coolant check

[ifiddles]

hello everyone...first season riding on my '09 vulcan 500 and i loved it...getting ready to winterize her and i was just curious whether i need to check or do anything to the coolant?...is there a tool i can buy that will tell me what temperature the coolant is good to?...should i add coolant regardless?...and if i add coolant, is there a special kind for motorcycles or can i use the automobile brands?...any thoughts?

ivana

 

[LGdrama]

get the aluminum safe kind . make sure if its over the min.mark .

since its a 09 if you dont know when its beeen changed, its a good time to change it.

 

[ifiddles]

the bike's an '09 but i bought it brand new (overstock) end of may...do the bottles tell you is they are safe for aluminum?

 

[Rutlo]

I found it was just easier to go to my local dealer and buy coolant rather than dicking with finding an appropriate automotive coolant. When I had my rad punctured this summer, I had to go through a radiator repaoir and a full coolant replacement etc before I was up and running again. For about $20 I got my coolant and went to the grocery store for a 4L bottle of distilled water, then spent the afternoon reinstalling my radiator and filling and flushing. As long as your coolant is within the fill specs recommended in your manual (check your coolant bottle min/max line), then you should be fine.

http://www.sturgessonline.com/catalog_keyword_search.asp?keysearch=Go&keyword=coolant

 

[elton_t]

i was searching for coolant last week as well, found it too much hassle to find a suitable automotive coolant, i bought engine ice at end, you will probably need 2 jugs. only $21.95ea

 

[EngineerJoe]

hello everyone...first season riding on my '09 vulcan 500 and i loved it...getting ready to winterize her and i was just curious whether i need to check or do anything to the coolant?...is there a tool i can buy that will tell me what temperature the coolant is good to?...should i add coolant regardless?...and if i add coolant, is there a special kind for motorcycles or can i use the automobile brands?...any thoughts?

ivana

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoRepairAccessories/SpecialtyRepair/PRD~0290030P/Prestone%2BAntifreeze%252BCoolant%2BTester.jsp

My owner's manual doesn't list anything regarding coolant in the storage procedure. For coolant, it says 50/50 distilled water/coolant will protect the cooling system from freezing at temperatures above -31 deg C. If temperatures are expected to get colder, use different ratios

45% water / 55% coolant = -40 deg C
40% water / 60% coolant = -55 deg C

The mixing ratio should not exceed 60%.

Edit: It also says to use anti-freeze compatible with aluminum radiators and to only use distilled water.\

Edit 2: Checked for my own sanity. The recorded low in Milton was;
-33 deg C in Jan. 1984
-31.5 deg C in Feb. 1994
-29.5 deg C in Dec. 1980

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/statistics/temperature/cl6152695/caon0434