Anyone try Engine Ice coolant?

[rwilliamm]

The website says cooler engine temps of up to 50 degrees. My bike is the hottest bike I have been on and any sure way to get the engine cooler sounds good to me.

[Awaz]

What year is your bike? Assuming 2008 or 2009. I have no experience using Engine Ice coolant, but there are other ways to reduce the temps hitting you on 2008 or 2009. Some folks have bought a foam piece from a member here that blocks the opening to fairing where you right foot is. Others like me, did a home made solution to plug the gap between the fairing and engine by your right foot. One thing I noticed though is that as my bike is racking up the miles, the engine temps are getting more tolerable - do not know if it is me, or if the engine is improving!

[rwilliamm]

My bike is brand new. Just rode home with a 2012 C14 lastweek. The ride home was a sweaty one. Had a cruiser before and never got the slightest bit hot. Seems like the concours keeps the air off you and the heat on. Almost would trade it for something else cause of the heat. Living in florida its hot enough without the heat of the engine being dumped on ya.

[rush2112]

2009 here, and mine is a HOT bike. Inside of my legs, more so on my right are always extremely warm. Even in cool weather, as soon as I stop at a redlight here in Houston traffic, the fans are coming on immediately. Love the bike to much to get rid of it for this reason, but man, I've got to do something about it!

Let us know if you try it and your results!

[Deathwish]

I've got a 2009 and it was so hot that on the trip home when I picked it up, it burnt a red welt into the inside of my right leg. Didn't help that it was 106 degrees outside, though. I added the foam heat blockers sold by one of our forum members, and I also added some foil insulation under the tank and that helped dramatically. I've been using Water Wetter or Engine Ice for years in my bikes. Does help them run a couple degrees cooler, but won't do anything for felt heat.

[rwilliamm]

Tnaks for the info Deathwish. I saw on another website that engine temps generally were only 10 degrees or so cooler. Thats not gonna help enough. I am really enjoying this concours though. Only complaint is the heat. But winter riding should be no problem though! Don't think I can let this small issue make me trade it in for something I might not enjoy riding as much.

[Gearhead82]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe products like Engine Ice help your coolant to transfer the heat out of the engine better.  While your water temp may be cooler, all that extra heat has to be going somewhere, like off the radiator and onto your body. I don't think that's going to help you at all.

It sounds like what you need is more air flow.  You might want to look into getting a shorter windscreen.  The windscreen actually has a pretty big effect on the way the air hits your lower body as well as your upper body.  California Scientific makes a shield called the "Tinted Shorty" which is a popular warm weather shield around here.  Also, the stock '08-09 windscreen is quite a bit shorter than the '10+ screen and many people have cut it down even shorter to use in warm weather.

[Awaz]

This my first full fairing bike. Before, I only had cruisers. And with full fairing, and with gear on, you will be hotter than a crusier that have no wind protection. I enjoy more putting around town in my cruiser. But nothing can beat the wind protection and comfort the C14 offers in the highway. But honestly, I have heard that 2010 and up, the re-designed fairing does a better job in keeping the engine heat at bay.

Are you feeling the heat more when you are stopped? Or do you feel it even when crusing? The 2008 stock windshield is short and I keep it at the lowest position during summer. It helps a ton on keeping the cockpit cool. With my ceebaily, I cannot stand the heat during summer. Again, this is just the nature of the bike - it just shows you how much wind it blocks for you - essentially not allowing a whole lot of air flow where you sit. Considering you just bought the bike, my recommendation would be to get a 2008/2009 stock windshield and try it for the summer. Some folks even cut it shorter (which I am contemplating as well).

[maxtog]

The website says cooler engine temps of up to 50 degrees. My bike is the hottest bike I have been on and any sure way to get the engine cooler sounds good to me.

How many other 1.4+ liter higher performance, fully faired  bikes have you been on? 

My bike is brand new. Just rode home with a 2012 C14 lastweek. The ride home was a sweaty one. Had a cruiser before and never got the slightest bit hot. Seems like the concours keeps the air off you and the heat on. Almost would trade it for something else cause of the heat. Living in florida its hot enough without the heat of the engine being dumped on ya.

I don't seem to have much engine heat dumped on me by my 2011.  But you are right that the Concours does quite a decent job of deflecting incoming air off the rider, which is a GOD SEND in colder temperatures.  But in hotter temps, it would be nice to have more air.  Your previous "cruiser" was probably not aerodynamic at all, and that is likely the big difference from what you are used to.

[maxtog]

2009 here, and mine is a HOT bike. [...]

I've got a 2009 and it was so hot [...]

But his is a gen 2, not a gen 1 like your two bikes.  Kawasaki greatly redesigned the fairings for the gen 2 to deflect engine heat, and there is also a significant heat shield added on the exhaust pipe.  From what people have said, it made a big difference.

So this is not a valid comparison.

His problem is not engine heat, it is just too much protection from airflow.  Shorter windshield or side air deflectors are about the only "cure".  "Engine Ice" will do absolutely nothing.

[lt1]

Are you saying the bike is running hot, or that you are running hot?  Ice will often help the former, but not the latter.  If you bought from a dealer with a 3-day return policy, take it back.  If not, you will need to decide what works for you.  Typically, owners have reported that the bikes tend to not put off as much heat after they have broken it a bit.  In my case ('08 C14), it may have been that or me just getting more accustomed to the bike.  About the only time I notice the heat is when ambient is about 85F.  Cooler, and the warmth feels good, and above 85F, everything is hot anyway.  I run ATTGATT, even in 115F+, and the bike heat just doesn't bother me.  FWIW, running good gear keeps the heat off the legs.

