July 19th, 2017, 05:20 PM | #1 |
james250ninjette.newbie
Name: james
Location: cherry hill, nj
Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 1986 ninja 250 Posts: 276
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coolant change
what the best coolant for our ninja 250
and is there a thread on how to change the coolant |
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July 19th, 2017, 05:41 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Kevin
Location: Portland, OR
Join Date: Oct 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R, Tiger 800 XRT Posts: 828
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Here's a DIY thread: https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100361
I use Engine Ice (propylene glycol), because I like its lesser toxicity. What coolant you use isn't too big a deal though. The only catch is that if you go from ethylene glycol (the green stuff) to propylene glycol (generally blue), you should flush it out as they don't get along with each other very well. Stock is ethylene glycol (green).
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July 19th, 2017, 10:19 PM | #3 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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July 20th, 2017, 05:32 AM | #4 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
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July 20th, 2017, 06:14 AM | #5 | |
Rev Limiter
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Location: WI
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Mixing with tap water is not a good idea, as it will contain minerals that will build-up in the system and produce deposits. Filtered drinking water is better in a pinch, but still contains some minerals. To the OP - coolant that is Silicate-Free is usually recommended. All Peak antifreeze is silicate free, as is most Prestone I believe, but best to confirm. Not sure about some of the non-standard coolants, but if it gets cold in your area be sure to use a coolant that is also an Antifreeze. Some are not, and you could get major engine damage if temps are consistently below freezing. |
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July 20th, 2017, 07:00 AM | #6 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
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The antifreeze I use is Prestone with GM approved DEX-COOL. It is not a premix. If you mix it 50/50 you'll have protection from -34 degrees F to 265 degrees F. If you mix it (Prestone /water) 70/30 you get protection from -84 degree F to 276 degrees F, I chose the later. I figure that if you're over 50 years of age one gallon of this Prestone for your Ninja will take you to the grave. If you're over 1 year of age and drink it it will do the same. This antifreeze is claimed to be silicate and phosphate free. That's all I know, or need to know about antifreeze. I wrote this in support of what JKV45 posted. Cheers, Bill |
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July 20th, 2017, 08:16 AM | #7 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
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I thought there were all kinds of problems reported about Dex-Cool causing corrosion and clogging radiators. On the other hand, I have not researched this to see if it's folklore or real.
edit: There must be some truth to it: http://www.reuters.com/article/gm-se...35011520080327 |
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July 20th, 2017, 09:26 AM | #8 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
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https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...Number=2090826 For me the jury is still out but not GM's I guess. One guy in the above noted blog says that the DEX-COOL has the same ingredients as other types of antifreeze. Problems also seem to be related to the types of gasket materials used. Well, I better figure on changing the coolant frequently. Thanks TJ. Bill |
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July 20th, 2017, 09:44 AM | #9 |
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Dex-cool is one of the reasons GM went bankrupt. Partly to avoid paying all the $150-mil+ settlement. This was partially paid before bankruptcy and afterwards the remaining was paid as stock in "new" GM.
Dex-cool turned out to be far from the maintenance-free 5-year/150k-mile coolant. You have to make sure to not mix any other coolant types. It must never come in contact with tap-water. And you have to inspect it regularly to make sure there's no air-gap above it under cap. Otherwise it will coagulate into a gel. Too much work to maintain I think. |
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July 20th, 2017, 09:54 AM | #10 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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July 20th, 2017, 11:10 AM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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Yeah, non-phosphate, non-silicate coolants are the ticket and there's been quite a few of them developed the past couple decades. I used Dex-cool in my Porsche back when it came out. Then when all the GM class-action lawsuits started happening, I switched to a HOAT coolant.
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July 20th, 2017, 11:41 AM | #12 | |
Rev Limiter
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I always wonder why a company like GM would want to re-invent the wheel. Going with a tried-and-true product like conventional coolant seems a much more intelligent and less expensive (especially in the long run for GM) option. |
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July 20th, 2017, 11:47 AM | #13 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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GM has serious NIH syndrome. Look at how their NUMMI experiment worked out.
At the time, GM was finally ditching all-iron engines and adopting alloy-heads. Traditional coolant touching both iron-block and alloy-heads created a battery that corroded the aluminium. Of course, many other foreign manufacturers have already figured out a coolant chemistry to work with such combination as well as extending water-pump seal life with non-phosphate/non-silicate formulaes. But... NIH, GM has to do it themselves... and came up with Dex-cool. Kinda like our stupid DOT adopting international motoring standards decades later, but having to modify them so they can claim it's home-brewed. Superior ECE lighting is still not allowed 30-years later... DOT needs to come up with their version... |
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