How many of you still run an engine blanket or if ever? I ran a cheap thin vinyl one last year and not sure it had any affect at all.
Engine Blanket?
- Thread starter Tmorse598
- Start date
I run a kevlar welding blanket covered with race car plastic. I have tried/made/experimented with several different setup. Bottom line for my KTM 500 it needs to be at 175 degree or hotter to run correctly. To do that requires a good heat exchanger and real tight cover that lets no cold air/blowing snow in, even the smallest entry for snow will drop my bike to 140 and a loss of power/throttle response, sometimes run a gear lower.
I run a thermo-bob on my yz450f and radiator blockers on deep days. Ive had issues over heating and spewing out coolant while trail riding. It can a bit annoying to stop several times a day and adjust the radiator blockers.
I think this year I will run a radiator shut off value, higher rated coolant cap, zero cell foam between the engine and skid plate.
I think this year I will run a radiator shut off value, higher rated coolant cap, zero cell foam between the engine and skid plate.
Memtnrdr, I had similar experiences in the past as well. Even though I monitored temps closely I would mysterious be low on coolant. I determined that it was from those periodic spurts of coolant that I didn't notice. As long as I maintained a good cap, and it held, I was ok. I tested three different caps over a couple seasons and all declined in the amount of pressure they would hold resulting in lower boiling points and loss of coolant. I solved that issue with Evans waterless coolant. It doesn't boil till 375 so cap integrity not an issue. Two bikes with combined 150-200 hrs with Evans and never down a drop of coolant. No noticeable change in cooling capacity and now I don't fear pulling that long climb that sometimes would resulting in a burp of coolant in the past when running normal coolant.
dooman92, you sold me on that. Ill have to try that out.
T
tribalbc
Well-known member
I've run the Evans in my dirt bike for years, works great. I started using it when I was racing Enduro/ Hare Scrambles, when boiling was an issue and stopping wasn't an option.
Haven't really felt the need to put it in the snowbike as I have only boiled a few times in the spring and I threw a catch tank on.
It's hard to get and pricey in Canada, otherwise I would probably use it in everything.
S
I run an engine blanket all the time. I cant imagine trying to manage temps without it. In addition to the engine blanket I use a Thermobob, radiator fan, and have foam in the open cavities to keep snow out. The radiator fan is a BIG help in keeping temps constant.
T
tek9tim
Well-known member
Yup, only been able to get my bike into overheating territory by running radiator blockers on the trail. Even just pulling 1 blocker usually brings it back to where it should be. But every single ride off in the deep stuff, I need more heat. I run Revv Up jackets, and that's a tremendous help.
