than those of us in North Texas but I think steady highs of 100+ qualify as hot. I have a 48-50 mile round-trip commute and usually take the freeway for about 2/3 of it. I haven't run into any problems but I will admit to using a pure synthetic 15w50 oil as a means of hedging my bet in these conditions. I change it every 1500 miles. I may decrease that frequency in cooler months but it's my belief that frequent changes of good quality oil (dino or synth) of appropriate weight are a good way to help extend the life of the engine.

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by Reelthing on 08/01/06 at 06:27:54

in the houston heat on my commute if you richen up the mixture, switch to syn oil (20w-50 vtwin mobil 1 here) - it helps

these two changes dropped my crank case temp ~20c ( time to sifer.... 9times divide5 ~36f) according to a screw in temp probe

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by azjay on 08/01/06 at 07:06:44

here in yuma, we have certain bragging rights, "over 100* over 100 days straight" is one of them. it was 118* a couple weeks ago, we're having a cool spell this week 102*-105*, i ride every day. we also have several old vws, i run ALL my air cooled motors a little fat, not black fat but milk chocolate fat, run very good oil, change it often. one of my vws has been a daily driver for 11 years and has nearly 100k on it, nothing but valvoline 10w40w in it since day one, and it is still clean as a whistle inside.
with the equipment properly prepaired, riding in the heat becomes a personal issue. debby doesn't ride too much, this time of year. personal protection becomes the greater concern. short rides to and from work (6 mi @) short sleeves, jeans & boots. long rides leather chaps, jacket, full face helmet, all to reduce dehydration, the leather keeps the wind/heat from sucking the moisture out of you faster than you can produce it.

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by luken on 08/01/06 at 09:58:59

Im also in az, when Im riding home from work (and I know this is going to sound wierd) the heat feels like a hot shower to me. Like, it feels good when I hit a hot patch. Thats only if Im moving mind you, sitting still with sweat sweat running down your face is always a bummer.

I havent noticed anything other than the occasional hissing from the tank when I gas up.

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by Brewbrother on 08/01/06 at 17:14:28

I live in the DEEP south and it gets hot and very humid here in the summer. The winter lasts about 2 weeks. I run 15/50 year round. I change every 2k and my ride is 14 miles all city. I do take some extended day trips on the weekends. Most average out at a 150 trip with a combination of rural, city and highway miles. I have trip coming up in September that will take me beyond my normal runs. To say I'm eager would be an understatement.

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by sstankus on 08/02/06 at 11:09:48

I live in Texas and run 26 miles one-way daily. I run 10w40 full synthetic. Change it every 1500 miles and have had no ill effects. I haven't used the heavier weights like some of the other folks, but think I will the next go-round.

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by RadarORiley on 08/02/06 at 11:53:58

a little extra hot weather info: get some old CD's & glue them together for a kickstand plate. It's the pits to park your bike and see it sliding down in the melted asphalt & tar. I stuck an extra long shoestring through mine so I can hang the end up where I can see it so I don't forget to pick it up. Over 100' for too long to count now :(

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/02/06 at 12:10:55

RadarORiley wrote:

Yup, works well!

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by bentwheel on 08/02/06 at 12:42:34

I tip my hat to those of you in the South who routinely ride when the temp exceeds 100 degrees. Up here in the Great Lakes Region we rarely see such intense heat, but we have experienced it for several days and counting now. I gotta tell ya, It's too hot to ride. I'm waiting until it cools down.

http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2005/01/23/bikepics-278396-800.jpg

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by RadarORiley on 08/02/06 at 13:22:28

The heat really sucks but I still ride in it, but the wind does me in, most of our roads "crown" to let the water run into ditches and you can take a quick trip with an unexpected puff of wind. Sort of a self-cleaning road ;D I've had a few close calls when the wind was in the 15/20 mph range which is about a low as it gets here, and when it's over 25/30mph, I have learned it's best to wait. Last weekend at Lake Fork, there was a lot of wind during the day but it laid at about 11:30 P.M., not too much later about 50 bikes came by the house. Grandson watched them from the window, I saw them go by from the L/R, it was pretty neat to see, guess they out-waited the wind for their ride.

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by ThomWill on 08/02/06 at 17:24:09

Thanks to everyone for the great info advice. Mainly I did not want to hurt my bike and now I feel much better about riding (and parking) it when it is hot.

Thom

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by 911radioman on 08/02/06 at 18:05:12

RadarORiley wrote:

Thank God for AOL, right? ;D

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by carazzie on 08/03/06 at 06:09:37

I feel stupid...I don't know what oil I put in my bike last...I went to the Suzuki dealership and got what they told me to get and put it in...

The manual says you should change the oil every month regardless of how many miles you put on it...maybe it says every month or every 1500 miles...I only live 10 miles from work so I don't put 1500 miles on it in a month...should I still change my oil?

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/03/06 at 07:37:14

carazzie wrote:

I think it showed something like change it at 2 months/600 miles and then it's basically every 12 months/3500 miles. With our heat and pollution levels, I wouldn't go over 2500 miles on standard petroleum-based oil or 5000 miles on synthetic. Personally, I baby mine when it comes to oil and change it between 1500 and 2000 miles and use a pure synthetic. If they gave you what the manual recommends, you got 10w40 which is fine. Since I see you also live in the DFW area, I'll add that slightly heavier oils like a 15w50 can do a bit better in the hotter months. For your question, I'd just change the oil and filter every 1500 miles. Go ahead and get the o-ring that they recommend you change every time you change the filter but just hang onto it. When you change your filter, inspect the existing o-ring and only change it if you need to. At the same time you change your oil, inspect/change your air filter. Anyone else?

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by Trippah on 08/03/06 at 18:15:41

I'll probably regret this, but I seldom change oil in my cars other than at the 10,000 miles interval. My Previa was traded in at 249,996. miles with a strong engine. (The rest was starting to rust, front end issues etc. Usually get 200,000. miles out a a car before the body starts going, at which point I think replacement. On the Savage, finally got it done at 2,500. miles With the present 26 mile round trip commute, I'm anticipating changing oil once a year..but here in New England we don't often hit these extreme heat waves. Only vehicle I ever owned that I changed the oil frequenty was a four cylender Sunbeam Alpine Coupe, which engine I blew at 10,000 miles and again at 1.5 miles after the rebuild. The shop forgot to oil in the engine after the rebuild..maybee they thought it would save them a few dollars. :o Well, hope Savage doesn't puke engine bits at me for keeping the oil in so long..

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by Tammi on 08/04/06 at 11:47:46

Based on advice in this forum, I'm going to switch to synthetic oil ... but not until after I get about 3,000 miles on my '05 (I'm about 1/2 way there).

That's because one of the old geezers here :) recommended not switching to synthetic until after the engine break-in period is completed.

So, synth will help in keeping your engine cool in 100 degree weather, but listen to the sage advice from our elders and keep the dyno oil until your engine is through its break-in period.

Cheers. Tammi

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by Island_Biker on 08/05/06 at 06:30:33

bentwheel wrote:

I've seen this pic of you before - Do you ride all winter?

Title: Re: Heat wave
Post by bentwheel on 08/05/06 at 12:26:25

Island_Biker wrote:

I've seen this pic of you before - Do you ride all winter?

No I just take it out in the snow when I get in a mood. About 6 years ago I did ride a Honda Ascot single all winter though.