Engine temperature gauge

Hi guys not been on for a while it's Mr moz from the uk with an 09 wing 14k miles. My question is when should the fan kick in to cool the radiator my is kicking in with 3 indicators on the gauge which is well in the normal temp range no matter how much its ridden or stood in traffic the gauge never gets above 3 indicators/markers on the gauge. It recently had a coolant change and used coolant I had lying around that I used in my honda vfr800. The rad gets warm quite quickly so I think the thermostat is working OK so could the engine temperature sensor be faulty. Thanks for any information

If you are in congested traffic or stopped for a bit if time with the engine running the fun will turn on.

Your description sounds like normal operation. However, do check the coolant reservoir for proper coolant level.

All my other bikes the fan has only come on when the temp gets to red on the gauge but my fan is coming on with the gauge only half way up still well within normal temperature

Mrmoz, Mine comes on with the gauge in the normal zone also. That's normal. It's like a car radiator and fan. The engine is in the normal range but the fan will still come on in slower traffic or sometimes just sitting at a stop light. As long as the fan does come on I wouldn't worry about it. At least you know it's working properly. And like Tim says, check the coolant level to make sure you have enough fluid in it.

Well yes at least I know it's working when it needs to I just thought it was coming on early according to the gauge reading. I'd expect it to kick in on the 4th indicator or even the 5th red 1 which is why I thought temperature sensor was giving wrong info to the gauge ie the engine was hotter than the gauge is saying?

Your gauge is working normally.

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

If you are in congested traffic or stopped for a bit if time with the engine running the fun will turn on.

  My definition of "fun" is slightly different.        



( Sorry Cosmic Jumper, I was only poking fan.)

Are you saying the bike has some kind of sensor that knows its stood stood still and brings the fan on?

I don't think it's that sophisticated. I reckon the sensor alerts the fan before the gauge gets the chance to move. I would say all is well.

Mrmoz wrote:

Are you saying the bike has some kind of sensor that knows its stood stood still and brings the fan on?

It's more that when the bike is no longer moving, air is no longer passing thru the radiator so the coolant temperature rises. The fan switch/temperature sensor is set to turn on the fan at X° --before it gets into the overheat range.

OK well I will see how it goes. I've got a temperature probe at work il stick the thin probe end in between the rad fin's and watch them temp gauge and see what actual temperature the fan kicks in at. The only thing that bothers me is pre coolant change the fan hardly ever came on now I've flushed the rad and put new coolant in it comes on more frequent. Checked coolant level yesterday and it's all good. Thanks for all the feedback guys.

Mine does the same; fan comes on when the gauge is in the 'normal' block.
It occurred to me ages ago that this was a bit odd but I'd rather that, especially if it's normal for the bike, than watching the temperature rising and praying the fan comes on.

Mrmoz wrote:

OK well I will see how it goes. I've got a temperature probe at work il stick the thin probe end in between the rad fin's and watch them temp gauge and see what actual temperature the fan kicks in at. The only thing that bothers me is pre coolant change the fan hardly ever came on now I've flushed the rad and put new coolant in it comes on more frequent. Checked coolant level yesterday and it's all good. Thanks for all the feedback guys.

You are over thinking this. Trust Honda. Be happy.

Mrmoz wrote:

 I've got a temperature probe at work il stick the thin probe end in between the rad fin's and watch them temp gauge and see what actual temperature the fan kicks in at.

Putting a temp' sensor between the radiator fins will not give you any worthwhile result bud, it will be measuring the radiated temperature of the metal, NOT the coolant temperature.  
If you really, really want to check the operation of the coolant temperature sensor you need to remove it from the system, place it in a flask of water & measure it's resistance value, @ 80 degrees Centigrade it should be 2.3K ohms +/- 20%  & then again @ 120 degrees Centigrade it should be 0.69K ohms again +/-20%.

OR

What Tim said .........

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

You are over thinking this. Trust Honda. Be happy.

Hi and just thought I'd report back of the temp probe although as above stated I know its not a truly accurate assessment of what is going on. The temp of the radiator was 89.4 degrees when the fan kicked in but still only 3 bars on the temp gauge were visible. So I think that's nothing to worry about my vfr 800 fans use to kick in about 93 degrees so the thermostat is working and opening as it should and the fans are kicking in about when they should. But I don't know how hot this bike has to get to register 4 bars on the tamp gauge because I can only get it upto 3 in any test be it stationary or riding in warm weather.. Its honda a well built honda at that so il trust it and just ride it and stop worrying.

yay, ride & be happy bud, that's the way

3 bars is normal saw 4 one time after replacing the water pump and system was air bound. Shut it down and kept adding coolant till it burped.

My Yamaha works similar to your Honda. Goes to 4 bars then fan comes on back to 3.

I've ridden my bike for 150km's at less than 20km/h marshaling cyclists during a South African summer and never seen the temp rise above 3 bars. Fan does it's own thing - trust this bike implicitly! Bulletproof!