Changing my coolant - any tips

[His Dudeness]

Are we sure that it only needs 2ltr as there looks like loads in that bucket or have you got the hose in the filler

Its the mix of ionised and de-ionised water. The ions are reacting to give it a more watery look

[darrsi]

Are we sure that it only needs 2ltr as there looks like loads in that bucket or have you got the hose in the filler

You definitely won't need more than 2 litres.

[CRH]

Are we sure that it only needs 2ltr as there looks like loads in that bucket or have you got the hose in the filler

You definitely won't need more than 2 litres.

....hang on a minute there darrsi?....he might need more than 2ltrs if he forgets to put the drain plug bk in?..ide get 3 ltrs to be on safe side meself .....

[fazersharp]

The winner will be announced at 9pm
Thanks all for the help too 2ltrs it is then thanks

[fazersharp]

And the winner is----------------------------

just tried diluting cold water with hot water?...and it luked warm to me?

Well done 
Now inorder for me to send you your prize I just need your credit card number valid from and too date and the 3 didgit code on the back

[thunderpantz]

Literally changed mine yesterday. Good job I did.... Only had about 250ml in!


Good job I found the leak when i did

[fazersharp]

So where was the leak

[CRH]

wow! thanks fazersharp ....ile have to pm you my details though mate" dont want every fkr on here knowing me  buisiness

[fazersharp]

Ok done it.
A few notes - the on line pdf manual says that the total amount of coolant is 1.95 and the reservoir has a o.61 capacity = 1.34 in the rad an other bits
I think that the reservoir capacity must be the total volume as I put in 250ml from empty to the max line which would mean ther is an extra 360ml of space - but looking at the tank I dont feel there is not that space left.
I had 2ltrs of ready mixed coolant and put 250 in the res and I have 450 left over in the bottle which means I put in 1.3ltr in the rad filler neck which gives a total system capacity of 1,550 ml - now add that 360ml that the pdf says the res holds extra over the 250 I put in then you get 1,910ml which leaves an extra 85ml for system areas that draining dosent drain.
So the upshot is I have 450ml left over from 2ltr after fill the res to the max line is that right.
A thing I did was to put the drain plug in at only hand tight during the radflush so (in my mind ) to keep some crush-ability left in the washer for the proper fill.
Here is some fazer pissing photos inspired by redhunter.
OH and by the way that 2 year life blue stuff has been in about 10years
And the max fill line pink new stuff with the extra space       

[darrsi]

As long as it's filled up to the radiator cap, and also the level in the expansion tank, then all is good, don't worry about measurements!
Occasionally having a look at the expansion tank level when the bike is cold can tell you whether the system is healthy or not.
Basically that level should hardly ever change if all is well, you MAY have to give it a tiny top up occasionally but that could be months apart if the system is clean, airtight and flowing properly, and any top up should be minimal.
If you get overflowing from the expansion tank (whilst boiling), you notice it's low or empty, or the fan unusually starts kicking in (quite rare) then you need to investigate, which will probably just be scaled up waterways, and then you're back to the Radflush again.   


I've always been a fan of leaving Radflush in for a couple of days so that the engine heats up and cools down a few times, but you need mild weather, not too hot or cold for obvious reasons, and you wouldn't want to do any long runs on the bike either.

[fazersharp]

Ok cheers!!
That reminds me I left it running with radflush for at least 15 mins- mabe 20 and still the fan didnt come on. so I gave up. If the fan isnt working should I be worried
The fan has never come on in normal riding but I dont sit in traffic either.

[darrsi]

Ok cheers!!
That reminds me I left it running with radflush for at least 15 mins- mabe 20 and still the fan didnt come on. so I gave up. If the fan isnt working should I be worried
The fan has never come on in normal riding but I dont sit in traffic either.

