Cooling Fans blowing air forwards when stopped - I never knew....

[agrimm01]

While doing the 10 minute idle to check my oil yesterday the cooling fans kicked on. I was standing in front of the bike and thought it was strange that the fans were blowing air forward. So, today I looked at the service manual and it stated:

NOTE: When the engine is running and the vehicle stopped or traveling at low speed, the radiator fans push air towards the front of the vehicle. When the vehicle is traveling at higher speed the fans push the air towards the back of the vehicle.

I never knew....

[LongIsland]

Due to many complaints by riders of the intense heat blowing on your right leg, BRP made the change to the 2014 model year with the inception of the 1330 engine. My 2012 RTL had so much heat blowing on my right leg while at a stop that I had to move my leg out of the air flow. It also caused the trike to get extremely hot in the rider area. This reverse fan eliminated those issues.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

While doing the 10 minute idle to check my oil yesterday the cooling fans kicked on. I was standing in front of the bike and thought it was strange that the fans were blowing air forward. So, today I looked at the service manual and it stated:

NOTE: When the engine is running and the vehicle stopped or traveling at low speed, the radiator fans push air towards the front of the vehicle. When the vehicle is traveling at higher speed the fans push the air towards the back of the vehicle.

I never knew....

Long Island answered your question ..... my Question to you is .... Why are you doing the 10 minute warm-up before you check the oil ???? .... First, 10 minutes won't warm up the oil ENOUGH ...... Second - it wastes gas, time etc. .... Just check the oil After YOU COME BACK FROM A NORMAL RIDE .... Unless you have a leak that creates a large puddle of oil; under your Spyder, the level of the oil won't have changed from last time you checked n( even if that was a month or year ago ) ..... I have NEVER had to add oil ( between changes on my 2014 RT that has the 1330 engine ( you also have this engine ) .... Mike

[agrimm01]

Long Island answered your question ..... my Question to you is .... Why are you doing the 10 minute warm-up before you check the oil ???? .... First, 10 minutes won't warm up the oil ENOUGH ...... Second - it wastes gas, time etc. .... Just check the oil After YOU COME BACK FROM A NORMAL RIDE .... Unless you have a leak that creates a large puddle of oil; under your Spyder, the level of the oil won't have changed from last time you checked n( even if that was a month or year ago ) ..... I have NEVER had to add oil ( between changes on my 2014 RT that has the 1330 engine ( you also have this engine ) .... Mike

I didn't have a question, it was an observation. Since this was the first time for me to do the oil change I followed the instructions as spelled out in the owners manual. ride for 9 miles, idle for 10 minutes, shut off and check oil level within 2 minutes. Thanks

[BajaRon]

I didn't have a question, it was an observation. Since this was the first time for me to do the oil change I followed the instructions as spelled out in the owners manual. ride for 9 miles, idle for 10 minutes, shut off and check oil level within 2 minutes. Thanks

Mike's advice is actually good. Though I fully understand you're wanting to follow the owners manual. But the fact is, the idle part is not necessary, nor is it great for the motor. Not sure why the manual says to do that. As long as the oil (not the coolant) is at operating temp and you're on level ground, you're good to go.

Try this. (Just a friendly suggestion) Check your oil level before and after your 10 minute idle phase. You'll find the reading to be identical. Then you can make an informed decision as to whether you want to continue with the manual's instructions.

Have a Great New Year!

[hypurone]

Due to many complaints by riders of the intense heat blowing on your right leg, BRP made the change to the 2014 model year with the inception of the 1330 engine. My 2012 RTL had so much heat blowing on my right leg while at a stop that I had to move my leg out of the air flow. It also caused the trike to get extremely hot in the rider area. This reverse fan eliminated those issues.

My 2015 F3S does NOT run the fans inverse at a standstill... Must be an "RT" thing...

[broderp]

...... .... Unless you have a leak that creates a large puddle of oil; under your Spyder, the level of the oil won't have changed from last time you checked n( even if that was a month or year ago ) ..... I have NEVER had to add oil ( between changes on my 2014 RT that has the 1330 engine ( you also have this engine ) .... Mike

You could be burning oil with no leak... just sayin'

My 2015 F3S does NOT run the fans inverse at a standstill... Must be an "RT" thing...

I'll have to check this as well. I'm not sure of the cooling fan locations on current RT models, but the current F3-S has them facing out to the side, so reversing them would mean having push air back out the front grill. I can't image this being effective. Perhaps out to the side doesn't blow air over the riders like like those with radiators facing front to back?

What do I know though, I've got 20 miles on my Spyder and its down for the winter...

[Peter Aawen]

...... .... Unless you have a leak that creates a large puddle of oil; under your Spyder, the level of the oil won't have changed from last time you checked n( even if that was a month or year ago ) ..... I have NEVER had to add oil ( between changes on my 2014 RT that has the 1330 engine ( you also have this engine ) .... Mike

You could be burning oil with no leak... just sayin'

....

True, your engine could be burning oil & not leaking it out anywhere, but then you'd notice that when you checked the oil level AFTER your ride, wouldn't you...

If you check the oil after a ride and then don't run the engine (much) until you go to ride your Spyder next, your engine hasn't run so it CAN'T have burnt too much oil anyway, can it!

[mecsw500]

I wonder how the dealers check the oil level after an oil change? I can't imagine they go and ride for x-minutes and then let it idle for y-minutes?

Perhaps they just idle for a few minutes to warm the oil, drain it, and then add the wet fill service amount? I cannot see BRP having their techs go out in whatever weather to get the oil warmed up in order to check the level after service.

I always wondered this. Perhaps I'll ask the tech next time I get it done.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I wonder how the dealers check the oil level after an oil change? I can't imagine they go and ride for x-minutes and then let it idle for y-minutes?

Perhaps they just idle for a few minutes to warm the oil, drain it, and then add the wet fill service amount? I cannot see BRP having their techs go out in whatever weather to get the oil warmed up in order to check the level after service.

I always wondered this. Perhaps I'll ask the tech next time I get it done.

.... The Temp gauge on the Spyders is for WATER temp, NOT the oil temp .... When you actually ride the Spyder the oil warms up a lot quicker than if you just let it idle ..... JMHO ....Mike

[EdMat]

Perhaps they just idle for a few minutes to warm the oil, drain it, and then add the wet fill service amount?

Many dealers do it cold so they don't risk getting their fingers hot. I think that's why many want to keep it a day before they change it.

[Dasmoetorhead]

Mike's advice is actually good. Though I fully understand you're wanting to follow the owners manual. But the fact is, the idle part is not necessary, nor is it great for the motor. Not sure why the manual says to do that. As long as the oil (not the coolant) is at operating temp and you're on level ground, you're good to go.

Try this. (Just a friendly suggestion) Check your oil level before and after your 10 minute idle phase. You'll find the reading to be identical. Then you can make an informed decision as to whether you want to continue with the manual's instructions.

Have a Great New Year!

Agrimm01 is just going by the manual . I've done the same thing. I thought it was ridiculous, and probably is.