Overheating?

[Jedly]

Hey guys. I baught my 9 earlier in the year and has been fine apart from having the oil/temp light on for the past few months. I originally thought it was oil but have since thought it was overheating (still unsure) but apart from that has been running fine, no issues.. on Saturday I rode home from the gold coast (roughly an hour and a half ride) and when I got home and turned off the motor but not the key, the fans kicked on (pretty normal) and then heard a weird gurgle sound coming from down the front of the bike.
I have pulled everything off to see if I could find anything, topped up the coolant and it's still happening.

Also checked the spark plugs only to find there are 2 completely different types of plugs and rather dirty (have ordered some new ones from Suzuki)

Any ideas on what it could be?

[Montanalg]

Hey guys. I baught my 9 earlier in the year and has been fine apart from having the oil/temp light on for the past few months. I originally thought it was oil but have since thought it was overheating (still unsure) but apart from that has been running fine, no issues.. on Saturday I rode home from the gold coast (roughly an hour and a half ride) and when I got home and turned off the motor but not the key, the fans kicked on (pretty normal) and then heard a weird gurgle sound coming from down the front of the bike.
I have pulled everything off to see if I could find anything, topped up the coolant and it's still happening.

Also checked the spark plugs only to find there are 2 completely different types of plugs and rather dirty (have ordered some new ones from Suzuki)

Any ideas on what it could be?

Not sure about your overheating problem but FYI the 9 has 4 spark plugs

[Stalker]

If oil/temp idiot light comes on you should pull over right away, not continue riding the bike.
The light is telling you something is wrong with the bike.

You said you topped off coolant, did you do this at the radiator cap or at the reservoir?
If only at the reservoir then pull the tank and neck covers to check the level at the cap.
If it is low you like have a coolant leak or your system is boiling over and causing you to loose coolant.

There are lots of things that can go bad in the cooling system.

Radiator cap
Thermostat
Water Pump
Any number of hoses and fittings
The radiator itself.
Or if the bike was not properly care for, part or all of the cooling circuit could be clogged.

[Jedly]

If oil/temp idiot light comes on you should pull over right away, not continue riding the bike.
The light is telling you something is wrong with the bike.

You said you topped off coolant, did you do this at the radiator cap or at the reservoir?
If only at the reservoir then pull the tank and neck covers to check the level at the cap.
If it is low you like have a coolant leak or your system is boiling over and causing you to loose coolant.

There are lots of things that can go bad in the cooling system.

Radiator cap
Thermostat
Water Pump
Any number of hoses and fittings
The radiator itself.
Or if the bike was not properly care for, part or all of the cooling circuit could be clogged.

There doesn't seam to me any leaks that I'm aware of, never anything on the ground.
Coolant is full at the cap but I did fill from the reservoir. I'm currently looking at taking the thermostat out. Does all the coolant need to be drains to do this?

[Jedly]

Hey guys. I baught my 9 earlier in the year and has been fine apart from having the oil/temp light on for the past few months. I originally thought it was oil but have since thought it was overheating (still unsure) but apart from that has been running fine, no issues.. on Saturday I rode home from the gold coast (roughly an hour and a half ride) and when I got home and turned off the motor but not the key, the fans kicked on (pretty normal) and then heard a weird gurgle sound coming from down the front of the bike.
I have pulled everything off to see if I could find anything, topped up the coolant and it's still happening.

Also checked the spark plugs only to find there are 2 completely different types of plugs and rather dirty (have ordered some new ones from Suzuki)

Any ideas on what it could be?

Not sure about your overheating problem but FYI the 9 has 4 spark plugs

I have all 4 out and there are 2 different types/brands.

[Stalker]

There doesn't seam to me any leaks that I'm aware of, never anything on the ground.
Coolant is full at the cap but I did fill from the reservoir. I'm currently looking at taking the thermostat out. Does all the coolant need to be drains to do this?

Any coolant that sits higher in the system than the thermostat location is going to come out when you remove the thermostat cover.
It will be much less mess if you just drain the coolant from the lower radiator hose instead of letting it spill all over the bike from he thermostat location.
If the bike is over heating, then completely draining the system, doing a full flush and coolant refill (with new T-stat install) would be the first things I would do after confirming there were no leaks.

After that if your coolant still boils, change the radiator cap and see if the problem still exists.

[DakS83]

I have all 4 out and there are 2 different types/brands.

