Just water or coolant?

Message

sfoley1 · #1 Post by **sfoley1** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:23 pm

Hi All

Just thought I'd check the reservoir and it's empty.

Is it just for water or should it be coolant?

Yes I am a twat by the way!

Syltiz · #2 Post by **Syltiz** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:29 pm

Safer to go with coolant - it drops the freezing point of the coolant which is what you want especially if you are riding in the cold. You can get a ready-mixed bottle from any garage or buy the concentrate and mix it yourself... but mix it with distilled water only.

sfoley1 · #3 Post by **sfoley1** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:33 pm

Thank you.

Does it require immediate attention?

Should it be bike specific or is it like the stuff you buy at the garage and stick in the car?

sfoley1 · #4 Post by **sfoley1** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:50 pm

By the way

I've just stuck a bit of string in their and it's got blue coolant in there (guessing that's anti freeze) and it goes about 4 inches up the string so not completely empty.

Still needs some more?

mrapriliafalco · #5 Post by **mrapriliafalco** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:24 pm

There is a clear tube next to bottle that has a min and max line on it

fastasfcuk · #6 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:08 pm

make sure you get the right stuff, some types of antifreeze will eat into an alloy head.

Syltiz · #7 Post by **Syltiz** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:49 pm

As mentioned - use the sight tube to check the level, it might actually be ok. The manual specifies the type of coolant to get. As far as immediate attention goes - if you are not overheating or riding in very cold conditions its ok for a short while. If you are only slightly low you could just top up with distilled water only and then next service do a flush and refill.

sfoley1 · #8 Post by **sfoley1** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:49 pm

That indicator is well hidden!

I checked that and it is above minimum so did nothing.

This morning the themometer thing lit up on the display.

I'm assuming that this means it needs topping up?

Firestarter · #9 Post by **Firestarter** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:11 pm

Not sure what you mean, there's the temp guage on the RHS display, what's this showing? I don't think the display has any link to the coolant level, only the temp going through the engine. There's always a little temperature "bar" next to the digital readout on mine.

If you've got coolant, but the temp gauge is flashing (manual says in excess of 115C), I'd suggest you've either got a faulty thermocouple or something is preventing the coolant from flowing properly

Firestarter · #10 Post by **Firestarter** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:13 pm

PS If you're getting temps like that (115C), I would suggest not riding it until you've found the cause! :smt073