[Discussion] Technical - Coolant & Radiators

[Iceachilles]

just to clarify, first drain from the water pump, then another draining after that at the reserve coolant tank right?

 

Find Ah Pek to help you or go bikeshop and pay school fee to learn lor. After that you will know how to do the next time. Mostly motortiam like to use tap water. Or you search read through the thread. Ah Pek got teach a cheap method in flushing the radiator.

[Ah Pek]

just to clarify, first drain from the water pump, then another draining after that at the reserve coolant tank right?

 

Thre are actually two size 10 bolt to be release..one at the pump and the other at the engine block but I advise do not do the engine block is too risky as it can break due to being britter after all this while because its enhine HOT! That's why mech never do it or they don't even know. Whatever...these two is prettty useless though it's officially the "drain bolt" as its very small and residues and rust flake would not come out assuming that your rubber hoses are clogged with rust.

 

Best method..release thru water hoses.

[Ah Pek]

Find Ah Pek to help you or go bikeshop and pay school fee to learn lor. After that you will know how to do the next time. Mostly motortiam like to use tap water. Or you search read through the thread. Ah Pek got teach a cheap method in flushing the radiator.

 

Thanks my friend for the confidence and kind words.

[Ah Pek]

hi ahpek, was wondering is it easy to flush coolant ourselves?

 

i would like to try. as my coolant reserve tanks is brown dirty and after 1.5years of riding my spec1 i have not flushed the system yet and

 

within 6mths from toppin up my coolant, it dried up till my reserve tank is empty.

 

Just top up with premixed coolant into the reserve tank can liao...no need thru radiator unless you have time to take off the tank to access the radiator cap entry. Premixed coolant are available in all petrol kiosk..about $7.50 or so per bottle...any brand, any type will do.

[m3ng]

Sorry to ask a noob question.. where to find the coolant area for top up? I wana check whether mine is plain water or coolant water

 

Mine is Spec 1.. thanks in advance

[pyro13]

How ofteb do we have to flush coolant

[Ah Pek]

Sorry to ask a noob question.. where to find the coolant area for top up? I wana check whether mine is plain water or coolant water

 

Mine is Spec 1.. thanks in advance

 

Right hand side cover inside. Need to remove the ur seat and remove the two allen (size 5) keys bolt.

[Ah Pek]

How ofteb do we have to flush coolant

 

Not necessary unless its contaminated or has rusty residues. Just top up with fresh one when the level is low will do.

[teemortee]

Just top up with premixed coolant into the reserve tank can liao...no need thru radiator unless you have time to take off the tank to access the radiator cap entry. Premixed coolant are available in all petrol kiosk..about $7.50 or so per bottle...any brand, any type will do.

 

ok thanks ah pek. my bike recently after topping up the coolant still very hot. and despite being very hot the temp light does not come on and the fan does not turn on.

 

my thermostat was changed 7mths ago.

 

hai sian. my cooling system, tubes and water pump and connectors all changed 7mths ago too.

[Infernalwar]

ok thanks ah pek. my bike recently after topping up the coolant still very hot. and despite being very hot the temp light does not come on and the fan does not turn on.

 

my thermostat was changed 7mths ago.

 

hai sian. my cooling system, tubes and water pump and connectors all changed 7mths ago too.

 

Yours what model and how much total you spent?

[teemortee]

im riding spec1. quite a few hundreds. cant rmb how much to be exact. only rmb spending quite alot. haha

[teemortee]

oh yea i did mine at K&T then. they quote me prices as they remove the parts thats spoilt/going to spoil. then by the time everything add up then very ex alr.

[teemortee]

ok thanks ah pek. my bike recently after topping up the coolant still very hot. and despite being very hot the temp light does not come on and the fan does not turn on.

 

my thermostat was changed 7mths ago.

 

hai sian. my cooling system, tubes and water pump and connectors all changed 7mths ago too.

 

hmmm ive grounded the thermostat with the engine mounting, the fan works.

 

i removed my tank and realised that the coolant inside my system is brown, same with the reserve tank.

 

could it be that my coolant inside is dirty/clogged up thus the coolant cant flow resulting that the thermostat cant sense/detect the heat?

 

think gotta flush soon.

 

anyone know how much to flush radiator+the whole system? using normal coolant will do.

[Ah Pek]

hmmm ive grounded the thermostat with the engine mounting, the fan works.

