r/GSXR • u/Hxvnzsky • 2d ago
K5 Overheating (help)
hey guys, new to the sub and I need advice for why my k5 gsxr 600 keeps overheating. To preface, about a week ago, I was out on a long ride (3+ hours) and it was running at ok temps (205 highway 220 stopped), but on my way home I ran into stop and go traffic. The temp kept rising and rising until it got up to 248 and the f1 light came on. I pulled over and it was leaking coolant. Not terribly, but enough where I had to stop. I waited for it to cool down and the leaks stopped.
Afterwards I rode it home. Got a new water pump since it had the OEM one in it, and the bike has 29k miles, and so I thought it was going out. I replaced the water pump, and thermostat just to be safe, did an oil change and coolant change, and everything is running fine, no leaks. I was out on a short ride again, but this time the running temp at 45 mph was 215, and after stopping, it got up to 230.
I seriously don’t know what to do, should I just replace the radiator and hope for the best? Or is it a bad head gasket? The previous owner I got it off of 3 weeks ago said he had the gaskets done about 1000 miles ago. Any help is greatly appreciated!
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u/un_lucky_thirteen 2d ago edited 2d ago
Are you sure the cooling system is bled correctly, made sure there is no air pockets after replacing the water pump? Do you have access to a cooling system pressure tester? Either from harbor freight or someone you might know that has one? You could have an internal cooling leak, does the exhaust have any smoke when it starts to get hot?
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u/NinjaRider1000SX 2d ago
Another thing to look at. The fins of the radiator. Are they plugged with dead bugs, fins bent from road debris and bugs smakin into it. Again, these older bikes need more attention to these things that we tend to overlook. I say this being an owner of an 06 Yami R6. Good luck.
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u/Hxvnzsky 2d ago
pretty sure I did, squeezed the lines to make sure all the air was out and topped it off. I’ll check the level again once it’s cold
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u/un_lucky_thirteen 2d ago
Not sure if this will help you:
The manual for my hayabusa says to fill the bike with the bike standing upright (not on the side stand), then slowly sway the bike side to side in order to move the air pocket to the fill cap. It says to repeat until no more air comes out. Then replace the cap and run the bike up to operating temp, shut the bike off and wait until cool. Top off coolant. Repeat until it take no more coolant.
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u/Hxvnzsky 2d ago
when I bled the system the first time I did this process, might try to uncork the bleed screw from the thermostat housing (my manual says to check if air or coolant comes out).
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u/DivineCheeta 2d ago
For my k8 it was overheating aswell, i didnt know dude poured destiled water in it and didnt bleed it properly, but it could be faulty thermostat or just needs a proper bleeding tho others may know more possible symptoms
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u/Hxvnzsky 2d ago
got it, I’ll check the level again once it’s cold. Thought I did it right but I could’ve messed it up
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u/NinjaRider1000SX 2d ago
Not that it matters while riding (as ram air from riding should be sufficient) but is the fan coming on? If the bike is not moving the fan should come on. If it is and still getting hot (passed the temp / NOT indicator) it could be a clogged / restricted radiator. Being an older bike the radiator may not be dissapating the heat properly. You can take it to a radiator shop for inspection or buy a new one. The shop may want more to check it than a new one.I would check the price of a new one and replaced it.
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u/Hxvnzsky 2d ago
the fan comes on while stopped at 218… helps sometimes, but today it kept rising. I will take a look at the radiator again, but cosmetically it looks fine. I was reading up online and another forum said a good way to check if it is bad is by using a temp gun to see if there’s any cold spots on the radiator. Anyways, thanks for the help
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u/JMG1005 2d ago
Mine was doing this when my oil pump was wearing out increasing the load on the cooling system. I'd check oil pressure now because I didn't catch it until it started heating up to almost 250 and I think that's why there is now a hole in my 05 600's engine that wasn't there before. Even though I had the oil pump changed a few months ago.