Coolant?

[Knucklehead]

this is my first bike.. so i just wanted to know do you put mixed coolant in your bike or straight up? might be a dumb question..

[Unregistered]

mix it. Just like anything else. Be sure not to use tap water. Use distilled water instead. It has less additive in it that may end up being corrosive to the aluminum.

[Fisdu]

Originally posted by Knucklehead
might be a dumb question..

Only dumb question is the one you don't ask that ends up getting you in trouble.

This will be a good discussion since I know that there are alot of members on this board that are pretty good mechanically. Like Brian, he works in a shop and builds race engines, where as with me, I am a desk jockey and a mechanical tard. Now with that said, I change my coolant every spring and run straight coolant.

[Pete 954]

Coolant contains chemicals that protect your engine against rust and corrosion, as well as freeze-up and boil over protection.

Water is required to activate these chemicals.

Also, the water in the system is what dissipates the heat. coolant alone will not dissipate heat nearly as well. In addition to this, pure water boils at 212 degrees, pure coolant boils at about 200, a mix won't boil til about 295.

I would mix it.

[SpeedyCycles]

MOTUL sells a bike specific coolant if it matters to you. I would just make sure that your coolant is "aluminum safe" as most of them are now it seems.

Frank