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Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:00 pm
by brmoore
Well I'm in South Africa so I think it's safe to assume it's not been done at all so I'm going to do it, there arn't any torque settings with any of the drain plugs are there? The rest I've got sorted, got Castrol coolant.

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:29 pm
by CMSMJ1
You'll not need to use the front drain plugs - ust the one on the water pump.

distilled water and coolant.
How cold is it going to get where you are? If not very, then I'd go for a 75/25 water to coolant split - water is better at transferring heat and the coolant will mainly stop the water rusting the insides of the bike.

Dispose of the old stuff carefully - it is toxic to dogs and they love the smell of it

Think the torque is something like 10nm - very small torque

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:48 pm
by brmoore
Coolant is premixed, and no dog ;) I've heard this stuff is good for zub zero to over 40C easy, on landrovers anyway so we'll see...bike knowledge here is crap so I doubt it's ever been done....just hopefully not over 17years! :o well it would have started its life in Japan so probably not...

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:55 pm
by CMSMJ1
car coolant and bike coolant are not the same animal..

car coolant often contains silicates (sand) that will erode your water pump in a bike...

You want silicant free coolant ;)

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:57 pm
by amaechizzle
Food for thought!
Does bike coolant come in different colours to? And should I stick to the green stuff?

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:11 pm
by brmoore
No this is corrosion resistant designed for aluminium radiators and as for different colors, green? mines pink ;)

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:43 pm
by CMSMJ1
But does it have silicants/silicate in it?

I'd not be keen to use it if that was the case..and I'd stick to water!

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:28 pm
by brmoore
It's for this type of engine, it contains the appropriate liquids, provides corrosion protection, made for aluminium surfaces. It's castrol, liquid engineering ;)

Image

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:45 pm
by Hadies
But does it have silicants/silicates in it?

Re: Changing coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:27 pm
by porndoguk
i use silkolene coolant additive,

50/50 mix costs about £10 for a litre so bang on for the NC30 :up: