Antifreeze

[-Op-]

Guys, I need some help.

My bike has been overheating lately due to what I believe is a sticking thermostat. I havent had a chance to get into and take out the old one and put in a new one, but I have the parts.

What I need is knowledge about the type of coolant that I need to replace in the engine and whether I should flush out the radiator (I am leaning to YES!!!) and how you would go about changing it all. I know where the housing and thermostat are, so thats not the issue, just a procedure for everything.

I also need places where I can get the coolant, i.e. Pep Boys, Auto Zone, Sears or something of that nature.

Need to know ASAP guys. I wanna get this done, Ive had the part for like a week now and havent solved my issue. Not riding is KILLING me!

[Shifty1]

Straight from the manual...

Coolant Change
WARNING
To avoid burns, do not remove the radiator cap or
try to change the coolant when the engine is still
hot. Wait until it cools down. Coolant on tires will
make them slippery and can cause an accident
and injury. Immediately wipe up or wash away any
coolant that spills on the frame, engine, or other
painted parts.
Since coolant is harmful to the human body, do not
use for drinking.
•Remove:
Lower Fairings (see Lower Fairing Removal in the Frame
chapter)
Right Center Fairing (see Center Fairing Removal in the
Frame chapter)
Radiator Cap [A]
○Remove the radiator cap in two steps. First turn the cap
counterclockwise to the first stop. Then push and turn it
further in the same direction and remove the cap.
•Remove:
Left Center Fairing (see Center Fairing Removal in the
Frame chapter)
•Place a containers under the drain bolts [A] [b] of the water
pump cover and cylinder.
•Drain the coolant from the radiator and engine by removing
the drain bolts.
•Remove:
Coolant Reserve Tank [A] (see Coolant Reserve Tank
Removal in the Cooling System chapter)
•Remove the cap [b] and pour the coolant into a container.
•Install the coolant reserve tank (see Coolant Reserve
Tank Installation in the Cooling System chapter).
•Tighten the drain bolts with the washers.
○Replace the drain bolt gasket with a new one if it is damaged.
Torque - Coolant Drain Bolt (Water Pump): 8.8 N·m (0.90
kgf·m, 78 in·lb)
Coolant Drain Bolt (Cylinder): 9.8 N·m (1.0 kgf·m,
87 in·lb)
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE 2-53
Maintenance Procedure
•Fill the radiator up to the radiator filler neck [A] with
coolant, and install the radiator cap.
NOTE
○Pour in the coolant slowly so that it can expel the air
from the engine and radiator.
•Fill the reserve tank up to the full level line with coolant,
and install the cap.
CAUTION
Soft or distilled water must be used with the antifreeze
(see below for antifreeze) in the cooling system.
If hard water is used in the system, it causes scales
accumulation in the water passages, and considerably
reduces the efficiency of the cooling system.
Water and Coolant Mixture Ratio (Recommended)
Soft Water: 50%
Coolant: 50%
Freezing Point: –35°C (–31°F)
Total Amount: 2.6 L (2.7 US qt)
NOTE
○Choose a suitable mixture ratio by referring to the
coolant manufacturer’s directions.
•Bleed the air from the cooling system as follows.
○Start the engine with the radiator cap removed and run it
until no more air bubbles [A] can be seen in the coolant.
○Tap the radiator hoses to force any air bubbles caught
inside.
○Stop the engine and add coolant up to the radiator filler
neck.
•Install the radiator cap.
•Start the engine, warm it up thoroughly until the radiator
fan turns on and then stop the engine.
•Check the coolant level in the reserve tank after the engine
cools down.
If the coolant level is lower than the low level line, add
coolant to the full level line.
CAUTION
Do not add more coolant above the full level line.

As for antifreeze, anything aluminum safe will work in a 50/50 mix with distilled water.

[JKL1960]

You can use any aluminum safe coolant. Which is probably almost all of them. I use Prestone. I buy full strength and mix 50/50 with distilled water. You can get distilled water at a grocery store. You might even find Prestone at the grocery store.

I hope the thermostat fixes your problem. Usually they fail open and result in a cooler running motor.

Good luck.

[-Op-]

Ok, I just needed to figure out which kind of antifreeze I wanna get now. Im pretty sure its the thermostat and thats whats causing the problem really. Just the nature of how its acting. And I think you mean that they fail to close, which would make the engine run cooler. If it doesnt open, you get what I have and its an engine that takes a bit longer to warm up but wont keep itself cool if you wanna ride more than 20-30 minutes unless you flux the highway/surface street riding.

[JKL1960]

Not closing is what I mean by fail, open. A comma may have helped. My bad.

You're right if it's closed and won't open you'll get your symptoms. It's just so common that the symptom of a failed thermostat is an engine that won't quite reach operating temp. Of course they can fail in more than one way.

[-Op-]

yeah, I know exactly what you mean thought. Its like, one of those things that would be nice if you could figure a way to just get it to work all the time, problem-free, but then again, so would a lot of things in life, right?

[zaneyzrex]

you can clear all the old out and use distilled water and watter wetter....

[-Op-]

just a total heart-to-heart with it? lol

[1992zx7]

Just used the 50/50 mix then you just pour it in and ride.... going to the store to get water.........