Eldberg
Junior Member
Have looked up the procedure for changing coolant in the shop manual. Is there anything special I should think of? Looks difficult to get the reservoir out so it can be emptied...
Åke
Åke
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Changing coolant
- Thread starter Eldberg
- Start date
I loosened both bolts just use a ratchet an an extension fairly easy
Yasko
Senior Member
Re: Chanting coolant
Very easy job.:thumbup:
Very easy job.:thumbup:
FB400
Super Member
Re: Chanting coolant
you can use a turkey baster to get the old coolant out of the reservoir. Seems too much of a pain to remove it and re-install
you can use a turkey baster to get the old coolant out of the reservoir. Seems too much of a pain to remove it and re-install
Yasko
Senior Member
Re: Chanting coolant
Be sure to flush a few times with distill water.:cheer:
Be sure to flush a few times with distill water.:cheer:
FIZZER6
The Angry Blue Mantis
Re: Chanting coolant
Get yourself a new copper washer for the coolant drain bolt! Mine dripped until I changed the washer after my coolant change.
Get yourself a new copper washer for the coolant drain bolt! Mine dripped until I changed the washer after my coolant change.
regder
Junior Member
Re: Chanting coolant
This man speaks the truth. Changed the coolant over the weekend and there's a slow drip. Sucks to waste a jug of coolant for a ten cent part.
This man speaks the truth. Changed the coolant over the weekend and there's a slow drip. Sucks to waste a jug of coolant for a ten cent part.
Ssky0078
Junior Member
Re: Chanting coolant
I will second that copper washer motion.
Also be careful putting the old drain bolt back on. I managed to snap the head off. I didn't even really torque it down but evidently 2 fingers for me was too much torque. The bike did come from MN and there was some other slight signs of corrosion on it so that may have been the cause.
With my bike I let it sit long enough and the reservoir drained itself. Food for thought. (I know gunk can build up in there but it looked clean)
I will second that copper washer motion.
Also be careful putting the old drain bolt back on. I managed to snap the head off. I didn't even really torque it down but evidently 2 fingers for me was too much torque. The bike did come from MN and there was some other slight signs of corrosion on it so that may have been the cause.
With my bike I let it sit long enough and the reservoir drained itself. Food for thought. (I know gunk can build up in there but it looked clean)
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Re: Chanting coolant
If you keep the radiator cap on, and borrow another's finger (the proverbial finger into the leaking dam), you should be able to swap out the washer without loosing maybe 1/2 cup of coolant..
With the radiator cap off, that thing will piss like a race horse...:thumbup:
A slight dab of sealer on the washer/threads wouldn't hurt either.
If you keep the radiator cap on, and borrow another's finger (the proverbial finger into the leaking dam), you should be able to swap out the washer without loosing maybe 1/2 cup of coolant..
With the radiator cap off, that thing will piss like a race horse...:thumbup:
A slight dab of sealer on the washer/threads wouldn't hurt either.
Yasko
Senior Member
Re: Chanting coolant
I did not know this.
I did mine this past weekend, and no drips so far.:cheer:
I did not know this.
I did mine this past weekend, and no drips so far.:cheer:
FIZZER6
The Angry Blue Mantis
Re: Chanting coolant
You can get lucky sometimes. But just don't try to tighten it further or like another poster mentioned, that bolt could strip or snap off, it's not made to be torqued more than a couple foot lbs.
I did not know this.
You can get lucky sometimes. But just don't try to tighten it further or like another poster mentioned, that bolt could strip or snap off, it's not made to be torqued more than a couple foot lbs.
lawlberg
Booth Babe
Re: Chanting coolant
Yeah - I checked mine this past weekend and it's mud colored. Probably something I should have checked/changed when I bought the bike last year. It's definitely heating up a lot sooner than it should be (I like that in the winter)
I'll be draining, flushing x4+ times, giving her a good dose of fluids and scrubbing her down.
Yeah - I checked mine this past weekend and it's mud colored. Probably something I should have checked/changed when I bought the bike last year. It's definitely heating up a lot sooner than it should be (I like that in the winter
)I'll be draining, flushing x4+ times, giving her a good dose of fluids and scrubbing her down.
regder
Junior Member
Re: Chanting coolant
Good thinking
I've changed my coolant twice before this without changing the gasket. Third time's a charm I guess
Good thinking
I did not know this.
