[MDairheads] Oil Cooling / Engine Heat Thoughts

[Mike Cecchini]

No worries about needing a oil cooler on your R80 Kevin.
If it really needed it BMW would have put one on it like some of the other 
models that do come with it.

Fwiw.......I've been monitoring oil temps on my R90S-RS since 1985.  For ten yrs 
before that it was a AMA Battle of Twins race bike.  BMW didn't put a oil cooler 
on the R90S and it still doesn't have one today.

I run a oil dipstick thermometer. In 25+ yrs and 69,000 miles Oil temps have 
never gone above 250 F even in 115 degrees in Las Vegas.  All other ambient 
temps here in the DC area it never gets above 225 F running the bike between 
5k--7k rpm for 1--2 hrs. 225 is ideal for all sorts of reasons oil needs to get 
this hot to do it's job properly and rid itself of condensation.

I can recommend you use a name brand 20w--50 100% full synthetic motorcycle oil 
that is JASO MA rated that will be right on the bottle.  When it gets below 20 
degrees F I suggest you use the same oil quality but drop down to 10w--40.

I'll not start a endless debate here on why this is important......but I've been 
studying motorcycle oils since the late 80's directly from oil engineers, racers 
and many high level BMW Airhead shops on the east coast and west. For instance 
Ted Porter's "The Beemer Shop", who was Service Manager of Bob's BMW for 15 yrs) 
and my son worked for Ted for 5 yrs rebuilding and servicing Airhead motors. 
All theses shops see thousands of Airhead engines + everything under the sun 
when it comes to oils people put in their Airheads and the consequences.  All 
agree any top level 20w--50 full synthetic JASO MA rated oil is what the Airhead 
was designed and made for from 20 degrees to 130 degrees F ambient.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevin Fahey via MDAirheads" <mdairheads at casano.com>
To: "Maryland Airheads" <mdairheads at mail.casano.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2018 2:44 PM
Subject: [MDairheads] Oil Cooling / Engine Heat Thoughts


Howdy All,


Taking a break from the heat to watch some World Cup soccer.  And speaking of 
heat, as I get closer to putting the R80 on the road, how well do Airhead 
engines manage the heat they generate?  Other air-cooled bikes I've had were hit 
and miss...some shed heat real well as long as moving forward but were really 
terrible performers in stop & go / city traffic...others you couldn't get to 
overheat if you blasted them with a blowtorch.


Part hunting on eBay, I've seen the occasional stock oil coolers from R100s, etc 
and wondered how much value they are in terms of heat management.  Obviously the 
bike has to be moving for them to be fully effective but they do get oil from a 
hot block to cooler air even when standing at a stop light.


R80 going smoothly...serviced front suspension, swapped in progressive springs, 
handlebars, grips, front brakes rebuilt.  Cleaning up rusty corroded spokes / 
front hub currently.  Clean up of rear wheel/hub is about the only major item 
left.  Front caliper weeps a little from metal brake line fitting...may have to 
consider new line.


Heat issue has been on my mind due to the current temps and due to the idea that 
most of my preliminary riding will be commuting and local area shakedown rides 
to catch whatever gremlins I've missed.


Kevin
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