Yup, all that means is someone has changed the plugs at some stage and only done two thinking there is only two, it happens a lot on these bikes, all 4 should be the same.

[Tux20]

G'day Mate, I'm no expert but I noticed I used 91 once with my new KnN air filters and it was causing engine knock. The motor did not like this combination especially not yet tuned to the upgrades, and heated up way to quickly causing my stock pipes to get very very hot(not normal for my bike) so now I run 98/100 and the engine is much happier and heat is normal and stable

[josey088]

Wow... 98/100 octane gas... I just wish !!!!! Here is the U.S. all we can obtain is 93 octane , which is what I use on my bike . It works ok thou and I have never tried or even dare to put 87 octane on it .

[DakS83]

Wow... 98/100 octane gas... I just wish !!!!! Here is the U.S. all we can obtain is 93 octane , which is what I use on my bike . It works ok thou and I have never tried or even dare to put 87 octane on it .

In the US you guys rate petrol different to most other countries, here in NZ we use a RON rating, you guys normally use some wierd (R+M)/2 rating or something so in instance you 93 is about the same as our 98 RON

[Lou M109r]

Check the Radiator cap if it’s holding pressure

[lostbones]

Where Im at the most common high is 90. You have to search around to find 91 which is what Ive alwsys ran. Never had an overheat issue but it definitely gets hot. I have the Sharp curves with big air kit aswell.

[StitchsLoft]

Where Im at the most common high is 90. You have to search around to find 91 which is what Ive alwsys ran. Never had an overheat issue but it definitely gets hot. I have the Sharp curves with big air kit aswell.

We have local station here that sells a Non-ethanol 91 and I run that even in my mower! LOL

[lostbones]

Ha ha thats funny but probably a good idea. I use the 91 in my bike and truck. Just wosh I could get 93.

[lostbones]

*Wish*

[asillito]

Wow... 98/100 octane gas... I just wish !!!!! Here is the U.S. all we can obtain is 93 octane , which is what I use on my bike . It works ok thou and I have never tried or even dare to put 87 octane on it .

Keep in mind that running overly high octane fuel, if the motor is not setup for it (ie: higher compression), can cause the engine to overheat.

[josey088]

I had the bike for 5 years now and I always put 93 octane on it .
There is no way I would put less than that .
My 9 runs and works perfectly , never have had a single problem .
2 years ago I installed the Revo voltmeter /temperature kit and I had to check the radiator, thermostat , flush(3 times) and replace the engine coolant , clean up the coolant bottle , etc in order to install the hose sensor temp and install the kit .
Everything was just like new , hoses , radiator, etc and all I needed was to do the install and 6900 miles later , the bike is still in perfect shape , no overheating (the fan starts and shut off like clock work ) , no ignition issues , detonation , loss of power, nothing . The bike has also a Cobra fuel management installed , along with an X-TRE .
I also put 2 ounces of Sea Foam every 2 full tanks ... it works for me .

[JUDAH-9]

I’ve always been of the mindset that our M109Rs require/are recommended running “Premium” grade fuel. I realize premium is rated differently in various locations around and outside of the U.S. Everywhere I’ve lived, to include Germany, premium grade fuel has always been rated at 93% octane. My understanding and belief is, unless someone’s constantly running “race grade” fuel, or something very close to it in their 9, the M109R should not overheat, due to the grade of fuel being used, as long as it’s not higher than 93% octane. I’ve been running 93% octane in all my bikes and automobiles since the early 90s and I’ve never had an overheating issue.

[Bridgeoly]

Hey guys. I baught my 9 earlier in the year and has been fine apart from having the oil/temp light on for the past few months. I originally thought it was oil but have since thought it was overheating (still unsure) but apart from that has been running fine, no issues.. on Saturday I rode home from the gold coast (roughly an hour and a half ride) and when I got home and turned off the motor but not the key, the fans kicked on (pretty normal) and then heard a weird gurgle sound coming from down the front of the bike.
I have pulled everything off to see if I could find anything, topped up the coolant and it's still happening.

Also checked the spark plugs only to find there are 2 completely different types of plugs and rather dirty (have ordered some new ones from Suzuki)

Any ideas on what it could be?

I had the same problem with my 08. I did all the recommended checks, flush and fill,new thermostat, leak check and water pump. Same issue. I finally removed the radiator and it was clogged with mineral deposits. The guy I brought it from had it sitting up for 2 years. i changed the oil but didnt flush the coolant before I started riding it. I purchased a new radiator, problem solved.