Coolant Question

[VenerableArc]

Morning all just a quick question regarding coolant. Ive drained the coolant from the rads by taking off the hoses. Got nearly a bucket full. I read in a post a while back about a drain plug on the block head? Does anyone have a picture of this as i cant locate it. It is probably staring me in the face.

Also does the comma g48 antifreeze from halfrauds fit the bill? I cant seem to post a link from my phone.

Matt

[AMCQ46]

There is a 10 mm bolt head on the front cyl block under the exhaust header, bang in the middle. That is the drain plug, then flush it out with the garden hose.

Any coolant that is designed for aluminium engines is ok, but make sure it states that. I use halfords concentrated coolant an buy a gallon of distilled water to mix it... Far cheaper

[VenerableArc]

Ok thanks mate will go remove the drain plug and see whats left then down there now and get some. Also think I read to fill from the rad cap to start with, then start up and let it warm up. Then fill from the bottle.

[VTRDark]

Also think I read to fill from the rad cap to start with

The bottle is an expansion bottle and not designed to fill the system up from. Make sure you get rid of any air locks in the system that may prevent circulation. I generally fill the rad, let the bike warm up with no cap and top up as needed. Once warmed up give the bike a few revs so the coolant starts to circulate and squeeze a few of the lower rad hoses to force any trapped air in the system up and out. Then top up rad if necessary and put the cap on, top up the expansion bottle to the fill level which is around the halfway mark and bring the bike back up to temp and make sure the fan kicks in.

(:-})

[VenerableArc]

Right okay thank you Carl. Just wanted to be 100% before i started

[darkember]

The engine & rads should take 2.86 litres & the reservoir a further 0.70 litre. Always the same need to buy 4 litres to complete the job.

[bigtwinthing]

Also think I read to fill from the rad cap to start with

The bottle is an expansion bottle and not designed to fill the system up from. Make sure you get rid of any air locks in the system that may prevent circulation. I generally fill the rad, let the bike warm up with no cap and top up as needed. Once warmed up give the bike a few revs so the coolant starts to circulate and squeeze a few of the lower rad hoses to force any trapped air in the system up and out. Then top up rad if necessary and put the cap on, top up the expansion bottle to the fill level which is around the halfway mark and bring the bike back up to temp and make sure the fan kicks in.

(:-})

thats a perfect write up!!!

[VTRDark]

I have my moments.

(:-})

[darkember]

One question should the bike be on the side stand throughout this process? I'm never keen on leaving it tick-over on the side stand preferring to have it upright until it reaches temperature.

[VTRDark]

The whole sidestand and allowing the bike to idle away thing is for running with standard tensioners. I generally have the bike on the Abba stand when working on it where possible as it generally makes life easier. The manual says fill the system while on the sidestand, I'm not sure what difference it makes apart from the expansion bottle level. Maybe by being on the sidestand and the bike leaning to the left, it keeps the rad cap higher than the rest of the cooling system so may make it easier for airlocks to rise and escape.

(:-})

[VenerableArc]

The engine & rads should take 2.86 litres & the reservoir a further 0.70 litre. Always the same need to buy 4 litres to complete the job.

Hmm mine has take about 2.7l in total for both the engine/rad and reservoir

[VTRDark]

Hmm mine has take about 2.7l in total

That's about right

0.629 Imp gal converted to litres is 2.8595

(:-})

[VenerableArc]

Hmm mine has take about 2.7l in total

That's about right

0.629 Imp gal converted to litres is 2.8595

(:-})

Awesome thanks mate