Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: h2smokin on October 05, 2011, 04:12:48 PM

Title: Rad fluid change
Post by: h2smokin on October 05, 2011, 04:12:48 PM
Sort of goes with my last ? since I'm gonna remove fairings. Should I just change the fluid in the radiator? Bike was an 09 leftover I picked up new in march this year. Only has 6k on the clock but I'm assuming bike has had the fluid sitting in it for a couple of years before I bought it. Should I just swap it out and freshen things? Thanks as always for any info
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: rcannon409 on October 05, 2011, 04:25:20 PM
Sure..why not?  Its not difficult once the right panels are off.  I used Honda HP2 coolant and it took much less than the owners manual said it would.  Yes, I did make the old fluid was  drained.



Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: VirginiaJim on October 05, 2011, 04:47:02 PM
If you use the engine drain plug on the left side, be very careful to stay out of the way if you crack the rad cap to make it come out faster....
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: h2smokin on October 05, 2011, 05:03:28 PM
I'll keep the cap thing in mind. I heard it comes flying out and makes a mess otherwise. Thanks
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: speed545 on October 05, 2011, 05:24:52 PM
easy to do. i just held a 90 tube in front of the drain plug and it went real easy

Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: VirginiaJim on October 05, 2011, 05:30:29 PM
easy to do. i just held a 90 tube in front of the drain plug and it went real easy

Oh yeah, that works fine if you know about it in advance....   :)
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: speed545 on October 05, 2011, 05:54:05 PM
Oh yeah, that works fine if you know about it in advance....   :)

and thx to you, i knew  ;)
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: lather on October 05, 2011, 07:06:56 PM
Sure..why not?  Its not difficult once the right panels are off.  I used Honda HP2 coolant and it took much less than the owners manual said it would.  Yes, I did make the old fluid was  drained.
It took much less because much less than ALL of it drained out. I filled up with red water wetter after a "complete" drain. After running for 200 miles the fluid was still greenish. It takes two full flushes to do a complete coolant change.
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: rcannon409 on October 05, 2011, 08:33:02 PM
If you use the engine drain plug on the left side, be very careful to stay out of the way if you crack the rad cap to make it come out faster....

Yes..it flies out. Think Linda Blair in The Exorcist.  Also. even sitting on the filler, the cap semi-seals. Sometimes just bumping it causes the vomit effect.
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: jasonc32amg on October 08, 2011, 07:10:25 PM
I plan on swapping the rad fluid in my 09 leftover at the next oil change. If you're in a warm climate just put in some water wetter/distilled water.
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: CrashKLRtoConnie on October 09, 2011, 11:15:57 AM
I would suggest two ideas...

One, have the bike on the side stand to help drain more of the coolant.

Two, check the header nut torque as long as you have the fairing off.

Brent
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: ZedHed on October 09, 2011, 06:48:10 PM
It took much less because much less than ALL of it drained out. I filled up with red water wetter after a "complete" drain. After running for 200 miles the fluid was still greenish. It takes two full flushes to do a complete coolant change.

That's why you just drain and refill w/ Kawasaki coolant and you don't have to worry about that.  Water Wetter doesn't do anything beneficial anyway......
Title: Re: Rad fluid change
Post by: lather on October 09, 2011, 08:17:38 PM
That's why you just drain and refill w/ Kawasaki coolant and you don't have to worry about that.  Water Wetter doesn't do anything beneficial anyway......
It is true, water wetter is not beneficial for an efficient cooling system like on the C14. It IS useful for  a trackday bike where antifreeze is not allowed. It also helps prevent boilovers in bikes with inadequate cooling systems like my VFR with side mounted radiators that don't get enough airflow at slow speeds.