[maxtog]

Shorter windshield or side air deflectors are about the only "cure".  "Engine Ice" will do absolutely nothing.

I should also add, if you (OP) don't have the right gear, now is the time for a change.  You will probably want to invest in a quality mesh jacket (make sure it has proper shoulder/spine/elbow armor), perforated gloves, and a helmet with good air flow.  I am in Virginia, but it can get pretty damn hot/humid here in the summer, too... I would not be able to ride without those.  Unfortunately, my Scorpion EXO-1000 helmet does not vent as well as I had hoped (at least, not in combination with the Concours' airflow pattern).

[jdanek]

I have a '10 and also live in FL.  During the first 1000 miles the bike definitely pumped out massive amounts of heat. It wasn't so bad at speed but I was baking at every traffic light.

Either the engine broke in (and now gives off less heat) or I just got used to it     A mesh jacket and gloves is a must in FL.

jdanek
2010 C14

[rcannon409]

Engine Ice is good stuff. I've ran it in my dirt bikes before.  However, its way expensive for what it is.

What it is, you can do it at home with "Sierra" and "water wetter"  You'll save tons and end up with the same thing.   Engine Ice Dave threatened me with legal action if I repeated this again,  but backed down when it was found to be true..back in 03. So, after that "incident" I've felt it to be my mission in life to inform.

[Summit670]

Engine Ice is good stuff. I've ran it in my dirt bikes before.  However, its way expensive for what it is.

What it is, you can do it at home with "Sierra" and "water wetter"  You'll save tons and end up with the same thing.   Engine Ice Dave threatened me with legal action if I repeated this again,  but backed down when it was found to be true..back in 03. So, after that "incident" I've felt it to be my mission in life to inform.

Tell us more about Sierra and water wetter.

[rcannon409]

Not much else to tell...Sierra (if 100% pure, mix 50/50 with distilled water) and water wetter is engine ice. Just mix the water wetter into the sierra as directed. 

This all started when Dave was bragging how "Pet Friendly" his engine ice was. I challenged him to drink a glass full at Daytona that year.  I said I would immediately after he did.  Well, I was there, and he never showed.  One thing led to another, and the "recipe" got out.

Again, its a great product. You just dont have to spend 30.00 to fill your bike with it.  Or, spend 30 and be able to fill 5 or 6 bikes.

[Tim]

“2009 here, and mine is a HOT bike. Inside of my legs, more so on my right are always extremely warm. Even in cool weather, as soon as I stop at a redlight here in Houston traffic, the fans are coming on immediately. Love the bike to much to get rid of it for this reason, but man, I've got to do something about it!”
Well something is up. I have a 09 and the fans don’t come on in cool weather right after stopping for a red light. Sit there for a few minutes with no air flow through the fins, the fans come on. The heat comes up through the triple tree. 
“This my first full fairing bike. Before, I only had cruisers. And with full fairing, and with gear on, you will be hotter than a crusier that have no wind protection.”
I don’t have a cruiser but I have a nekid bike. It is true on the nekid bike I’m exposed to the air much more than my C14. When it’s hot, it’s hot no matter what you are riding except the air-conditioned cage.  For riding my C14 in the heat of summer, I found a couple of things help. 1st, I have water resistant insolated boots. These boots keep my feet warm in the winter but also cool in the summer. They are Danner’s and not cheap.
Next is I have pants which cover the top of my boots even when sitting. I ordered my pants longer than normal but they don’t drag the ground with shoes or boots on.  This means when sitting in the saddle there is no exposed skin in my legs.
Mesh gear is a must!  I have a mesh jacket with elbow, shoulder and back protection but is cooler than a tee shirt when air is flowing. It’s the same for mesh pants, cooler than blue jeans when moving.  I have winter and summer full fingered gloves.  The windshield position plays an important part in keeping one cool. During the summer my shield is mostly down. I have the larger 10 and up standard shield.
Doing all of this makes life on my C14 good except when stopped at a stop light in 100+ degrees heat.  I don’t care what bike you have, it’s going to be hot. I think I have burned myself more on the nekid bike touching an exhaust pipe.
I have found in the rain, the 14 gives great protection. The hands and feet are the only things which get really wet unless you are caught in the torrential down pour where everything gets wet.
I think the mesh gear is on sale at Bike Bandit and Motorcycle super store right now. 

[Summit670]

I tried to find the Engine Ice MSDS without luck.

From what I've heard, the use of Engine Ice helps prevent boilover but it doesn't cool any better.  It helps prevent boilover but the engine does run like 20 degrees warmer.

Now, if the engine runs warmer, to me it stands to reason that maybe a person can accomplish the same thing by running a higher % of anti-freeze, like 70%.

Eh?

[rcannon409]

You can get Evans brand waterless coolant. It wont boil until 375 degrees.  However, it does not cool as well as the best, most efficient coolant ever..plain water. Yes, plain water has its drawbacks as well.

You wont find an Engine Ice MSDS since its the one supplied by Sierra. We already tried to get one!

Look at this stuff for an interesting read.  http://www.evanscooling.com/products/coolants/  I ran it in my dirt bike, in a mud race. Keeping coolant in was more important than somethign that worked well, but would boil out.  Its some odd stuff, though.

[texrider]

No info on the ICE, but some things I've changed on my '09 have reduced heat felt: Removed the so-called hot air deflectors from around the fairing side openings, and changed the exhaust to the '10 and up style, which has the heat shield by your right foot.