Do I Need an Oil Cooler for My R100?

[Littleleroy]

I know this is a very old question answered in the Phorum archives, but I can't remember the answer and can't access the archives. The bike is an '84 CS.


Thanks for your responses in advance.

[DanielMc]

I think the consensus is along the lines of no - unless you live in Arizona or central Australia.

[Major Softie]

Short answer is: No.

The long answer is that there could be really hot places where it's of some use, or if hauling a Hack or similar heavy-loading of the motor, but generally: No.

Synthetic oil is some's answer to concerns about oil temps, as it can handle higher heat before being damaged.

[SteveD]

I know this is a very old question answered in the Phorum archives, but I can't remember the answer and can't access the archives. The bike is an '84 CS.
Thanks for your responses in advance.

This isn't a direct answer to your question, edit for absolute inaccuracy but the later monolevers didn't have an oil cooler, so someone at the factory musta thought they were superfluous. d'oh.

[Zombie Master]

It couldn't hurt. You have excellent taste in Airheads.

[ME 109]

A cooler will reduce the oil temp by x degree on a hot day. How much x is, I can't say.
I know my oil cooler thermostat doesn't work because the 'expanding element' in the thermostat housing doesn't work.
I could replace it, but I can also manually operate the thermostat by inserting a 23mm long bolt in the bottom of the thermostat housing, thus allowing oil to flow through the circuit.
The 23mm bolt is mainly used to prime the oil cooling circuit after an oil change.

On a hot day when the thermostat is open, the oil cooler radiator is quite hot to touch.......
So, it works.
An oil temp gauge in the dipstick hole would be one way to find out how well it works.
I can't be bothered.

[Ross]

When I had to it fit a different/early short motor to my 94 R100LT I had to do away with the oil cooler. Reason was the R80 short engine is from 1983 pre oil cooler so does not have the long pipe in the oil filter bay.

It does not worry me that i do not have an oil cooler anymore. I do not ride in central Australia where the heat would melt my engine. Plus in summer I de-pant my barn door fairing by taking the bottoms off. Plus saves me from roasting my legs.

[dougie]

This isn't a direct answer to your question, but the later monolevers didn't have an oil cooler, so someone at the factory musta thought they were superfluous.

I believe all R100RS/RT monolever bikes did come with oil coolers.
My '87 did.

[SteveD]

This isn't a direct answer to your question, but the later monolevers didn't have an oil cooler, so someone at the factory musta thought they were superfluous.

I believe all R100RS/RT monolever bikes did come with oil coolers.
My '87 did.

..add that to Ross's experience removing his from his R100LT, and further evidence in this picture...



...I'm conceding big time!

[Ross]

Better Bikes now has an R100RS. Poo. When I bought my LT I was really wanting an RS. There was not one for sale so took the LT.