Replacing/Flushing Coolant.

[Arfa]

Whilst giving bike a service and good once over at weekend I noticed the coolant levels are a bit low, only just covering bottom of overflow tank. The Haynes book reckons that it should be replaced every two years and I have no record or it having ever being replaced (and previous owner was a bit anal in retaining receipts for everything). So figured I just flush it and refresh the lot - it looks a fairly straight forward job according to the Haynes book.


So couple of questions:


Currently there seems to be the orange coolant in there. I have a bottle of pink OAT coolant, am I right in saying that since they're both OAT, it should alright to mix them, to top it up and tie me over for few days?


The book says I should replace the drain plug seals/washers. Where can I get some of these? Or what size of generic copper washers should I get? After a search on here it seems most just reuse the old one, but surely they're only pennies and it would be better to replace.


As for de-ionised water to mix with coolant concentrate, is water from the household dehumidifier OK?


Where's good for cheap Radflush and Coolant? Halfords, supermarche, t'interweb?

[Arfa]

So, tackled this job yesterday, so quick update: Went with existing plug washer, seemed in reasonable nick. Though totally forgot to measure it whilst it was off, Doh!

Old coolant that came out was a dirty brown sludge, really rank. I presume this isn't normal or particularly good... Ran the two part Rad Flush stuff through, along with numerous flushes through with tap water, eventually came through clear, but a lot of bits and crap came out along the way.

Just used deionised water in end, weathers been too dry to get anything from dehumidifier. Mixed it with some Halfords OAT concentrate, went for 50/50 mix. Didn't quite fit in 1.95Ltr as book said, was up to upper mark after about 1.6-7ltrs odd. Did the usual tricks to free any bubbles, squeezing pipes, shaking bikes, blipping throttle etc. Will just keep an eye on rad filler and see if it needs topping up in next day or two after I've been out a bit.

With such manky coolant coming out, if there anything else I should watch out for?

[Dave48]

Ive experienced this dirty brown coolant in one or two bikes. Your flushing of the system will have dislodged bits of scale,rust etc. The modern OAT type coolant seems to be a vast improvement on some of the old ethylene glycol brands. You bike will thank you for it! Just watch your hoses & hoseclips if they are original as even the youngest  FZS 600s are 11 years old .

[Arfa]

Mine is one of the youngest, a late 2003 one, but yeah I know what you mean. Most of the hoses seem ok, not brittle or cracking, but are discolouring in places. I guess replacements could be on shopping list next service.

[Dave48]

Mines same age as yours &, like you, keep an eye on them. Eventually will replace with silicon hoses

[Mick-H]

Now the time to buy Dave, massive saving
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-FZS-600...20e6a2537c

[Dave48]

Sounds good,Mick but they are for the FZ6 2003(4) model. The group buy hoses for the FZS 600 were considerably more than these-think there are more hoses on the "Thundercat" motor. Thanks all the same!