Coolant Check

[Dudeofrude]

Just doing some routine maintenance and thought I'd take the radiator cap off to have nose. Now I've never changed coolant before or even looked at it so I'm just wondering if this looks ok?
Seems really full, especially seeing as it's on the side stand in this pic?
Also it's a weird yellowy watery substance. Thought coolant was either blue or green?
What do you guys think?

[Jamieg285]

Level looks OK to me.  The small hole in lower left of the neck is the over flow.    Did you check with the engine cold or warm?  That would affect the level.

As for colour, I agree that it's not what would be expected.  Normally, pink, orange, green or blue is what I'd expect (or dirty brown?).

I'd recommend a flush and refill with new. Easy and cheap job, and you then know exactly what you've got in there.

[BBROWN1664]

flush and refil but the level is as it should be. The small pipe leads off to the expansion tank under the seat. That's where you should be checking the level normally.

[Dudeofrude]

OK thanks guys I'll go buy some coolant and get it done. Is it like the old days where you have to match what's in there or can I replace it with anything I like?
Any recommendations? I'm usually a silkolene guy so I'd normally just get whatever they are flogging haha or maybe yamalube?

[BBROWN1664]

for 100% peace of mind, go to a Yamaha dealer and pay through the nose for the one they want to sell you.
Personally, I would just go to Eurocarparts and get one that says its good for alloy engines.

[Dudeofrude]

for 100% peace of mind, go to a Yamaha dealer and pay through the nose for the one they want to sell you.
Personally, I would just go to Eurocarparts and get one that says its good for alloy engines.

Haha OK cheers 😄

[fazersharp]

Read here - it should be everything you need to know. http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671.50.html
Pink OAT for me

[darrsi]

Hold on a second, I use Motocool coolant in my bike......it's very yellow!

[Dudeofrude]

I take its the drain plug for the coolant? I just ran the bike and took a look around and theres a little smoke/vapour coming from it?  I'm assuming it's leaking a little?

[Graham53]

I take its the drain plug for the coolant? I just ran the bike and took a look around and theres a little smoke/vapour coming from it?  I'm assuming it's leaking a little?

Take a look in the 1000 forum there's a post on there where someone tried doing a coolant change and ended up with mucho problemo by taking out the wrong fitting

[Dudeofrude]

Sorry there was meant to be a photo with that last message but it seems to have disappeared lol

[celticdog]

I'm sure there's a joke about how you make antifreeze?!? . . .

[Skippernick]

Just read an article in Fast Bikes magazine from James at JHS racing, he said use bike specific coolant as car stuff can react with the magnesium used in bike engines.

[fazersharp]

Do you think our 14 -19 year old built to a price bikes would have any magnesium in them ?

[Woodzey80]

Bang on mr sharp.... the answer is no ! Stick with euro car parts coolant it's allways on offer & suits our bikes perfectly.

[celticdog]

Do you think our 14 -19 year old built to a price bikes would have any magnesium in them ?

Bang on mr sharp.... the answer is no ! Stick with euro car parts coolant it's allways on offer & suits our bikes perfectly.

[Skippernick]

Hay what do I know just passing on some information from an expert. Suit your selves.

[mtread]

Previous owner got caught short while out on a cold ride. That's why it's yellow :-)

[Dudeofrude]

Previous owner got caught short while out on a cold ride. That's why it's yellow :-)

😂😂

[fazersharp]

Hay what do I know just passing on some information from an expert. Suit your selves.

Sorry my post was not meant to sound snotty - it was a genuine question, hence the -- ?

[Skippernick]

Hay what do I know just passing on some information from an expert. Suit your selves.

Sorry my post was not meant to sound snotty - it was a genuine question, hence the -- ?

Thanks for the apology, reread the article and he wrote "magnesium etc" maybe he is referring to newer bikes but still thought i would chuck it out there. Mines due a change soon and i won't be putting the stuff i "borrowed" from my old place of work which went into canal boats.

[tommyardin]

Hay what do I know just passing on some information from an expert. Suit your selves.

Sorry my post was not meant to sound snotty - it was a genuine question, hence the -- ?

Thanks for the apology, reread the article and he wrote "magnesium etc" maybe he is referring to newer bikes but still thought i would chuck it out there. Mines due a change soon and i won't be putting the stuff i "borrowed" from my old place of work which went into canal boats.

If it's anything but a Silver Fazer you can use the Canal Boat stuff in them, I did hear once it can speed them up a bit, but not much.