I took the tank off tonight to top up the coolant, it's pretty rusty in there.. As the bike is 4 yrs old it's probably overdue a change. Can anyone tell me;
1) How much coolant is needed, 2) what the recommended ratio is, and 3) where is the best place to to drain the system.
I can't see any drain point so was planning to undo the rubber hose at the pump end. Thanks
Don't know how much coolant it uses, but, buy the good stuff (no phosphates I believe), mix it half and half with good water in another container (2 gallons minimum, 1 gal coolant one gallon water), then pour away. You will have plenty left over for top ups or other applications.
Draining it at the lowest point with the cap off, if that is the hose from the pump, then so be it.
Your coolant change is a bit more involved but not too complicated.
Start by removing the radiator pressure cap(cold, of course). Now, there are two drain plugs, both on the left side of the engine. The first one is the crankcase drain plug, located on about the center of the cylinder bank. It's not the one that is removed with an allen wrench.
You'll know if you have the right one when collant comes pouring out. The second one is the water pump drain plug, which is the uppermost, forward water pump mounting bolt. Again, you'll know you hit the right one when collant comes pouring out. Refit the drain plugs and add new collant.
To refill, remove the fuel tank and then release the bleed screw on the top of the thermostat housing. The collant capacity is 2.8 liters. I like the Honda pre-mix but if you chose to buy the straight stuff mix it 50/50 with distilled water and slowly pour the new collant in the radiator filler hole untill full. Close the bleed screw. Temporarily refit the fuel tank, start the engine, idle a short time to expell any air from the system, remove the tank, top off the collant level if needed and your good to go.
I got there in the end, but I could not figure why the system was taking so little fluid until I found the bleed screw DOH!
I found the drain plug on the block, but I never knew about the one on the pump, I ended up pulling off the hose to drain it. Okay now I know for next time, thanks for telling me.
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