how warm is too warm?

I got stuck in traffic with my (new to me) 2002 st4s and the temp got up to 240! it dropped down when I stated moving. What's normal range and when should I be scared?

Btw the fan is on. outside temp is 95 f. I live in so cal.

Thanks, Turin

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by grinder96 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...the temp got up to 240! What's normal range...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I can't speak for the 4S, but on my ST4 I'll see 220F in stop and go traffic on a really hot (95F) day but the temp will drop as soon as I start moving again. Normal temps for my ST4 are in the 165F to 175F range on a 75F day, open roads, 65 mph.

Don't worry about an occasional high of 240F in heavy stop and go traffic on a 95F day. At least I wouldn't worry about it.

Perhaps some ST4S owners will post their open-road temperatures.





Modified by DanST4 at 11:50 PM 9/1/2004

Install a manual fan switch and you won't have to worry about it. The fan kicks in too late IMHO. My bike has never seen a temp above 210 degrees. I switch it on at 180. Also, installing a high volume alum fan blade (from motowheels) improves airflow and allows the fan to stabilize temps even while sitting in traffic.

LT

thanks for the info!

turin

Isnt it possible to change the fan starting temp from the ECU (if you have ECU 5,9)? Talk to a Ducati dealer and they can lower it.

Jocke...............

I was looking around and found a ton of info including the max temp of 248 when the temp gauge will start blinking at you and you should turn off the bike.

here's the site it is a bunch of FAQ's but very informative and detailed.

http://www.bike-gizmos.com/DucatiSTFAQ.html


Modified by grinder96 at 4:25 PM 9/3/2004

the thermo fans come on at 105 - 106 degrees celcius std. not sure how that converts.

if the fans come on and it keeps getting hotter you've got a problem, otherwise it's doing what it was designed to do. all the st have been like that since '97.

if it's had the coolant changed without having the front elevated they can get air pockets that will make it show high temps all the time on the gauge.

you can't adjust the fan on/off with the std ecu.

thanks all for the input.

130 miles today and the temp stayed at 168-178 f. it only creeped up at slow speeds and hot wether (so cal, 100 f) to 220. I let it idle when stopped and the fan didn't come on till 235 f. Seems a little high! this bike is two weeks old to me so I might check for air in the water system this week!?!?

240 deg. F is pushing it very high. Check your fluid level, if your in SoCal, you shouldn't need more than 20% Antifreeze to 80% Water.

Assuming water pump and thermostat are in proper working condtion, you may have too much antifreeze, or your fluid resivour level is low. 220 to 230 should be the median range for stop & go summer traffic. Anything higher than means something is less than perfect.

That is fairly normal. The manual states that 248F is when the overheating indicator comes on.