Author |
Message |
Swoop
| Posted on Monday, April 11, 2011 - 02:38 pm: |
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okay so I just realized my coolant is about halfway full any ideas on what coolant I should use? |
Geforce
| Posted on Monday, April 11, 2011 - 07:37 pm: |
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You can go buy the HD product that your owner's manual recommends or you can top it off with distilled water. DO NOT mix coolant types. DO NOT use regular water. The minerals in water can do nasty things to your coolant system over time. |
Sprintst
| Posted on Monday, April 11, 2011 - 08:33 pm: |
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just keep in mind the more water you add, the more the coolant is diluted. do it enough and you'll have issues if it gets below freezing |
Stargazer
| Posted on Monday, April 11, 2011 - 08:49 pm: |
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Agreed. Do not mix antifreeze. Do not use tap water, contrary to what some say..." The radiators are aluminum, tap water is o.k".... wrong. 50/50 mix w/ distilled water, use a good quality antifreeze safe for aluminum radiators.... I like Engine Ice, don't mix it, you'll need to empty the cooling system, flush it, then use the Engine Ice, a little pricey, but works well enough to lower the temp a bit. Of course, if you're racing on the track, you'll have to use water wetter. |
Samg
| Posted on Monday, April 11, 2011 - 08:55 pm: |
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this may sound weird.. i changed the coolant in the CR to a Honda type2 automotive coolant..it runs a few degrees cooler..it was 84 here in Jersey,today,and i was stuck in heavy traffic..Highest coolant temp i saw was 198 degrees.. |
Sprintst
| Posted on Monday, April 11, 2011 - 09:36 pm: |
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Cooler isn't necessarily better though. Engines today like to run hotter for better combustion, I believe |
Mountainstorm
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 08:45 am: |
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I have a related question, is it a good idea to flush and refill the coolant on a regular basis? |
Fast1075
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 10:18 am: |
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There is some mistaken belief that if 50/50 mix is good, then 100% coolant is better....wrong!....the "coolant" serves to lube the pump, inhibit corrosion, and prevent freezing in cold weather. "Coolant" either Ethylene or Propylene glycol is a very poor conductor of heat. The "richer" the mixture, the poorer the heat transfer rate. It is possible on a system with 100% coolant to read safe temperatures on the gauge, while the engine is roasting to death because of the poor thermal properties of the coolant. Go no stronger than the recommended percentage...if you have access to a refractometer, set the strenght to work with the LOWEST expected temperature. Water wetter and other such materials work better because they have far better thermal conductivity than the glycols. |
Kinder
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 01:43 pm: |
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^ He's correct. Follow the temp level instructions on the coolant bottle for the low temp zone for your area and you'll be fine. Water alone cools best but you will need to add a lubricant like Water Wetter or Motul MoCool etc. if you are in an area where the temp never hits freezing. |
Xnoahx
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 04:19 pm: |
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This thread reminds me that I need to get some water wetter now that its warming up. |
Shags
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 05:04 pm: |
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Question:So does Ethylene or Propylene glycol replace the Harley coolant. |
Daggar
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 06:14 pm: |
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Propylene glycol should not be used, according to Anony. There is a thread about it somewhere around here. Ethylene glycol is what the Harley stuff is. |
Boogiman1981
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 07:53 pm: |
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yep stay green. do not use orange(dex-cool; OATS) or propylene based coolants in our bikes.... |
Zac4mac
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 11:13 pm: |
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hmmm, my OEM is pink or orange. Looks different with left eye/right eye. Definitely not green. |
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