I've heard mine come on a few times in hot weather when sitting still, but there are many on this forum who have never ever heard theirs kick in before!
They tend to cope with heat quite well.
The fan on my previous bike was much more sensitive and would kick in all the time, but that's what they're meant to do so it's no big deal, unless your system is clogged up, then it "may" come on more often, but more than likely it'll just dump coolant out of the overflow pipe on the expansion tank.

[fazersharp]

Ive often thought that a rad cover would reduce the air to the rad (I dont have one)

[darrsi]

Ive often thought that a rad cover would reduce the air to the rad (I dont have one)

I've got one, never had any issues.

[fazersharp]

Ive often thought that a rad cover would reduce the air to the rad (I dont have one)

I've got one, never had any issues.

Not an issue but

I've heard mine come on a few times

By the way not trying to have a dig ---thank you for your help and wisdom
I would have a guess that the only people to have had the fan come on while riding are those with a rad cover ??

[darrsi]

Ive often thought that a rad cover would reduce the air to the rad (I dont have one)

I've got one, never had any issues.

Not an issue but

I've heard mine come on a few times

By the way not trying to have a dig ---thank you for your help and wisdom
I would have a guess that the only people to have had the fan come on while riding are those with a rad cover ??

No not at all, because it makes no difference whatsoever when the bike is sitting still?
They have holes in anyway.
Fans are there to draw away the heat, it wouldn't bother me if mine came on frequently, hence the reason i've hot wired my laptop cooling fan to be permanently on, because they do a good job!

[fazersharp]

My thinking is that they are reducing the flow of air (even with the holes) so that when you come to the stand still that (non cover people also have) yours comes on and not theirs.
But as you say it comes on and it dose its job so no worries, although it does run off the battery dosent it - so if you have any battery issues ---maybe
I did not know that it draws air rather than blowing air though ---is that the same for cars. I spose that if it were blowing then it would be drawing hot air from the direction of the engine

[darrsi]

My thinking is that they are reducing the flow of air (even with the holes) so that when you come to the stand still that (non cover people also have) yours comes on and not theirs.
But as you say it comes on and it dose its job so no worries, although it does run off the battery dosent it - so if you have any battery issues ---maybe
I did not know that it draws air rather than blowing air though ---is that the same for cars. I spose that if it were blowing then it would be drawing hot air from the direction of the engine

You certainly are the pessimist aren't you..........stop thinking so much, it's really not doing you any good. 
If you have battery issues, then, get your battery issues fixed or replace the battery?
How d'ya think air cooled only bikes survive?
At least we have coolant circulating and a fan to cool down the engine when the bike's not moving, so we're actually rather spoiled, and as i said earlier if the system is unblocked and fully functioning as it always should be then you won't have any problems.
You must remember that radiator grills aren't just added to look poncey, they are there to protect your radiator from stone damage, and they work 100% well in doing so.
You wouldn't wait in a queue jogging on the spot because it won't take very long before you're gonna overheat, so if you think the bike's ever gonna be sitting still for more than 10 minutes at a time, especially during hot weather, then the simple solution is to just turn the engine off (or stand still)........sorted! 

[fazersharp]

Yeh you are right about me thinking so much. Im gonna let it go  thank you.
NOW where is that thread about aftermarket rad covers because I want one ! 

[His Dudeness]

You should start up the engine and rev it up a bit or better yet go for a spin to get the air to the top of the system. Then check the coolant level again at the cap. Let the bike cool down before you take the cap off or you'll get a face full of boiling coolant

[fazersharp]

Just been out today and will have another look sometime soon

[fazersharp]

Had another look today and got another 20ml in it (rad neck) and thats it now.
All the shaking bouncing rocking and running on the spot that you do is no comparison to going out for a proper ride to get those air bubbles to the top

[fazersharp]

Bump for you

[Andy Clap]

Bump for you

Many thanks 

[hightower]

When I changed mine I couldn't find the drain bolts on the engine block (???) or something. I forget what Hayne's said, but I did the bottom bolt, and found the reservoir, but couldn't find the other thing it said to drain.


If anyone has some info (and a handy pic) on this I'd appreciate it for next time.