draining coolant

[smokster]

Are we suppose to drain and refill or flush the system?
How often?
If you live in CA, is distilled water good enough only?

 

[NautiBrit]

I don't know what the book says, but common sense and all of the other water cooled bikes I've owned, recommended every 2 years. Anti-freeze does loose it's ability to cool and lubricate over time. Also, with the cooling problems that many ryders have had, distilled water only would be a no-no. It's boiling point is too low.

 

[Donzo]

You want to go 50/50 coolant/distilled water no matter where you live. The coolant has anti-corrosive properties that you really don't want to go with out...
You can buy the pre-mixed for an easy change- :thumbup:

 

[NancysToy]

You want to go 50/50 coolant/distilled water no matter where you live. The coolant has anti-corrosive properties that you really don't want to go with out...
You can buy the pre-mixed for an easy change- :thumbup:

Agreed! Never, never, never run water only in an alloy engine. Electrolysis will turn the metal to goo.
-Scotty

 

[smokster]

You want to go 50/50 coolant/distilled water no matter where you live. The coolant has anti-corrosive properties that you really don't want to go with out...
You can buy the pre-mixed for an easy change- :thumbup:

I will go with a 50/50 mixture.
So is it just drain and fill? or do you have to flush?
Also, what kind of antifreeze, or are they all the same?

 

[Roaddog2]

Agreed! Never, never, never run water only in an alloy engine. Electrolysis will turn the metal to goo.
-Scotty

Agreed also :spyder2:

 

[NancysToy]

Are we suppose to drain and refill or flush the system?
How often?
If you live in CA, is distilled water good enough only?

Maintenance schedule in the owner's manual calls for replacement of the coolant every 12,000 miles, or two years, whichever is sooner. They also call for replacement of the clutch fluid and the exhaust "Y" gaskets at that time.
-Scotty

 

[smokster]

Maintenance schedule in the owner's manual calls for replacement of the coolant every 12,000 miles, or two years, whichever is sooner. They also call for replacement of the clutch fluid and the exhaust "Y" gaskets at that time.
-Scotty

I know all this, just want to know if it is as easy as just taking the nut off and draining? Or, does the system littrally need to be flushed?
I did the clutch and Ygasket..fyi, one Y gasket was torched, no more backfires

 

[ataDude]

... Ygasket..fyi, one Y gasket was torched, no more backfires

Right side? Seems most are right side.

.

 

[NancysToy]

I know all this, just want to know if it is as easy as just taking the nut off and draining? Or, does the system littrally need to be flushed?
I did the clutch and Ygasket..fyi, one Y gasket was torched, no more backfires

The Service Manual does not specify flushing, just draining and replacement. Remove the plug and cap, drain, replace plug with new O-ring, fill, run to operating temp, top off, and close cap.
-Scotty

 

[smokster]

The Service Manual does not specify flushing, just draining and replacement. Remove the plug and cap, drain, replace plug with new O-ring, fill, run to operating temp, top off, and close cap.
-Scotty

Thank you. Any special antifreeze required?

 

[smokster]

Right side? Seems most are right side.

.

Not sure, mechanic did the work. One looked fine, the other was really torched.

 

[NancysToy]

Thank you. Any special antifreeze required?

Shop manual says, "Always use (BRP premixed coolant or 50% antifreeze - 50% distilled water) ethylene glycol antifreeze containing corrosion inhibitors specifically recommended for aluminum engines." My dealer says use any good quality standard (green) antifreeze.
-Scotty

 

[smokster]

Shop manual says, "Always use (BRP premixed coolant or 50% antifreeze - 50% distilled water) ethylene glycol antifreeze containing corrosion inhibitors specifically recommended for aluminum engines." My dealer says use any good quality standard (green) antifreeze.
-Scotty

Thanks Scotty...as always

 

[Sara]

Kragen's Auto

Kragen's Auto in So Orange County has a Prestone 50/50 mix , and I'm sure that will do----it's what I'm using. Prestone mentions how the Coolant additive serves many cooling aspects----I was told that the 50/50 mix is better for the new, light weight aluminum engines.

 

[smokster]

Kragen's Auto in So Orange County has a Prestone 50/50 mix , and I'm sure that will do----it's what I'm using. Prestone mentions how the Coolant additive serves many cooling aspects----I was told that the 50/50 mix is better for the new, light weight aluminum engines.

When reading the label of the 50/50, it only said water, not distilled...so I went with the 100% and mixed myself.

 

[smokster]

I don't know what the book says, but common sense and all of the other water cooled bikes I've owned, recommended every 2 years. Anti-freeze does loose it's ability to cool and lubricate over time. Also, with the cooling problems that many ryders have had, distilled water only would be a no-no. It's boiling point is too low.

Does distilled water actually boil?

 

[GaryTheBadger]

Yes, distilled water boils.

 

[scott]

distilled water is just water that has been boiled to a vapor and condenced back to a liquid (in a different clean container) --leaving behind all the evil stuff you do not want...the evil stuff does not go into the vapor phase and you end up with highly clean water that will not introduce/build up inorganic material (mainly salts) into your engine
Its boiling point is effectively exactly the same as water in general.