Coolant & water advice

[wickedmonkey]

Morning Peeps,


This morning I started my bike and saw coolant p*ssing everywhere. Switched off and found my nearside coolant hose detached from a spout just to the right of the nearside spark plugs. I re-attached and then found that my idle screw needed about 12 turns clockwise before it would idle at a good RPM. I *then* found that the clutch lever wouldn't fully press in. I gave it a firm press and it gave and seems to operate normally now. Either someone had accidentally disturbed these cables somehow or...well, I don't think I've made any enemies recently...

Long story short, I drove to work this morning (about 17 miles) and all seems ok but I need to top up the coolant as it looks like it's around the 'low' marker.


So, I have a couple of questions: Any advice on coolant brand/type? What proportion of coolant to water should I mix? Also, does the water need to be distilled?


Thanks guys,


David.

[darrsi]

Buy ready mixed bike coolant, personally i'm a fan of this stuff:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motul-Motocool...540322408e

[darrsi]

Does all sound a bit odd though, 12 turns for idle seems very extreme, it maybe someone just being a random arsehole, a bit like the thoughtful person who slashed 3 of my mums car tyres yesterday! 

[wickedmonkey]

Buy ready mixed bike coolant, personally i'm a fan of this stuff:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motul-Motocool...540322408e

Cool. I'll see if Halfords have something similar on my way home tonight.

[wickedmonkey]

Does all sound a bit odd though, 12 turns for idle seems very extreme, it maybe someone just being a random arsehole, a bit like the thoughtful person who slashed 3 of my mums car tyres yesterday!

I know. I've not got anywhere but the road to park it unfortunately. Will be giving it a more thorough check over in the mornings from now on.


12 turns is a bit of an exaggeration -- probably about 5 full turns to get it idling properly.


I feel for your mum. I had a car years ago and someone kept on kicking the wing mirrors off. Never found out why or who.

[darrsi]

Yeah, bit of a shit thing to do, bearing in mind she's 74 years old and not upset anyone.
She'd only just changed 2 of them as well.
Fortunately it's just an old runabout so the tyres are quite cheap, but that's not the point, she was in tears yesterday wondering why it happened?

[Slaninar]

Wash the cooling system with a litre of distilled water.


Then get any car coolant. The best one is G12++, or BASF G40, or VW TL 774-G standard.  Purple coloured usually.  That one should last more than 5 years, no problems, keeping everything rust free.


A bit cheaper, G12+ is also good enough.


Motul coolant is way overpriced and not as good as G12++ ones.




This:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuchs-Maintain...2a2c6e473f


(it is concentrate - so one litre of that and one litre of distilled water and you're good to go - just as much as FZS needs - just under 2 litres).

[wickedmonkey]

Wash the cooling system with a litre of distilled water.


Then get any car coolant. The best one is G12++, or BASF G40, or VW TL 774-G standard.  Purple coloured usually.  That one should last more than 5 years, no problems, keeping everything rust free.


A bit cheaper, G12+ is also good enough.


Motul coolant is way overpriced and not as good as G12++ ones.




This:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuchs-Maintain...2a2c6e473f


(it is concentrate - so one litre of that and one litre of distilled water and you're good to go - just as much as FZS needs - just under 2 litres).

Thanks for this. I topped up with about 1/2 litre of Halfords ready-mixed coolant -- I wasn't sure how much had escaped and wanted a quick fix. I'm thinking I'll drain the coolant system one dry weekend soon (I hope).


Forgive an amateur question: when draining the coolant system, is it really as easy as removing the drain plug and pouring distilled water into the spout secured by the pressure cap under the tank? Is it safe to allow coolant to drain into the gutter drain or do I have to collect it and take it somewhere to dispose of it?

[Slaninar]

Thanks for this. I topped up with about 1/2 litre of Halfords ready-mixed coolant -- I wasn't sure how much had escaped and wanted a quick fix. I'm thinking I'll drain the coolant system one dry weekend soon (I hope).

Afore mentioned G12++ can be mixed with about anything, but even that is not adviseable. Other coolants shouldn't be mixed. Drain, rinse, pour a new one and top up with the same type (or G12++ if in doubt).

Forgive an amateur question: when draining the coolant system, is it really as easy as removing the drain plug and pouring distilled water into the spout secured by the pressure cap under the tank? Is it safe to allow coolant to drain into the gutter drain or do I have to collect it and take it somewhere to dispose of it?

Yes, easy like you said. If you wanted to be real anal about it, you could fill it with distilled water and let it warm up, then drain (watch not to get burnt).

The coolant expansion should also be drained, rinsed and topped up.





About disposing: I live in Serbia, old oil and such stuff can be poured wherever you like - not sure about your legislation. Eco friendly it is not, however, but there is no place to dispose of such matteries here. Not that I know anyone bothers with that.

[darrsi]

[quote author=Slaninar link=topic=11432.msg123867#msg123867 date=1390982290]
Wash the cooling system with a litre of distilled water.


Then get any car coolant. The best one is G12++, or BASF G40, or VW TL 774-G standard.  Purple coloured usually.  That one should last more than 5 years, no problems, keeping everything rust free.


A bit cheaper, G12+ is also good enough.


Motul coolant is way overpriced and not as good as G12++ ones.




This:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuchs-Maintain...2a2c6e473f


(it is concentrate - so one litre of that and one litre of distilled water and you're good to go - just as much as FZS needs - just under 2 litres).

Thanks for this. I topped up with about 1/2 litre of Halfords ready-mixed coolant -- I wasn't sure how much had escaped and wanted a quick fix. I'm thinking I'll drain the coolant system one dry weekend soon (I hope).


Forgive an amateur question: when draining the coolant system, is it really as easy as removing the drain plug and pouring distilled water into the spout secured by the pressure cap under the tank? Is it safe to allow coolant to drain into the gutter drain or do I have to collect it and take it somewhere to dispose of it?
[/quote]


Nothing a quick hose on the floor can't sort out.

[fazersharp]

All you will ever need to know (and lots that you dont ) about changing the coolant you will find here http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671...#msg112914

[wickedmonkey]

All you will ever need to know (and lots that you dont ) about changing the coolant you will find here http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671...#msg112914

Perfect, thanks.