I've changed my coolant twice before this without changing the gasket. Third time's a charm I guess
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Just an FYI. Being its a thin copper washer, you can, with a very fine, flat file, give it a quick cleaning up and make it smooth again. I still have the original coolant drain washer and have changed my coolant at least 3 times since I've owned it, same washer.
I do this as well for the oil drain washer (I pitched the stock washer) and replaced it with a COPPER, automotive washer that's re-usable..
I do this as well for the oil drain washer (I pitched the stock washer) and replaced it with a COPPER, automotive washer that's re-usable..
FIZZER6
The Angry Blue Mantis
You can find copper washer packs for cheap on Ebay. Pretty sure it's 6mm ID that we need for that coolant drain bolt.
M6 6mm Crush Copper Washers Quantity 10 Pieces | eBay
Wouldn't hurt to measure it before you order though.
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I just went to the local automotive shop and made sure I got the right size. It'll last you a long time (especially if you don't OVERTIGHTEN IT). :thumbup:
Along the same lines as this thread, but I just got my bike back from the repairer (after an unfortunate lowside) and whilst it was there, I got them to do a 40000km service.
I noticed when looking at the consumables receipt, they used Motul Inugel Extra coolant. A quick google shows that is a car coolant.
Now, please forgive my memory, but I remember something about the particle size in some coolants (or something) is abrasive to the water pump, but after a quick search, I can't find it.
Can someone please remind me of of specific nature of this coolant, so I can check whether they've used the wrong type? (I remember because the Tectaloy Extra Cool I use in my car is incompatible)
Cheers,
Rick
P.S. The repairer is a Kawasaki dealer, so if this Motul Inugel is incompatible, please supply a source/service manual reference, so I can go back in and tell them....
I noticed when looking at the consumables receipt, they used Motul Inugel Extra coolant. A quick google shows that is a car coolant.
Now, please forgive my memory, but I remember something about the particle size in some coolants (or something) is abrasive to the water pump, but after a quick search, I can't find it.
Can someone please remind me of of specific nature of this coolant, so I can check whether they've used the wrong type? (I remember because the Tectaloy Extra Cool I use in my car is incompatible)
Cheers,
Rick
P.S. The repairer is a Kawasaki dealer, so if this Motul Inugel is incompatible, please supply a source/service manual reference, so I can go back in and tell them....
FIZZER6
The Angry Blue Mantis
When I changed my coolant I did a lot of research on it and ended up using a car coolant. It just has to be compatible with aluminum engines.
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Per my 07 owners manual, page 6-16:
Recommended anti freeze is quote:
"High quality ethylene glycol anti-freeze containing corrosion inhibitors for aluminum engines"
Note, I use Prestone 50/50 premixed, which indeed contains the above and has aluminum protection. It does say on the bottle for cars and light trucks. Never had an issue and have been running it in all my water cooled bikes.
Per this site, its not recommended: http://www.motul.com/us/en-us/products?utf8=✓&f[application]=147&f[range]=21&hom=Motul+Inugel+
**You have to search for the recommended product for the FZ, your product isn't on it, two (below)other Motul anti-freezes are...
Best MOTOCOOL Factory Line 2.2
Better MOTOCOOL EXPERT
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Thank you gentlemen. Looking more into it (I'm at work, at the moment), reminds me it is the silicates in some coolants (the particle size I referred to) that is the problem.
Now to ascertain whether the Inugel is a silicate based coolant!
Cheers,
Rick
Edit: A,quick check of the white paper says "Both silicates and organic acids provide anti-corrosion properties"
(http://www.motul.com/system/product...26/original/Inugel Expert (GB).pdf?1324461364)
So, like I thought, they're idiots.....
Now to ascertain whether the Inugel is a silicate based coolant!
Cheers,
Rick
Edit: A,quick check of the white paper says "Both silicates and organic acids provide anti-corrosion properties"
(http://www.motul.com/system/product...26/original/Inugel Expert (GB).pdf?1324461364)
So, like I thought, they're idiots.....
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