S4R Coolant Leaking when Bike Reaches 245 Degrees

[Howie]

A less accurate but easier way to test the thermostat; when the temperature gauge reaches...don't know the specs on a Ducati thermostat, but probably around 180^o F (or Speeddog's maybe 150) you should feel the coolant hose on the radiator side go from cool to as hot as on the engine side.  Yep, both exhaust and a collapsing radiator hose are possibilities. 

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Does anyone know if the S4RS oil cooler can be easily mounted into the S4R? Looks like the mount points are different, but curious to whether it can be done. The S4R OEM cooler is in the way of the New exhaust.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

I've purchased a thermostat and Samco radiator hoses and sending all that stuff with the bike when it goes in. Hoping to have then diagnose the issue and then replace whatever's wrong. Even if the thermostat/tuning is the culprit, I still want the hoses changed since they are the original ones.

[Thermite]

I have had a radiator cap fail.  Suddenly overheating just like the OP.  I removed the thermostat first and checked it in hot water on the stovetop.  When that checked okay I replaced the cap and that solved the problem.  There was no visual indication of any problems on the old cap so I couldn't say you could look it over to check it. 

Replacing the cap will be cheaper than replacing the coolant.  It doesn't sound like you have a coolant problem given the rapid overheating in cold weather.  Cap or thermostat should be the first things to check.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

I have had a radiator cap fail.  Suddenly overheating just like the OP.  I removed the thermostat first and checked it in hot water on the stovetop.  When that checked okay I replaced the cap and that solved the problem.  There was no visual indication of any problems on the old cap so I couldn't say you could look it over to check it. 

Replacing the cap will be cheaper than replacing the coolant.  It doesn't sound like you have a coolant problem given the rapid overheating in cold weather.  Cap or thermostat should be the first things to check.

Thanks Thermite

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Update: got the bike diagnosed and it turns out it was the temp dash sensor was off by 30 degrees. But in the meantime, new hoses were installed and a new radiator cap too.

Should have the bike ready to go for the nice DC weather this weekend.

[Slide Panda]

Was it just a matter of a new temp sender? or?

[Speeddog]

Whether the sensor was right or wrong, I'm still concerned that it was getting hot enough to puke coolant out in 40 degF ambient.

Keep an eye on it.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Whether the sensor was right or wrong, I'm still concerned that it was getting hot enough to puke coolant out in 40 degF ambient.

Keep an eye on it.

The way the tech explained it that when the temp was 220 on the dash temp sensor it was actually 190. A new temp was ordered and installed. I will not be able to test the theory until tomorrow when the weather in DC will be warm enough. if when 40 degrees out the bike temp soared past 240 on a short ride, tomorrow 60+ and Sundays 70+ weather will be quick indicators.

In addition to the dash temp sensor being replaced I had the coolant swapped, a new SAMCO radiator hoses put.

[Greg]

Whether the sensor was right or wrong, I'm still concerned that it was getting hot enough to puke coolant out in 40 degF ambient.

Keep an eye on it.

Exactly - this does not bode well for Summer riding

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Exactly - this does not bode well for Summer riding

Rode this past Saturday, where DC experienced freak 65 degree weather and everything was fine. Coolant was changed, thermostat and radiator cap were replaced, new hoses and she got warm maybe 210 but nothing close to the 245 I saw before.

Will be keeping an eye out as DC weather soars to the upper 90s and traffic can turn a 15 minute ride into 45 minutes of hell.

Decided that engine ice wasn't best as well. Not every place carries it and i can't mix the two if I ever needed more on short notice.

[Thermite]

Keep an eye on it yes, but you've changed all of the critical parts so I don't think you need to be too concerned.

[MadDuck]

Whether the sensor was right or wrong, I'm still concerned that it was getting hot enough to puke coolant out in 40 degF ambient.

Keep an eye on it.

I'm with Speeddog on this also.  I went back over this thread and have one additional comment/question.  Are the fans coming on? All the cap does is hold pressure in the system which raises the boiling point. It does not regulate temperature. If it doesn't seal or hold pressure then that is a problem but everything has to be working together is keep the temp proper and I suspect that there is still an issue.

[Speeddog]

Just to keep track of what what when....

It had Engine Ice in it when it boiled over, and it's got a standard 50/50 mix of glycol coolant now?

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Just to keep track of what what when....

It had Engine Ice in it when it boiled over, and it's got a standard 50/50 mix of glycol coolant now?

No it had standard 50/50 mix of glycol coolant. I contemplated switching over to Engine Ice but decided against it because if the bike ever did dump again, finding Engine Ice is hard, safer bet to just stick with the stuff everyone carries should I need it.

I'm with Speeddog on this also.  I went back over this thread and have one additional comment/question.  Are the fans coming on? All the cap does is hold pressure in the system which raises the boiling point. It does not regulate temperature. If it doesn't seal or hold pressure then that is a problem but everything has to be working together is keep the temp proper and I suspect that there is still an issue.

Fans come on light clockwork at 220. Never had an issue with the left or right one failing.

Only time will tell whether it was solved or it will come back again. Sunday should yield temps in the low 50's. I'll run her then and see what happens, fan, coolant, etc. I'm hoping everything is solved since I changed all the major components. Nothing happened when when temps were closer to 70 and the bike ran fine.