Why Is My Motorcycle Engine Overheating?
You love your motorcycle, so when your engine runs hot, it can be cause for concern. While it can be a common problem bikers see from time to time, it still requires urgent maintenance, otherwise it can cause serious damage and a hefty price when it comes to repairs. For further insight and solutions, Cycle Trader is here with answers to your question, “Why is my motorcycle engine overheating?”
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1. Cooling System Issue
An overheated engine often comes down to a cooling system issue, which could be any number of problems with different bike parts. It might require maintenance and possibly a replacement to an individual component, so don’t neglect your cooling system when it comes to bike care! Follow your motorcycle care instructions in your owner’s manual or with the OEM to see if it’s a radiator fan malfunction, damaged water pump, if you have stale coolant, a dirty radiator, or damaged radiator cap that’s causing cooling issues resulting from overheating. It could also be stale coolant causing the problem, and if it’s that the case, flush the coolant and replenish it following your bike’s manual.
2. Cooling Fan Thermostat Malfunction
Another common cause for an overheated engine is a cooling fan thermostat malfunction. The thermostat is responsible for closing the cooling fan circuit when your coolant has reached the right temperature, and the fan will keep the flow of air going over the radiator to prevent overheating. But if the switch fails, the fan won’t work, and when you ride in hot conditions, your engine will overheat and you’ll see a disruption of power with your bike. You can try fixing the bike yourself, but it might be best to take it into a shop with a trustworthy motorcycle mechanic.
3. Incorrect Engine Oil
Using the wrong engine oil can cause a chain reaction of issues with various parts of your bike, and ultimately cause your engine to overheat. With so many products on the market and specifications for proper use, always follow your owner’s manual and the product instructions so you don’t have one more problem on your hands. The wrong engine oil can cause your bike to run hot, as the engine works harder without enough lubrication between its parts. This will cause friction within the engine and raise its temperature.
4. Imbalance of Air and Fuel
If you’re familiar with why your motorcycle is leaking gas, then you know an imbalance of air and fuel can cause a list of problems, including an overheated engine. When you’ve been riding for years or your bike’s been knocked around on the road from riding on tough terrain, it can disrupt this balance of air and fuel. When your bike is “running rich” it means there’s too much fuel and will cause a cooler temperature within your engine. This can lead to issues with how much power is going to parts of your bike and various problems with components. With too much air, the bike is “running lean” and the engine will overheat, also disrupting the delivery of power. Follow your owner’s manual or OEM instructions, and take your bike to a mechanic to either add fuel or reduce the air to resolve this problem, which might involve an air filter change.
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5. Hard Riding
If it’s not solely a mechanical issue causing the problem, an engine overheating can come from hard riding due to how you use the controls on your motorcycle and the conditions of the road. Admittedly, bikers love feeling the adrenaline kicking in as they move at a high speed or want to accelerate on the road, but if you’re moving through gears with too much RPM, you’ll force power from the engine as the bike moves faster. Doing this repeatedly will make your motorcycle work harder and overheat the engine. Make sure you shift gears when you should and keep the RPMs lower. Use the throttle as it was intended, putting less demand on your bike to prevent damage.
6. Riding in High Temperatures
As a biker, you should learn how to ride in extreme heat, drink fluids, wear the right gear, and take care of your bike so the engine doesn’t run too hot. Driving for hours in extremely high temperatures can put strain on your bike’s parts, especially with the engine on older motorcycles. Receptive riding in hot weather over time can expedite issues with your motorcycle, and you may notice corrosion and damaged parts sooner that will require maintenance. Do what you can to avoid riding in high temperatures. Plan your routes ahead of time based on traffic patterns so you’re not sitting in a traffic jam or riding through heavy congestion when it’s hot out. Take breaks during long riding sessions so your engine isn’t running hot for a prolonged period of time. Park your vehicle in the shade or under the shelter of a garage or storage unit so it’s not sitting out in the heat and sunlight.
Take steps with preventative maintenance and make adjustments to your riding to prevent an overheated engine. Always follow your owner’s manual for engine care, and have a trusted professional make a fix if it comes to it. When you’re ready to ride, check out all the new and pre-owned motorcycle listings on the nation’s leading marketplace at CycleTrader.com.
Ryan Miller
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