Engine Coolant Temp rising far too high......any ideas?

**Rob** · 15 Jan 07, 06:18 PM

Hi All,
I've only had the 999 a few weeks so forgive this question if the answer is obvious.
When riding at a steadyish speed.....30-70 mph I'm getting a coolant temp reading of 70°C which seems fine to me. But worryingly when I slow down or come to a stop for a couple of minutes it creeps up to just over 100°C.
It says in the owners manual to stop the bike and turn it off if the temp gets to the max level but what is the max level? When I pick up speed again the airflow obviously rams the air back in and the temp falls back to 70°C.
I have a Termi fitted which I guess is primarily desgined for racing and not for standing still. Could this be causing the problem?
The coolant level sits perfectly between min and max. Maybe the coolant needs replacing and this will solve the problem?
The bike is due a 6000 mile/3 year service in Feb.
Have any of you had temps over the 100°C mark?
Any advice would be most welcome.

Rob

**andyb** · 15 Jan 07, 06:22 PM

Did you change the xpu when the exhaust was fitted......could be running weak?

**Rob** · 15 Jan 07, 06:26 PM

The Termi was fitted when I bought the bike but I have the original exhaust. I'm not very technically minded so I can't physically delve in myself for fear of breaking something! Shall I ask the guys at Ducati Leeds about the XPU when I take it for the service?

XP · 15 Jan 07, 06:29 PM

Hi Rob.....

My 999 does exactly the same mate......runs around 70 when on the move and then rockets up to over 100 when stationary in traffic etc especially on hot days....

My coolant level has never moved when I've checked it so as long as your's hasn't I would say yours is fine....(not teaching you suck eggs but dont check the coolant level straight after a run, let it cool down first....

)

Might be any idea to check that your fans are kicking in when its sat ticking over and the temps rising....should give you an idea of what temp the thermostat is set at, thus giving you your temp threshhold...

By the way mine was running a 54mm Termig system with a 999 race ecu..

:wink:

**Rob** · 15 Jan 07, 06:36 PM

Thanks XP, at least I know its fairly normal then.
But when the magic 100 comes up it does set the alarm bells ringing. How high have you seen it go to? I think I let it get to 102 then I decided to pull over!

XP · 15 Jan 07, 06:58 PM

Just checking the handbook states that the normal working temp for the 999 is between....+46'C & +119'C.....

So looking at these figures your bikes running fine buddy.... :wink:

If it was to reach +125'C then the display would start flashing at you and the EOBD light will come on. (a light in the shape of an engine)....This is bad....so you would need to stop......

If you have an original Ducati handbook, go to page 18...this gives you the temperature figures.....

Cheers

Andy

**Brian** · 15 Jan 07, 07:37 PM

I can remember seeing 107 on my 999 but that was stuck in traffic on the southend shakedown

**Steve** · 15 Jan 07, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

I can remember seeing 107 on my 999 but that was stuck in traffic on the southend shakedown

Yep, remember it well Brian. Mine regularly hit 105. Jeez, that was hot

**BOO749S** · 15 Jan 07, 08:52 PM

From what I remember on my 749S the fans should cut in at around 102 to 110c. As soon as the fans cut in the temp will drop to about 85 to 90c before they stop running. To check if fans are working let it idle on your drive, you will hear the fans running / you can see them through the side vents.

**ducati2242** · 15 Jan 07, 09:28 PM

When i was stuck in the tunnel system in brussels my temp went up to 120 with the fans running. Did switch off for a while but all was ok. One side fan comes on at 101c and the other at 102c.Or it could be 102 and 103. Dont think you have anything to worry about.

**jamesguschi** · 15 Jan 07, 10:34 PM

It has been a while Lads since I did a post, so here goes the info on the coolant system.

The first Fan comes in at 101 C and the second at 102 C.

Hope this helps.

**theoldbuzzard** · 16 Jan 07, 12:07 AM

The only thing that I can add Rob is that mine does the same...looks like normal to me.

**hhhjesus** · 16 Jan 07, 08:33 AM

in summer my 749 was running 104ish whenever traffic got too manic to filter through - bike still ran smoothly.

**Rob** · 16 Jan 07, 10:54 AM

Thanks all, you've been really helpful. I'm gonna purposefully let it rise now to see what it gets to. 8)

**jamesguschi** · 16 Jan 07, 10:16 PM

What I find is when you come of a motorway when you have been running at 70mph or so and you hit a town. the Temperature rises on the gauge when you have slowed down. This is probably because there is a lot of heat in the system that has been generated when you have been doing 70 mph. Even though you slow down a lot that heat has not been allowed to be cooled by the high flowing air. It always goes up by 5 degrees until it settles.

Does that make sense?