No Coolant

bobzinger · 07-06-2009, 03:07 PM

I pulled off the right side cover and there was no coolant in the overflow tank. I've never seen a leak. I added some coolant to the top line. Do I need to pull the gas tank to check the level of the coolant?

phenrichs · 07-06-2009, 03:17 PM

I would say you need to pull off the tank and look for leaks or the white residue that is left by a leak.

When was the last time it was checked? Coolant don't last forever.

dogdoc · 07-06-2009, 03:24 PM

Bob: just add coolant to the side reservoir. It sucks it into the radiator when needed. you might raise the tank and check the 8-9 fittings and see if they have been leaking. my bro just checked his and they all had been leaking(he never seen a drip). if its been 2-3 yrs its time to change the coolant out.

redjay · 07-06-2009, 03:39 PM

All my hose clamps under the tank were loose.

macmac · 07-06-2009, 06:07 PM

All everybody's hoses are loose as is the rad drain plug.

If my bike showed no coolant in the res, I would be yankin ' the tank off in a heart beat to find out why, and what is in the filler where you can see.

These hold 2.5 QUARTS not 2.5 Gallons...

A coolant change is DUE when it is 2 years old. Running worn out coolant is asking for a water pump seal leak at the shaft where the other seal is a oil seal in the engine!

That won't be any fun..

bobzinger · 07-07-2009, 10:21 AM

I changed out the coolant and checked the fittings last summer. The was some white residue on the overflow tank hose.

ponch · 07-07-2009, 03:16 PM

My manual says 3 years. I guess I'll split the difference, which is pretty soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmac

All everybody's hoses are loose as is the rad drain plug.

If my bike showed no coolant in the res, I would be yankin ' the tank off in a heart beat to find out why, and what is in the filler where you can see.

These hold 2.5 QUARTS not 2.5 Gallons...

A coolant change is DUE when it is 2 years old. Running worn out coolant is asking for a water pump seal leak at the shaft where the other seal is a oil seal in the engine!

That won't be any fun..

macmac · 07-07-2009, 03:27 PM

So what coolant is in the engine side of the rez bottle? I hope plenty...

I get the idea you don't want to yank the tanks and see....

You might fill the rez to the full marking, no more, then squeeze the bottom rad hose as closed as you can. With a helper (wife because she can hear I bet) Have her listen for bubbles in the rez.

If it takes on coolant this way you were just a little lower than you should have been.

I'ld keep an eye on it for a while now too..

bobzinger · 07-09-2009, 11:26 AM

I don't have a problem with lifting the tank to check fluid...I was just wondering if I filled the Rez tank and the system needed fluid would it suck it in.

cactusjack · 07-09-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobzinger

I don't have a problem with lifting the tank to check fluid...I was just wondering if I filled the Rez tank and the system needed fluid would it suck it in.

Normally, yes. But I think in your case, where the coolant jug is dry you need to crack open the radiator cap and see if there's any coolant in the system. If it's that low, you would want to fill the system from the radiator cap and not from the coolant jug.

macmac · 07-09-2009, 07:19 PM

It depends. As the bike cools when the system is full, a vacuum is created and it will draw in coolant, that was in theory displaced by heating and expanding.

If the level is down too much then the air between with either be drawn into a vacuum which the air alone will do, or be expanded.

Air can be compressed where fluids can't.

When you fill the rad filler to full the air volume can't be displaced enough in compression and so fluid pops the valve and moves back into the rez, taking any air with it. That air rises in the rez and goes out. That leaves a solid colum of fluid to be drawn back in.

That coolant went somewhere.... and you can have no idea where and how much went, with out looking.

bobzinger · 07-16-2009, 05:47 PM

I just when to the Kawa dealer and got more coolant (that super pink stuff) The service rep said that the pink stuff evaporates quicker because it's water based, so especially in California (or hot climates) to checkit more often.

dogdoc · 07-16-2009, 05:50 PM

Bob; check my earlier answer about the coolant being sucked up from the side. :-)

macmac · 07-16-2009, 07:30 PM

Oh no say it ain't true.... Pink Coolant? Naw you guys gotta be joking..

jamiep24 · 07-16-2009, 09:04 PM

Kawasaki going pink?

