Motor running hot

[buellrider03]

I take my 03 xb9r out for a ride the other day and i notice my fan turned on only a few miles in, so i pull over turn the bike off for a bit start up and go again, no trouble lights show up. I take it back home fan of course kicks on while riding, i get home turn the bike off and the oil light stays on. I check the oil that is full, and i check the primary that also is full. What else could be making the bike run hot in such a short period of time like that?

 

[ocgreenmachine]

Running lean?

 

[buellrider03]

yeah it it has been actually.

 

[capebay23]

How can you tell if the bike is running lean?

 

[ocgreenmachine]

Look at your spark plugs... If the inside walls of the plug are white/grey, you're lean. If they are sooty black, you're rich. They should be a nice sandy tan

 

[Chicknstripn]

Is your oil over filled? Or does it seem as if the oil is not circulating properly?
I would check your lines to make sure nothing is kinked or causing a blockage.
Have you looked at your oil cooler? Fins clean and in good repair?

ECMdriod and ECMspy can both run diagnostics to let you know if there are any codes, current of historic.

An intake leak can cause your motor to run hot. Your bike won't show a code for an intake leak. Have you had any running/idle issues? Intake leak test is quite simple. Remove you left scoop and spray carb cleaner at the base of the throttle body where it connects to the head. Do this while the bike is running. If the idle changes at all you have a leak.

Let us know what you discover when you give the motor a good once over.
Any info can be helpful.

Good luck

 

[buellrider03]

Is your oil over filled? Or does it seem as if the oil is not circulating properly?
I would check your lines to make sure nothing is kinked or causing a blockage.
Have you looked at your oil cooler? Fins clean and in good repair?

ECMdriod and ECMspy can both run diagnostics to let you know if there are any codes, current of historic.

An intake leak can cause your motor to run hot. Your bike won't show a code for an intake leak. Have you had any running/idle issues? Intake leak test is quite simple. Remove you left scoop and spray carb cleaner at the base of the throttle body where it connects to the head. Do this while the bike is running. If the idle changes at all you have a leak.

Let us know what you discover when you give the motor a good once over.
Any info can be helpful.

Good luck

Thank you for the info! i will look over the bike and let you now what i discover!

 

[Cooter]

The fan turning on while riding means that it's a little warm, not overheating. So just keep riding.
If it's overheating you will hear it pinging, knocking, big loss of power, etc.

It doesn't neccesarily mean it's lean although running hot is a lean symptom.

The key on with the engine off will have an oil light because there is no oil pressure with the engine stopped. The oil pump is driven off the engine.

 

[buellrider03]

Update: I replaced the intake gasket, spark plugs and changed the oil. Bike runs perfect! Thank you all for the advise.

 

[Chicknstripn]

Thanks for posting your fix.
You may not know it but you just helped out some future Buellers that my be searching for a fix for the same issues!
Good job!