Coolant changing.

[Adventure Rider]

 
Hi all can some one help me with the easiest way to do a coolant flush on my ST1100, I've just done a service on the old girl and would like to do the coolant as well so I know that it is all good. I am also wondering on the amount of coolant to add to the water as well.
cheers
    

[Brock]

Get a premixed non silicon based coolant, fill till its full. if you are doing a concentrate, you can premox, or add concentrate and then the distilled water. (do not use tap water)

[Gadget]

A member recently changed the coolant and then popped a hose straight after.

As it is an 1100, it is probably wise to change the hoses due to age. 

Another member had a fuel leak due to old hoses which tragically caused the bike to become a molten lump of alloy.

And what Brock said.

[Adventure Rider]

Thanks Brocky
didn't think about the distilled was just going to mix with tap water, due to your comment about the hoses I might leave the flush for a couple of weeks till I get new hoses and replace them all when I drop the coolant.

cheers
mark

       

[Abe]

Mark, this is the process I use:-

1) Fill the coolant (I use red premix, as Gadget said) just to the top of the radiator fins
2) Leave radiator cap off
3) Start engine (centrestand) and allow the engine warm up to operating temp. (ventilated area of course)
4) CONSTANTLY watch the coolant  level through radiator cap orifice,
  (as you will need to allow the air within the coolant system to escape and coolant as required whilst running)
5) When air/bubbles have stopped
6) 3/4 fill the coolant reservoir with coolant and pencil mark the coolant level.
7) Turn off engine and replace radiator cap and let engine cool. (I wait overnight, as my bikes aren't daily rides)
Remove radiator cap and check level (should be at correct level and reservoir level lower)
9) Check reservoir level (pencil mark) and adjust to full indicator.

No doubt others will add comments (constructive) as time goes

[Adventure Rider]

Hi thanks for that info but is there any advantage to using the red coolant over the green, just wondering why the preference to red, mine has the green coloured coolant in  it at the moment, if the red is more beneficial then I might consider flushing out and changing.

cheers

mark

[Abe]

Look at this:-

http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=10015.msg1186599#msg1186599