07-06-2009, 03:07 PM	#1
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	No Coolant I pulled off the right side cover and there was no coolant in the overflow tank. I've never seen a leak. I added some coolant to the top line. Do I need to pull the gas tank to check the level of the coolant? __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-06-2009, 03:17 PM	#2
phenrichs Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 2,498	No Coolant I would say you need to pull off the tank and look for leaks or the white residue that is left by a leak. When was the last time it was checked? Coolant don't last forever.
	0

07-06-2009, 03:24 PM	#3
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	No Coolant Bob: just add coolant to the side reservoir. It sucks it into the radiator when needed. you might raise the tank and check the 8-9 fittings and see if they have been leaking. my bro just checked his and they all had been leaking(he never seen a drip). if its been 2-3 yrs its time to change the coolant out.
	0

07-06-2009, 03:39 PM	#4
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,929	No Coolant All my hose clamps under the tank were loose.
	0

07-06-2009, 06:07 PM	#5
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	No Coolant All everybody's hoses are loose as is the rad drain plug. If my bike showed no coolant in the res, I would be yankin ' the tank off in a heart beat to find out why, and what is in the filler where you can see. These hold 2.5 QUARTS not 2.5 Gallons... A coolant change is DUE when it is 2 years old. Running worn out coolant is asking for a water pump seal leak at the shaft where the other seal is a oil seal in the engine! That won't be any fun.. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-07-2009, 10:21 AM	#6
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	No Coolant I changed out the coolant and checked the fittings last summer. The was some white residue on the overflow tank hose. __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
	0

07-07-2009, 03:27 PM	#8
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	No Coolant So what coolant is in the engine side of the rez bottle? I hope plenty... I get the idea you don't want to yank the tanks and see.... You might fill the rez to the full marking, no more, then squeeze the bottom rad hose as closed as you can. With a helper (wife because she can hear I bet) Have her listen for bubbles in the rez. If it takes on coolant this way you were just a little lower than you should have been. I'ld keep an eye on it for a while now too.. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-09-2009, 11:26 AM	#9
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	No Coolant I don't have a problem with lifting the tank to check fluid...I was just wondering if I filled the Rez tank and the system needed fluid would it suck it in. __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
	0

07-09-2009, 07:19 PM	#11
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	No Coolant It depends. As the bike cools when the system is full, a vacuum is created and it will draw in coolant, that was in theory displaced by heating and expanding. If the level is down too much then the air between with either be drawn into a vacuum which the air alone will do, or be expanded. Air can be compressed where fluids can't. When you fill the rad filler to full the air volume can't be displaced enough in compression and so fluid pops the valve and moves back into the rez, taking any air with it. That air rises in the rez and goes out. That leaves a solid colum of fluid to be drawn back in. That coolant went somewhere.... and you can have no idea where and how much went, with out looking. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-16-2009, 05:47 PM	#12
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	No Coolant I just when to the Kawa dealer and got more coolant (that super pink stuff) The service rep said that the pink stuff evaporates quicker because it's water based, so especially in California (or hot climates) to checkit more often. __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
	0

07-16-2009, 05:50 PM	#13
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	No Coolant Bob; check my earlier answer about the coolant being sucked up from the side. :-)
	0

07-16-2009, 07:30 PM	#14
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	No Coolant Oh no say it ain't true.... Pink Coolant? Naw you guys gotta be joking.. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-16-2009, 09:04 PM	#15
jamiep24 Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Yazoo City, Ms Posts: 965	No Coolant Kawasaki going pink?
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Coolant ?	rickb6959	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	10	07-27-2011 02:58 PM
Need help with coolant issues	mncruiser	1500 & 1600 Nomad	56	06-04-2010 06:53 PM
Replacing coolant	Cajunrider	1500 & 1600 Nomad	8	11-12-2009 01:41 PM
Coolant change	Cajunrider	1500 & 1600 Nomad	10	10-25-2009 09:39 PM
Coolant	heychap	1500 & 1600 Nomad	5	09-16-2009 12:52 PM