No more coolant

[mick56]

Originally Posted by eg78

I didnt change the coolant, but when I bought the bike, I noticed it was empty and put some in. Now after 100km it's empty again.

Top the radiator up,do the same, to the correct level, in the reservoir tank.Ride it for 5 miles then check it.I would have a guess that it wont leak,and was short of water to start with.

[cnc]

Originally Posted by mick56

Top the radiator up,do the same, to the correct level, in the reservoir tank.Ride it for 5 miles then check it.I would have a guess that it wont leak,and was short of water to start with.

Add to that put a pencil mark on the overflow tank exactly where the level is, that way the slightest loss will be noticed.

[eg78]

Sorry if this is a dumb question.. the plastic tank on the right side under the seat is the "reservoir tank" right? I filled that to just over the "L", and marked it with a permanent marker.

When you say overflow tank, and "top off the radiator" not sure where these things are and how to add coolant to them.
Thanks!

[eg78]

So, after about a 30km ride the level is a 1/2" higher thank when I left.... good sign? Do I need to wait till she cools down to check?

[mick56]

Originally Posted by eg78

Sorry if this is a dumb question.. the plastic tank on the right side under the seat is the "reservoir tank" right? I filled that to just over the "L", and marked it with a permanent marker.

When you say overflow tank, and "top off the radiator" not sure where these things are and how to add coolant to them.
Thanks!

Not a dumb question at all mate.All is looking good from what i see.The small rise and fall in the water level is due to expansion and contraction.What you have there is perfectly normal. Relax,your bike is fine

[cnc]

That is the overflow tank or reservoir tank. The rad cap is in one of your photos and hidden under the gas tank. You could have removed that when you had the tank off to see if it was full when your coolant was disapearing but not overly necessary. The rad cap on the bike is set at around 15 psi, above that it will let coolent escape
as Mick mentioned into the over flow tank to relieve pressure from expansion and as the system cools it will draw the coolant back into the rad.
Check when all is cooled down and you should be roughly back to the mark you put on the tank. Keep an eye on the tank but You may have just been low on coolant and each time the bike cooled it drew all of what was in the tank to fill the system and will now be ok.

[Spondulas]

Did you look underneath (bottom side) of the radiator for leaks and/or stains?

[eg78]

So the bike is completely cool now, and the coolant is at about 1/8"-1/4" lower than it was before my 30KM ride (where I marked it). I'll need to keep an eye on it this week after a few rides I guess. Thanks for the explanations, very informative.

Haven't seen a leak but it's not that easy to tell, not sure what the stain would look like other than water color on my garage floor.

[eg78]

Originally Posted by cnc

That is the overflow tank or reservoir tank. The rad cap is in one of your photos and hidden under the gas tank. You could have removed that when you had the tank off to see if it was full when your coolant was disapearing but not overly necessary. The rad cap on the bike is set at around 15 psi, above that it will let coolent escape
as Mick mentioned into the over flow tank to relieve pressure from expansion and as the system cools it will draw the coolant back into the rad.
Check when all is cooled down and you should be roughly back to the mark you put on the tank. Keep an eye on the tank but You may have just been low on coolant and each time the bike cooled it drew all of what was in the tank to fill the system and will now be ok.

I did pull off the rad cap and put it back on, I didnt realize I needed to torque it, I tightened it pretty hard by hand. Inside was completely dry. (this was when I had the tank off and before I added coolant).

[JD Hog]

Originally Posted by eg78

I did pull off the rad cap and put it back on, I didnt realize I needed to torque it, I tightened it pretty hard by hand. Inside was completely dry. (this was when I had the tank off and before I added coolant).

The 15 psi is what the cap is rated at. If the pressure in the cooling system goes higher than that it will let the fluid escape so no damage to your engine will happen.

[eg78]

Oh I see, so to be clear I don't need to torque it... right ?

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by eg78

I did pull off the rad cap and put it back on, I didnt realize I needed to torque it, I tightened it pretty hard by hand. Inside was completely dry. (this was when I had the tank off and before I added coolant).

After you put your cap back on and put more coolant (in the reservoir ?), did you bleed the system ?

[eg78]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

After you put your cap back on and put more coolant (in the reservoir ?), did you bleed the system ?

No, do I need to?

[OldSchool]

There is a bleeder nipple right in front of the radiator cap. Just like one for the brakes. Top off the coolant turn the bike on and loosen the bleeder cap. You will hear it purge itself of air. Once you have steady coolant coming out, retighten the bleeder. You should be good to go.

P.S. Not sure if the 2006 1600 has a bleeder valve or not. Maybe someone can chime in on this if there is a different way to bleed the 1600.

[cnc]

No, 15 psi is pounds per square inch, pressure the cap will hold before releasing coolant into a smaller hose that goes to the overflow tank, not a torque value. Hand tighten the cap fully.
The reason cooling systems are pressurized is that it raises the boiling point, which obviously is something you don 't want to happen. Plain water heated under 15 psi will boil over at about 157f coolant in a 50/50 water mix will boil over under 15 psi at about 265.

At this point I would not beat yourself up over this, just keep an eye on that level for a while.