Replacing Coolant Help

[comicsans]

I have drained the coolant and im about to put new coolant in do i need to do anything like leave the cap off while the engine is running to get a good air tight vacuum going?

I have noticed the water resevoir has a cap too? should i leave that open?

Any help would be appreciated.

Ben

[darrsi]

Pour coolant in slowly to try and avoid air bubbles, then you can start the engine and let it run for a minute with the cap off so any air can surface, then fill to the top.


The overflow tank should be filled up to the line, don't fill above the line as it expands when it gets hot.


Once it's done it should more or less stay the same level if you have a good airtight system.

[comicsans]

thank you!

i have a question about what coolant to use, the manual states that you should do half soft water(or distilled) and half antifreeze but talking to someone today they said i should not put any kind of water just antifreeze because it will cause rust?

what do you think?

Ben

[john 087]

Did my own a few weeks ago. I used rain water and did a 50/50 mix.

[darrsi]

You can mix your own which will be a 50/50 mix with antifreeze and distilled water, but i personally prefer to get a good pre-mixed bottle from a bike shop.


Don't put just pure antifreeze in, remember it is a coolant as well so needs water.


Avoid the very cheap stuff too, do it properly and it will serve the bike well.

[darrsi]

@john 087 please tell me you're joking about the rain water?

[john 087]

sorry ment distilled water that i got in the local motor factors

[darrsi]

@comicsans, I'm presuming you're relatively new to biking? If so it's well worth spending about £17 and getting a Haynes manual to flick through at your own leisure, it will be money very well spent.


There is an online manual on this website to look at as well when needed, but it's just not quite the same as having the actual book, plus you don't want a greasy keyboard when working on the bike! 

[comicsans]

just picked one up thanks for the help guys.

[comicsans]

just about to do this and want to be 100% sure im doing it right. do i leave the filler cap under the tank open to get the air out of the system or the the resevoir cap? im just wondering because having the engine running while holding the tank up might be a pain.

[His Dudeness]

just the main filler cap is fine. fill it slowly as much as you can. looking at the service manual it takes 1.95L so once you get close to the 1.95L start the engine and give it a few revs. keep filling it up as more air comes to the top. then top off the reservoir. when you think you've got close to the 1.95L go for a quick spin and top it up the last bit when you get back.

[darrsi]

You drained the old coolant 9 days ago, and now you're putting the new coolant in?? 

[comicsans]

lol its winter im being a pansy  and driving the car 

cheers for helping me through it!

[darrsi]

Bloody car drivers....... 

[Deefer666]

I take the drain plug out of the water pump, then lift the tank and open the cap on the thermostat cap, the water will then drain from the pump (which is the coolants lowest point). Once drained replace the drain screw and top the water/coolant up. Once full put the cap back on and give the bike a shake and a bounce on the suspension, open the thermostat cap back up and top up. then start the bike and let t run for a minute or two then reopen the thermostat cap and top up if necessary.

Then fill the expansion bottle up to half way between full and empty (remember that your coolant needs to expand into her when hot....It is not merely an overflow reservoir.