cooling

[sukimoto]

Here's one for you: Ok so when you get to where your going and you stop to get off the bike and the cooler thing (sorry I do not know proper terminology) turns on. Should you wait until it stops before turning the key to turn the bike off. Or should you just left it finish doing it cooling thing and then turn the bike off. Does it make a difference, I usually let it finish and then turn the bike off. I'm just wondering?

[Clint]

The "thing" is the radiator fan. There's no real reason to let it run. There's far more heat in the engine oil, heads and block than the fan will extract from just the coolant in the radiator anyway (the water pump isn't running). The fan's only running because it's programmed to whenever the key is on and the temp is over some limit. Pull the key and go.

[SNAFU]

I wait until it's finished doing it's thing. It would feel like zipping up my pants before I finished peeing.

[KD57]

Sometimes I let it idle until the fan goes off, then other times I just turn it off.
I doubt it matters much either way.

[Clint]

Ok, I assumed that the engine was already off. Apparently not. I'd add that combustion adds more heat than the fan removes while you're standing there waiting. It's utterly pointless.

[KD57]

I dunno, mine goes off in about 10 seconds, but I have a huge radiator. It takes me that long to take the gloves and helmet off anyway.

[cyclesinct]

I just turn the bike off, your not running it anymore, so it isn't going to continue to heat up, so you don't have to worry about something overheating. The bike is just going to sit and the heat will dissipate on its own. Plus, do you leave your car running until the readiator fan turns off? I doubt it, you just turn the car off and don't think twice about it. And Clint's right, you're just generating more heat by leaving the bike running. Even if you're only off the bike for a short period like when you run into the store for a drink or something, once you start the bike back up it knows if it needs to continue cooling and will start the fan back up if it needs it.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Clint

The "thing" is the radiator fan. There's no real reason to let it run.

Most bikes (and cages) I've owned it's not a matter of "letting" it do anything. It has a mind of it's own and WILL run the fan a bit if the temp is above a given point.....even with the bike OFF. Kinda gives you a start the first time that happens as you are walking away !!

[cyclesinct]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Most bikes (and cages) I've owned it's not a matter of "letting" it do anything. It has a mind of it's own and WILL run the fan a bit if the temp is above a given point.....even with the bike OFF. Kinda gives you a start the first time that happens as you are walking away !!

You've heard your M50 radiator fan continue to run after you've turned off the bike, removed the key, and walked away? I've turned mine off plenty of times with the fan running and it has always immediately stopped once the electricity was turned off. If I just kill the engine, then the fan continues to run, but if I turn it off & remove the key I've never heard the fan continue. I've heard it continue for a couple of seconds in a car, but have never heard a car fan continue to run as I've walked away either.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by cyclesinct

You've heard your M50 radiator fan continue to run after you've turned off the bike, removed the key, and walked away?

No, I didn't say that. I don't HAVE an M50.
My current ride doesn't even have a FAN !

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by SNAFU

I wait until it's finished doing it's thing. It would feel like zipping up my pants before I finished peeing.

And there is the difference between you and I

[nmkippes]

Well hold on a second. The fan, radiator, and fin array has to take more heat than the bike produces during combustion at idle. Otherwise the fan wouldn't switch back off while we're standing there waiting for it to finish.

I agree with the general concensus that it probably doesn't matter that much though.

[Clint]

Hmm. A physics debate. Not sure I'm up for it.

Wait, yeah I am.

The cooling system is only part of the equation. A large portion of the heat is radiated through the engine and exhaust as well. If the bike isn't moving, that heat isn't extracted with nearly the same efficiency. The fan pulls heat out of the radiator, but the rest of the system continues to heat up. Any bike accumulates more heat energy at a standing idle than while moving.

[geeker]

my VW rad fan keeps going even after I turn off the engine and pull the key so I figure the same applies for the bike and let the fan finish it's cycle before yanking the key out. The engine is off but the cooling cycle is not complete and because it's not a german engineered bike and smart enough to keep running after yanking the key out I just figured I'd be considerate and leave it in ... it's only about 20 seconds.

[cyclechris]

You know I wondered the same thing but being a generally impatient fellow, I just yank the key and go. Maybe if it really needs to finish, it will learn its lesson and be done by the time I step off next time!

[SNAFU]

Originally Posted by geoffsimpson

And there is the difference between you and I

What we've got here is a bunch of pissy pants then. Next thing ya' know we're trying to start the bike before the fuel pump finishes priming.

[Clint]

Lmao!

[womper]

Originally Posted by SNAFU

What we've got here is a bunch of pissy pants then. Next thing ya' know we're trying to start the bike before the fuel pump finishes priming.

i do that sometimes

[chiefriceburner]

ditto on clints comments keep in mind some bikes dont have any fans or liquid cooling just air cooling so it does not matter if you just turn the key off plus if it did matter it would be in the suzuki book that came with the bike and i dont see anything about it.