changing coolant

[fergman]

Hello all,

I recently bought a 2000 RS and I want to change the coolant on it. I've found some posts about it, but nothing concrete, so I just wanted to list what i've got so far and see if you all could fill in the blanks and/or answer the questions I have.

-Take off radiator cap and overfill cap
-Pull the hose at bottom of the radiator to drain
-reconnect hose
-fill the radiator with distilled water, then run to operating temp(#1 with or without the caps on??)
-pull the hose and drain(#2 hot or wait until the water is cold??), keep repeating until the water is clear
-reconnect hose, fill radiator to top with coolant(#3 with air bubble drain plug out??)
-fill overfill tank

I think thats it, mainly those 3 questions. Thanks in advance!

[steventhechef]

Welcome to the forum fergman

For what it's worth

I normally drain the system by removing the bottom hose, flush the system with a garden hose (not distilled water) and push out the coolant, reconnect the hose and repreat, then refill with tap water and coolant.

Then I run the motor without the caps on and top up the main system and then when that is full top up the overflow tank.

The main points are
Complete drain, completely fill and recheck

Our water quality it pretty good and I am not sure what yours is like..

Good luck.

[DaveM]

Hi fergman,
welcome to Triumphrat.net and the Sprint forum.

Seems like my mate Steve has got you sorted on this one.............just as well 'cos I wouldn't know.

If you want to know about tyres I might know something.....maybe:

DaveM:

[oldndumb]

This is how I did it on an 05 and an 06. I do not know if the 2000 RS is the same. If not, the details may not be alike, but the principle should be the same:

• Remove radiator pressure cap
• Release radiator bleed screw
• Release water pump bottom hose
• Drain

Refilling

• Reconnect bottom hose
• Add coolant through radiator filler until full. If the system is filled correctly and fully, there will be coolant visible at the bleed screw and in the filler opening.
• If there is no coolant at the bleed screw, attach a length of tubing to the bleed screw spigot and pour coolant into the bleed screw side of the radiator.
• If needed, top off the system through the filler and reinstall the pressure cap.
• Start the bike and let it run to allow trapped air to be expelled.
• Stop the engine, check for leaks, and refill the radiator as necessary.
• Refit the pressure cap.
• Check the expansion tank level and top off as necessary.

I've done a coolant change on two of these bikes and in both cases got a coolant flow at the bleed screw and did not have to pour coolant into the bleed screw opening.

Since your bike is a 2000, you might want to consider replacing your hoses if they are over three years old.