Anybody changed their coolant?

[PlaynInPeoria]

My bike is a 2012 and has 27k on it, bought new in Feb 2013

I haven't even looked at the service manual.   Is it hard?  What coolant did you use?

I will have the side panel off to put in a new air filter, so I figured that would get me most of the way there.  Did I mention I haven't looked at the service manual? I will be in the garage tonight (where the service manual is) to change the oil and put brakes on.  I think I will look at the service manual.  Sense a common thread in here anywhere?

But I really do wanna know if I can screw anything up that will jeopardize my trip.

Thanks

[AZ-ZG]

Tough job to screw up!   

I used a "pre-mix" by Peak, I think, maybe Prestone, safe for aluminum engines. 

You will have to remove the tupperware on the right to get at the filler cap.

Service manual suggests filling very slowly to avoid trapping air.
I did exactly that then let her run 'til the fans kicked on while monitoring the level in the radiator.
Once cool enough to get near it, I filled the overflow to the full mark and put her back together. 

Make sure all your hose clamps are tight while you've got access to them!   

Come to think of it, it's been 2 years so I'm due.   

[lather]

I've changed 4 Times.  Twice during valve checks and twice experimenting with water wetter. bad idea!
Anyway nothing hard just tedious.

Water wetter was a bad idea because it actually works as advertised, makes engines run cooler. But the heat has to go somewhere and on an 08 C14 we know where it goes. I tried some in mine and replaced it after one ride.

[Kman]

Some of the steps I took when I rained & flushed my coolant:

1. I decided to flush it out with 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and distilled water. This involved draining the coolant and filling it with the 50/50 mixture and the running it for about 10 minutes. Because vinegar is acidic I followed up with 4 flushes of pure distilled water, each time running the engine for a few minutes. Also drained and cleaned the reservoir.

2. I used Honda type 2 antifreeze which I believe is the best one suitable for the C14.  I flushed that out once, to make sure all the residual distilled water was out.

3. Replaced the coolant drain plug washer. Torqued the coolant drain plug to 106 INCH pounds (which is not very tight).

4. When adding coolant, I used a long and narrow spout, adding coolant slowly. Ran the engine with cap on & refilled several times to burp air bubbles.

5. Checked to all hose clamps for tightness.

[Cold Streak]

IIRC when the fluid is released from the rad it can shoot across your work space unless directed downward by some means.

[tweeter55]

IIRC when the fluid is released from the rad it can shoot across your work space unless directed downward by some means.

Experience?

[Classvino]

Experience?

Sounds like a DAMHIK story...

Jamie

[gPink]

IIRC when the fluid is released from the rad it can shoot across your work space unless directed downward by some means.

Yep. Helps to remove the drain plug and have a container to defend yourself before removing the rad cap.

[VirginiaJim]

And don't lose the very little drain plug and it's gasket....DAMHIK

[B.D.F.]

It is not a difficult job but I would not advise anyone do it just before a trip- too many ways to make a small mistake or oversight and have it cause larger problems when on the trip. I always suggest avoiding doing anything significant to any vehicle just before a long trip anyway though.

I use Prestone and cut it 50/50 with water. Although most of what is available recently seems to be premixed for 'our convenience' (read: so the anti freeze company can see us some water instead of all anti- freeze).

It is not difficult but as already pointed out, you need to remove both mid- fairings (left and right) because the drain and expansion tank are on the left side of the bike but the filler cap on the radiator is on the right side. It is usually easiest to combine this job with other maintenance jobs so that the labor of getting the fairings off and back on is spread out over several different tasks. Changing the coolant is not a time or mileage critical thing anyway so doing it a little earlier or later than specified to coincide with another maintenance task(s) is not a big deal IMO.

Brian

My bike is a 2012 and has 27k on it, bought new in Feb 2013

I haven't even looked at the service manual.   Is it hard?  What coolant did you use?

I will have the side panel off to put in a new air filter, so I figured that would get me most of the way there.  Did I mention I haven't looked at the service manual? I will be in the garage tonight (where the service manual is) to change the oil and put brakes on.  I think I will look at the service manual.  Sense a common thread in here anywhere?

But I really do wanna know if I can screw anything up that will jeopardize my trip.

Thanks