Coolant flush
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 12:58 am
Ok, so it's been 2 years since I did my last coolant flush, and I used to just search TWF and voila! So, since we're starting over, and figured I'd put up what I've got for the rest of you.
2011 GSX-R 750, using Engine Ice. I used this, since it was a 2014 GSX-R 600: https://rideapart.com/articles/how-to-coolant-flush /
BUT, my bike has NO drain bolt. I looked and looked and looked... No. Other than that, and I'm guessing Brits calling the stator cover an "impeller" cover (what the heck?), it went fine.
First, I removed all the front fairing, which always stinks even though I have race fairings on. I loosened the bolt for the hose clamp on the left side of the bike (under the stator cover) as directed, and pulled it off gently, but it still spewed all over the place.
Then, unlike directions in this article, which say to pull off the hose under the overflow (right side plastic overflow jug), I just unscrewed the overflow and dumped it upside down. Much easier. Flushed out with distilled water.
Then I filled the radiator with distilled water and dumped it. This is still a new bike with really fresh Engine Ice coolant, so I didn't feel it necessary to do a second flush. Once the water drained, I tightened up the stator-side (left) hose clamp with a screwdriver, replaced the radiator cap, and filled it will fresh Engine Ice. Squeezed the hoses all around to get out any air bubbles. Then I ran it to temp to ensure I had no leaks. All was well.
Hosed down the driveway after spraying it with 409, just in case the dogs thought it would be interesting to lick or sniff (Engine Ice is not toxic like other glycol-based coolants, but why not be safe).
It's that easy. Ready for winter storage!
2011 GSX-R 750, using Engine Ice. I used this, since it was a 2014 GSX-R 600: https://rideapart.com/articles/how-to-coolant-flush /
BUT, my bike has NO drain bolt. I looked and looked and looked... No. Other than that, and I'm guessing Brits calling the stator cover an "impeller" cover (what the heck?), it went fine.
First, I removed all the front fairing, which always stinks even though I have race fairings on. I loosened the bolt for the hose clamp on the left side of the bike (under the stator cover) as directed, and pulled it off gently, but it still spewed all over the place.
Then, unlike directions in this article, which say to pull off the hose under the overflow (right side plastic overflow jug), I just unscrewed the overflow and dumped it upside down. Much easier. Flushed out with distilled water.
Then I filled the radiator with distilled water and dumped it. This is still a new bike with really fresh Engine Ice coolant, so I didn't feel it necessary to do a second flush. Once the water drained, I tightened up the stator-side (left) hose clamp with a screwdriver, replaced the radiator cap, and filled it will fresh Engine Ice. Squeezed the hoses all around to get out any air bubbles. Then I ran it to temp to ensure I had no leaks. All was well.
Hosed down the driveway after spraying it with 409, just in case the dogs thought it would be interesting to lick or sniff (Engine Ice is not toxic like other glycol-based coolants, but why not be safe).
It's that easy. Ready for winter storage!