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ZX6R F series - What is the procedure to test if the radiator comes online when it should?

243 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Gedde, 
Gedde
Hello community,

What is the procedure to test if my radiator comes online when it should?

also

How could I add a switch to get it running at will?

Thank you in advance
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Brandon35
Gedde said:
Hello community,

What is the procedure to test if my radiator comes online when it should?

also

How could I add a switch to get it running at will?

Thank you in advance
Click to expand...
I assume you're talking about the radiator fan. Start the bike and let it run; when the bike reaches a high enough temp, the fan will kick on (manual will state the exact temp, but your guage does not show numbers, only a range).

Usually the high 1/4 of the guage is were mine kicks on.

I would not bypass that for a manual switch; human error elements usually lead to catastrophe. Your fan will either turn on as advertised, or it wont and you'll need a replacement. Check your fuses first and ensure the fan fuse is not popped.
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riverszzr
Gedde said:
Hello community,

What is the procedure to test if my radiator comes online when it should?

also

How could I add a switch to get it running at will?

Thank you in advance
Click to expand...
This isn't the internet..........

The radiator does NOT come online...........

If the above assumption about you meaning the fan is correct, then around 220* it should turn on, and when it cools a sufficient amount (around 200*) it should shut back off

you can indeed add a manual override switch and still keep the stock temp sensor switch

the one and only downside to this method......... if you forget to shut off the fan while you walk away from the bike, it only takes about 30 minutes to drain a good battery dead.......... That is the singular downside to this.........
Code: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

but if you are talking about the thermostat opening and full flow going through the radiator instead of a trickly of flow
 The thermostat should start to open around 140* and be fully open on this (F) model of bike @ 203* (8mm is the max lift of the thermostat)

You can test flow and even thermostat opening by simply;
While the coolant is cold, remove the radiator cap
start the bike and let it idle
you will see the coolant circulate once the thermostat is opening
you can stick a temp probe in or not.you can also just shoot the inlet side with an infrared temp sensor and get close to water temp....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you having overheating problems?
or what is the issue you are trying to solve???????????????
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RJ2112
I’m definitely in the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it camp…..
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Scumbag
I have a feeling he doesn’t mean the fan.

I have a theory here. I heard someone else not long ago try to explain to someone else (wrong) how a radiator worked and they used this same “online” statement. 🤔
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RJ2112
OP,

Coolant is sent to the radiator when the engine block heats up enough to need the extra cooling. That is controlled by the thermostat, which is a temperature sensitive valve. It is located in the neck of the line running to the radiator at the edge of the engine block. That valve should stay closed up to about 180F, then open to use the radiator to cool the fluid as it circulates through it and returns on the other line. The electric fan only comes on when the temperature of the coolant goes up so much that the natural flow through the radiator is not enough to maintain the desired temp. (on my '09, the fan will control the temperature so it never exceeds 235F. Kicks on at or above 212F).

Many, many times, the issue is a vapor lock in the cooling system due to maintenance. 'Burping' the system to dislodge the bubbles of trapped air will increase the cooling efficiency tremendously.

After that, replacing the radiator cap so the pressure in the system is higher, will increase cooling efficiency markedly.

If those two items are checked off, and you haven['t mixed what kinds of coolant yo have in the system, cleaning the radiator of debris, and straightening any bent fins will help as well.
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Gedde
Thank you, gentlemen.

Ay, I did not want to create so much controversy with my 'online' word :p

Yes, I meant the radiator fan! - But the rest of the info provided is actually very helpful thank you.

Sooo my issue is that the radiator fan never seems to start, so I was wondering if there is a way to test the switch? I tested the fan with a 12v source and it spins so it seems good to me.
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RJ2112
The simplest test is to let your bike run at idle until it gets hot enough to want to run the fan. If it doesn’t overheat, everything is working as advertised.

Because the cooling system is pressurized, the boiling point of the coolant is higher than 212F. Higher pressure means more heat transfer.
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Brandon35
Gedde said:
Thank you, gentlemen.

Ay, I did not want to create so much controversy with my 'online' word :p

Yes, I meant the radiator fan! - But the rest of the info provided is actually very helpful thank you.

Sooo my issue is that the radiator fan never seems to start, so I was wondering if there is a way to test the switch? I tested the fan with a 12v source and it spins so it seems good to me.
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See snippet from service manual.

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Brandon35
Download the service manual from this cite. Appendixes in the back have troubleshooting focus areas and each chapter has removal, testing and install instructions for each category of components. If one section doesnt have an answer but references another section, go to the referenced section for further troubleshooting.
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Scumbag
How high are you letting your temps get before you decide it isn’t coming on? Stock ecu like mentioned it’s pretty high. But by 220 it for sure should be on regardless of what year. New gen is 212 I think. They’re prob all pretty close. Most tunes lowers it to 180-190. If you do a ton of high temp traffic or stunting you can use r6 dual fans. They mount right up to 636. And ya get two fans instead of one. Pretty sure that’s where they got the name. “Dual” 😲😬😂
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Brandon35
Scumbag said:
How high are you letting your temps get before you decide it isn’t coming on? Stock ecu like mentioned it’s pretty high. But by 220 it for sure should be on regardless of what year. New gen is 212 I think. They’re prob all pretty close. Most tunes lowers it to 180-190. If you do a ton of high temp traffic or stunting you can use r6 dual fans. They mount right up to 636. And ya get two fans instead of one. Pretty sure that’s where they got the name. “Dual” 😲😬😂
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I dont think our fossils can be tuned for a lower temp turn-on very easily but I could be wrong.

Biggest thing here is confirming the fan switch is operating correctly. Then he can go from there.
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mmattockx
Gedde said:
Sooo my issue is that the radiator fan never seems to start, so I was wondering if there is a way to test the switch? I tested the fan with a 12v source and it spins so it seems good to me.
Click to expand...
As noted, you can simply start the bike and let it idle until it is hot and the fan should kick on. If it doesn't eventually coolant will start barfing out. I note your location as the UK. Are you sure your ambient temps are hot enough to get the bike that hot? I live in Kanada, which has a similarly very mild climate and the fan on my 98 almost never comes on except for idling in heavy traffic on a hot summer day. In the hottest temps we see (low 30's C) the fan will never come on if I am riding at anything above ~20km/h.

Download a service manual here: Master Service Manual Thread


Mark
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Scumbag
Brandon35 said:
I dont think our fossils can be tuned for a lower temp turn-on very easily but I could be wrong.

Biggest thing here is confirming the fan switch is operating correctly. Then he can go from there.
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I do this all the time. (Never pay attention to what years we are talking about)
I forget some of you guys still ride the good bikes lol
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Gedde
mmattockx said:
As noted, you can simply start the bike and let it idle until it is hot and the fan should kick on. If it doesn't eventually coolant will start barfing out. I note your location as the UK. Are you sure your ambient temps are hot enough to get the bike that hot? I live in Kanada, which has a similarly very mild climate and the fan on my 98 almost never comes on except for idling in heavy traffic on a hot summer day. In the hottest temps we see (low 30's C) the fan will never come on if I am riding at anything above ~20km/h.

Download a service manual here: Master Service Manual Thread


Mark
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found exactly what I needed page 15-45 - thank you for the document btw super useful
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