rad fluid keeps dropping to low mark

[h2smokin]

Wondering why my rad fluid will not stay at full mark? I thought it may have come that way at first from factory. 09 left over I have had for 2 years now. I went ahead and changed fluid a few months back and filled it to full mark. It dropped to low mark in a few weeks. Filled to full mark again and now it is back to low again. No leaks I have found anywhere when I have had the bodywork off. It does not dropped any further than the low mark it just seems to like that spot. I am in arizona where there is a lot of heat but its not bad yet. Any thoughts?

[RickC14]

When you changed your coolant did you get all the air out, or did you fill radiator and call it good to go?

[wingrider]

Is it at the low mark hot or cold? When cold that would be normal as expantion will bring to the full mark when hot. I am also in Phoenix and that is where mine runs.

[h2smokin]

I filled it to the full mark when cold, is'nt that what you do? I just got back from a ride and it's 1/2 way between the marks now

[aspire61]

Wondering why my rad fluid will not stay at full mark? I thought it may have come that way at first from factory. 09 left over I have had for 2 years now. I went ahead and changed fluid a few months back and filled it to full mark. It dropped to low mark in a few weeks. Filled to full mark again and now it is back to low again. No leaks I have found anywhere when I have had the bodywork off. It does not dropped any further than the low mark it just seems to like that spot. I am in arizona where there is a lot of heat but its not bad yet. Any thoughts?

I would suggest you keep filling, driving, filling, etc. I agree it's most likely air in the system. The coolant almost never vaporizes into thin air, but if it does then ...check your exhaust for that sickening sweet smell. Your added coolant has to be going somewhere.

chrs- mat

[wingrider]

Check it when it is cold. If it is above the low mark cold and between the marks hot then the system is working properly. The tank is an over flow tank allowing for expansion when hot and providing coolant to be drawn back in as it cools. This keeps the radiator full.

[motocopter]

Different bike, but the concept is relevant. Refilling the coolant at the radiator on my 2K8Z1K, coolant has to be poured very slowly so as to not trap air. Even so, I did have to add some to the reservoir after a good ride.

[AZ-ZG]

Make sure all of your hose clamps are tight.

Found a couple loose ones on my coolant change. I was smelling coolant when parked after a ride but could not visually detect a leak. 

I also had the mysterious disappearing coolant.   

[h2smokin]

everything was tight when I did the change of fluid. No signs of leaking anywhere. I am going to fill again this week just in case there was some air in the system still after change. See what happens after that

[rush2112]

I was losing coolant too and found out it was from the head gasket leaking. Mines an 09 too. Only one time did I notice drops on the garage floor. It was burning it off the headers when first cranked up in the morning, so no drips.

Do you smell anything burning off when you first crank it up?

[Rhino]

Like everyone else said, probably air and keep refilling. If it still going down then it is going somewhere. If its a slow leak, it can usually be smelled and or found with carful inspection. Other wise, bad head gasket and leaking into a cylinder or 2 and being burnt. Compression check to know for sure.

[lather]

As wingrider said the coolant flows back and forth between the overflow and radiator as it heats and cools. I don't think you can expect the level to remain static. As long as it does not go below the low mark you are fine.

[VirginiaJim]

From what I recall of the last time I did a coolant change it would not stay on the full mark.  It was somewhere between low and full.  Every time I filled it back to full (while cold) it would drop again to somewhere in between the marks.  I finally gave in to the machine and said 'so be it'.  It hasn't moved from that spot in two years.  It cycles higher when hot and drops back to the spot it likes.  I'm ok with that.