Overheated ZX - any ideas?

[darrsi]

[quote author=darrsi link=topic=11515.msg124121#msg124121 date=1391093557]
Did you put the coolant in yourself, or was it there from the previous owner?
If there was more water than coolant then the fluid would boil like kettle water, as coolant/antifreeze raises the boiling point, as well as lowering the freezing point.

Previous owner.

All I did was clean some of the gunk out of the header and top it up with distilled water.
[/quote]


So there is always the chance that the previous owner has been topping up with just water as well.
I think you really need to get rid of the old fluid, and probably best to do a Radflush as well, then refill with the proper mix just so you know for sure what's in there.


And as Gnasher says, what gunk are you on about?

[ChristoT]

[quote author=ChristoT link=topic=11515.msg124122#msg124122 date=1391093919]
[quote author=darrsi link=topic=11515.msg124121#msg124121 date=1391093557]
Did you put the coolant in yourself, or was it there from the previous owner?
If there was more water than coolant then the fluid would boil like kettle water, as coolant/antifreeze raises the boiling point, as well as lowering the freezing point.

Previous owner.

All I did was clean some of the gunk out of the header and top it up with distilled water.
[/quote]



So there is always the chance that the previous owner has been topping up with just water as well.
I think you really need to get rid of the old fluid, and probably best to do a Radflush as well, then refill with the proper mix just so you know for sure what's in there.


And as Gnasher says, what gunk are you on about?
[/quote]


First I need to strip the engine to check for damage. So it will be getting  full clean anyway.

I have no idea as to what the gunk actually was (it smelt pretty foul!) I suspect it was old coolant which had mostly evaporated, leaving the stuff in the coolant as a concentrate in the system. It didn't flow that well, and obstinately sank.

[Gnasher]

It sounds to me you've been unfortunately sold a dog not that you want to hear that or that it's needs pointing out to you but I think that's the whole point.  It's very, very likely based on what you've said most of the rad matrix is blocked by the said gunk, it's also possible the said gunk is a form of rad weld put in to seal whatever the real reason is/was for the owner selling the bike!    I've seen things of a very similar nature before, it's also possible the head or liner/s are holed somewhere rad weld can when mixed with escaping combustion gases turn to goo as you put it!  It's very likely I'm wrong as trying to diagnose complicated issues via owners descriptions is very difficult if not impossible without seeing things for your sake I hope I'm wrong!  I'd seriously look at Deefer666 idea though  :thumbup

[ChristoT]

A ZXR400 engine should fit, I might do that if the ZX engine is completely dead.

[darrsi]

Coolant on a hot engine is normally a sweet smell.


Radweld could cause gunk, blockages and a different smell, so that's a very good shout.

[Deefer666]

A ZXR400 engine should fit, I might do that if the ZX engine is completely dead.

I have a zzr-6 sat here doing nowt....Hint Hint

[ChristoT]

A ZXR400 engine should fit, I might do that if the ZX engine is completely dead.

I have a zzr-6 sat here doing nowt....Hint Hint

A full bike? Where are you Deefer?

(My parents are going to kill me!!)