Coolant

[Martin H]

Noticed the fan kicking in a lot over the last couple of days so checked the expansion tank - empty    Poured in a whole bottle of coolant and it didn't quite come up to the min level.

I have only done about 2 1/2 thousand miles since new in November, is filling up the coolant a regular requirement? Can I top up with distiller water tonight as I have an early start and a couple of hundred miles to do tomorrow?

I guess if it runs dry again I guess it's into the garage.

Any advise?

[Dave Milnes]

Should never have to touch it. Change it every 2 or 5 years depending on antifreeze type used. Sounds like you have a leak.
Tap water is fine unless you live in a high calcium hard water area, and then if it's leaking, it won't be in there long anyway.
Just make sure you keep the 50% antifreeze balance or freezing could cause more problems.

[Martin H]

Cheers. Will investigate further and carry some water.

[roadster]

I suggest you keep a very close eye on this. Now at just over 4000 miles I have only had to top mine up a couple of times, probably about 200 ml. Hopefully its just a weeping hose but look carefully in the area below the water pump to make sure nothing is coming out of the water pump seal drain point. Also check the oil for signs of water contamination which would be bad news for the engine.

[frankiej1949]

Never had to top up the 350 or the 500, both hd done in excess of 8000 miles.

[Mike H]

I'd like to subscribe to this topic but can't see a 'Notify'

[Martin H]

Odd 0 I can

Going to try a bottle of Radweld as I doubt this will be covered by warranty.

[Dave Milnes]

Can you still not Mike, I moved your profile into a full member group as newbies can't see all the buttons for some reason?

[Mike H]

Yep, can some, not all ~ none at all in X10 forum. Can't see what could be causing it.

[Dave Milnes]

The settings on these boards are totally confusing, some options allowed by member level others by post number and some counter effect others. Messing can easily screw things up and Colin tidied up as much as he dared last year but as far as I can see you are a full member and there is nothing available to set for individual forum allowances.
Maybe your browser is cacheing the basic forum layout and only reading database info off the web directly as it's the forum you visit most, so try flushing the cache. Clutching at straws here but can't think of any other reason.

[Martin H]

Ok since this has gone off topic can I change my user name on this board?

Btw looks like the rad weld worked 😃

[Dave Milnes]

Try it. I'm not sure if members can do so but I think you can, or if not I can do it for you. Never tried it to see how it deals with all existing posts though.

[Martin H]

Can't see where to try it?

[Dave Milnes]

In your profile settings. Click on your user name.

[Mike H]

The settings on these boards are totally confusing, some options allowed by member level others by post number and some counter effect others. Messing can easily screw things up and Colin tidied up as much as he dared last year but as far as I can see you are a full member and there is nothing available to set for individual forum allowances.
Maybe your browser is cacheing the basic forum layout and only reading database info off the web directly as it's the forum you visit most, so try flushing the cache. Clutching at straws here but can't think of any other reason.

Browser is set to delete all saved history on shutdown AND I use CCleaner every day, so not sure it's that. No great problem, as I usually use the 'show unread posts' link. Just strange. I appreciate not wanting to fiddle!

[Mike H]

Back on topic, maybe I should check my level! I did soon after getting the bike at end of November, but it's one of those things handbook says to check regularly.

[Dave Milnes]

Are you using the default skin for the forum as some of the others do not have all the buttons included? We have added some to the top bar but working out how to add them to other peoples designs and getting them to match default is a complicated task.

[Mike H]

Didn't know it could be changed, and can't see where?

It's not that big a deal as I tend to work through the unread posts list.

[Dave Milnes]

I have locked everyone to the default now.
You should see the notify button on the LH end of the bottom RH button bar under the last post next to the reply button.
Actually setting to see only new posts since last visit is best as you miss nothing and if topics are of no interest simply click 'mark all as read'.

[Martin H]

Rad weld seems to have done the trick 😃

[Mike H]

Would still bug me what was causing it, but OK.
   
Checked mine yesterday, level not moved since 2 months ago (when I first got it).


@ Dave, sorry no difference.

However a pattern has emerged!

On index page, for forums with new posts

No topics have a 'Notfiy'.

On index page, for forums with NO new posts

All topics appear to have 'Notify'. (Not checked every single one in each sub-forum to be honest, but seems a fairly safe bet that's how it is.)

[parnell]

Quick question on coolant Dave , does it matter at all if you use normal car antifreeze ethylene glycol or what would you recommend ? Have blue stuff myself and am thinking about doing a coolant flush now. thank you

[Dave Milnes]

I use normal red car antifreeze at 50% mix. You can use blue but red lasts 5 years but blue only 2. It's also easier to spot leaks with red. Just don't mix the two or you get a horrible brown which looks like rust!

...and radweld does work wonders. After a bit of an off many years ago my bottom rad pipe stub took a bang and the weld cracked, and despite paying for a professional repair it still weeped so I tried radweld and never had to top up again since. I changed the water pump seals and found a clump of hardened radweld inside the pump cover, but it seemed to be harmless so cleaned it off. It's been in for many years and although the system has been drained flushed and refilled it doesn't leak.

[Mike H]

According to service manual it should be this stuff (pink ready-mixed):

https://www.motoworlduk.co.uk/acatalog/Products_Permanent_Spezial_132.html

I wouldn't want to try anything else especially if it's still under warranty.

[Dave Milnes]

Warranty? Not worth the paper it's printed on really... and shouldn't need it anyway.
That stuff is just pre-mixed red and water so you are paying for 50% water. £12 for only 1 litre is expensive (£6 for water!!) when a similar price will buy 2.5 litres of pure red antifreeze that will make up 5 litres of coolant. Also if you do ever need to top it up with water if you are away from your supply, you then cant add a bit more antifreeze to restore the ratio. Too much does no harm, too little could do.
I seem to think I only paid around £15 for 5 litres of red anti freeze from a local motor factors. That'll make up enough coolant for a lifetime.
There is an argument against using tap water, which may have validity if your tap water is high in minerals, so boil it a couple of times and if you would drink it, then it's not going to do damage to your engine either.