 

i removed my tank and realised that the coolant inside my system is brown, same with the reserve tank.

 

could it be that my coolant inside is dirty/clogged up thus the coolant cant flow resulting that the thermostat cant sense/detect the heat?

 

think gotta flush soon.

 

anyone know how much to flush radiator+the whole system? using normal coolant will do.

 

Ground the thermostat?...I think you got it wrong..that's the radiator fan sensor switch. The thermostat is inside a housing in the coolant system near the radiator that need to remove two or three bolts before u can access it..moreover, no one ever have to ground a thermostat.

 

In your case..it could be the thermostat gone bad (rusted and jammed) or your radiator is clogged with rust..may need a system flush with chemical. You need my service can always pm me.

[teemortee]

Ground the thermostat?...I think you got it wrong..that's the radiator fan sensor switch. The thermostat is inside a housing in the coolant system near the radiator that need to remove two or three bolts before u can access it..moreover, no one ever have to ground a thermostat.

 

In your case..it could be the thermostat gone bad (rusted and jammed) or your radiator is clogged with rust..may need a system flush with chemical. You need my service can always pm me.

 

okok better have it checked.

 

ive pm-ed you

[Infernalwar]

Just found out:

Using "hard" water out of the tap can cause scaling in the engine. Tap water is purified for drinking by chlorination, which kills germs but can cause corrosion in the engine. Even if you carefully measure the amounts of tap water and antifreeze to get the right blend, using tap water is not a good idea. Tap water also contains dissolved oxygen, calcium, magnesium, and other contaminates besides chlorine and chlorides that can significantly degrade corrosion inhibitor performance.

[xstorm]

Is it okay to use different brands of coolant for topping up, since i do not know what is the type of coolant being put in the radiator by the previous owner ?

[Infernalwar]

Is it okay to use different brands of coolant for topping up, since i do not know what is the type of coolant being put in the radiator by the previous owner ?

 

Yup it's ok. The best get Coolant from Ah Pek... Won't regret it...

[xstorm]

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/9113/waterpumpq.jpg

 

Is the coolant drain screw the centre screw on the water pump ?

[mart87]

ehh.. sometimes how hot is hot ah... I oso feel my spec3 hot... but my fan got on... coolant oso haf... but i duno previous owner use wad.. only know its red in colour and my temp light never switch on before

[Ah Pek]

Yup it's ok. The best get Coolant from Ah Pek... Won't regret it...

 

Heh....x2!...thanks for the recommendation my friend!

[Ah Pek]

ehh.. sometimes how hot is hot ah... I oso feel my spec3 hot... but my fan got on... coolant oso haf... but i duno previous owner use wad.. only know its red in colour and my temp light never switch on before

 

Red is normally that of coolaide from Maxima..unless other type is used like Honda or Toyota. Not sure how hot as your meaning to "Hot" is but may be you wanna try another coolant type that is premixed to suit..can try mine if you want..pm me. At any rate..do have your system check just in case rust areally started forming..that's where sign of heat is coming on before its too late.

[Ah Pek]

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/9113/waterpumpq.jpg

 

Is the coolant drain screw the centre screw on the water pump ?

 

It is and there is another at the cyclinder block water jacket area. Not much use using this method to drain as large rust flake will never comes out unless your system is super clean. Moreover, the copper washer for this drain bolt may be too flat, after two or three draining session, it will leak. As for the one at the cylinder block..no mech would do it because chances of it breaking into half at its stalk is about 85% due to prolong heat.

 

There are other method which is better to this..best to see it done once before personal attempt.

[xstorm]

It is and there is another at the cyclinder block water jacket area. Not much use using this method to drain as large rust flake will never comes out unless your system is super clean. Moreover, the copper washer for this drain bolt may be too flat, after two or three draining session, it will leak. As for the one at the cylinder block..no mech would do it because chances of it breaking into half at its stalk is about 85% due to prolong heat.

 

There are other method which is better to this..best to see it done once before personal attempt.

 

Can explain the other method ?

[mart87]

Red is normally that of coolaide from Maxima..unless other type is used like Honda or Toyota. Not sure how hot as your meaning to "Hot" is but may be you wanna try another coolant type that is premixed to suit..can try mine if you want..pm me. At any rate..do have your system check just in case rust areally started forming..that's where sign of heat is coming on before its too late.

 

hahaa.. ok.. maybe we should organise some maintenance gathering and let you advise