How to change coolant and flush radiator

[mel513]

Thanks for the write up. I'm getting ready to change mine tomorrow. Got a track day a little t Monday.

[Kangaroo]

[Krayzie Se7en]

nice Avatar. i feel all when i see it

[potsypistolp]

Originally Posted by brnrber

is there any other way to flush it. can i disconnect the hose and run the bike until most of the coolant comes out. or should the bike not be run without coolant in the lines.

brnrbr asks a good question. I was gonna flush mine this weekend. I am using WW and my plan was to detach the hose and run the bike for a few minutes while adding distilled water (bike will be on track stand). I would keep adding the water until the drain-off looked pretty clean. what do you experts think?

[yankin&bankin]

Originally Posted by metalwizard

ibought water wetter havent installed it yet, following the directions on the side doesn't help, it says either add it to your radiator or mix straight with water or mix with coolant... very vague.

I live were it gets in the 100's all the time and it snows in the winter..

my guess would be 50/50 coolant and water wetter on top of that.. or is the WW enough for freezing protection?

WHAT RATIO.. i imagine I should use the whole bottler of WW. but it doesn't say.

DO NOT use the whole bottle of Water Wetter!

More is not better in this situation--too much Water Wetter will cause foaming, reducing cooling system efficiency.

Use precisely the amount called for on the side of the bottle--approximately 1 fl. oz. (~2-3 capfuls) per quart of whatever coolant you are using, be it regular water, 50/50 antifreeze/water, or Engine Ice.

[yankin&bankin]

Originally Posted by potsypistolp

brnrbr asks a good question. I was gonna flush mine this weekend. I am using WW and my plan was to detach the hose and run the bike for a few minutes while adding distilled water (bike will be on track stand). I would keep adding the water until the drain-off looked pretty clean. what do you experts think?

It won't hurt the engine to run it for one or two minutes without coolant to blow the old stuff out.

Also, if you live in an area that has fairly soft water, you can just use tap water to flush it out.

(I live in Memphis, where we have very soft water. I just filled the radiator with tap water and ran the bike for a few minutes, then drained and filled with distilled water + water wetter.)

[yankin&bankin]

Originally Posted by merlino

Thanks for the write up

I've completey changed the coolant fluid in my 2001 R1 to distilled water + Waterwetter

Can't tell any difference with what the product claims and what some other people have claimed. I was using Maxima Cool-Aide before I had Waterwatter on (http://www.maximausa.com/products/misc/cool-aide.asp)

To those who are using Waterwetter + distilled water, what is temperature that your bike is showing at certain speed/rpm?

You aren't going to notice a difference on the gauge.

Think about it. Coolant flow through the engine is regulated by the thermostat, which automatically maintains the amount of coolant flow to keep the engine at its ideal operating temperature.

So, if your bike's coolant temp is usually about 175*F in steady state running, then you won't see a 10 or 20-degree drop, because the thermostat will simply adjust automatically to keep the engine temp in the range in which it operates most efficiently.

However, you might notice a difference on a really hot day while sitting in traffic. IN this situation, the coolant temp might not rise as fast.

Furthermore, if you run the bike real hard on a twisty road, then stop for a minute or two, your bike's temp might not go up as high. (My bike's coolant temp has been known to very briefly rise to as high as 235*F while stopped at the end of a good road on extremely hot days after running very hard, though it goes right back down after I start moving again.)

[Kangaroo]

to all of the above

[mmmpowr]

Will disconnecting the one hose as shown in the pic drain all the coolant. I used the drain bolt and it doesn't seem like all the coolant has drained out. In the service manual it shows another drain bolt on the hard line that comes out from the waterpump (between the oil filter and the oil cooler). But I don't actually find a drain bolt on that pipe (nor is there one shown in the parts manual either) even though it's shown in the service manual.

[Kangaroo]

Originally Posted by mmmpowr

Will disconnecting the one hose as shown in the pic drain all the coolant. I used the drain bolt and it doesn't seem like all the coolant has drained out. In the service manual it shows another drain bolt on the hard line that comes out from the waterpump (between the oil filter and the oil cooler). But I don't actually find a drain bolt on that pipe (nor is there one shown in the parts manual either) even though it's shown in the service manual.

there is some fluid in the engine. I wouldn't worry about getting everything out. Just flush with distilled water a few times and you're good.

[KneeDragginJay]

use the hose clamp like he said..its much easier and much faster for the drainage...

[Kangaroo]

[cswerner2]

I am in the process of changing the coolant on my 06, and a buddy told me that I should be real careful not to get any air bubbles in the lines. Im not sure how that would happen, I've changed the coolant before with no issues. Is that something to worry about? Or just drain the crap out and fill the radiator up with new??

[01r1scott]

I remember someone mentioning at some point that they flushed their cooling system out with vinegar. Has anyone else heard of this, or am I just hearing things? What would flushing with vinegar accomplish?

[crazylegs]

Originally Posted by cswerner2

I am in the process of changing the coolant on my 06, and a buddy told me that I should be real careful not to get any air bubbles in the lines. Im not sure how that would happen, I've changed the coolant before with no issues. Is that something to worry about? Or just drain the crap out and fill the radiator up with new??

Thanks for the info someone sticky this biotch...

Yeah i was curious about this too...

[Kangaroo]

Originally Posted by cswerner2

I am in the process of changing the coolant on my 06, and a buddy told me that I should be real careful not to get any air bubbles in the lines. Im not sure how that would happen, I've changed the coolant before with no issues. Is that something to worry about? Or just drain the crap out and fill the radiator up with new??

The liquid is in constant motion from the motor to the radiator. Air bubbles are not a concern. Only if you shoot up.

Originally Posted by 01r1scott

I remember someone mentioning at some point that they flushed their cooling system out with vinegar. Has anyone else heard of this, or am I just hearing things? What would flushing with vinegar accomplish?

Vinegar??? Just use distilled water.

[Jfcmr1]

is it safe to mix car coolant with the yamaha coolant? I have 1 quart of yamaha coolant and i'm thinking using the car coolant to fill it up. is that gonna do any harm?

[Kangaroo]

I'm using prestone car coolant in mine but it doesn't get too cold out here so I run mostly distilled water mix of 25/75.

[macca_67]

hi guys, i just went to top up my resevoir and when i tried to undo the bolt that holds the break resevoir bracket on, the bolt just turns, having never tried this before, does the bolt go in to a captive nut or plastic threads?

any one else had this and got any advice?

dont think i can leave it like this now as the bracket is a bit loose and the vibes will prob wear a hole in the resevoir

[Benocehcap]

NIce!