July 23rd, 2011, 10:26 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: RAMN
Location: Squamish, BC Canada
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 Posts: 9
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Coolant top up
I'm new to Streetbikes and need some help.
Can I just add any coolant to what's already in the bike? |
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July 23rd, 2011, 06:20 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: W
Location: Austin, TX
Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R (sold), 2012 Tuono V4R Posts: 512
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Did you check the coolant in the coolant reserve tank? If that's at the correct level, then you do not need to top it up.
Your regular ethylene glycol coolant that you would put in a car will work just fine in the 250R, and that's what the dealer/previous probably put in (since most people will end up draining the coolant in order to do a valve adjustment). Also, what color is the coolant that was used? (Again, look at the coolant reserve tank.)
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July 23rd, 2011, 06:21 PM | #3 |
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If it's just to top up, distilled water will work just as well.
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July 23rd, 2011, 07:23 PM | #4 |
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^^^^ Yes, make sure you use distiller water and not tap water.
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July 23rd, 2011, 07:34 PM | #5 |
CPT Falcon
Name: J.Emmett Turner
Location: Newnan, GA
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According to the manual, no. According to the products themselves? Yes. The manual tells you not to mix brands and to use a very specific type for aluminum engines and such but every label you read will say that it's engineered to be safe to mix and safe for aluminum engines and such. *shrug*
The manual also says to use 90W oil to lube the chain, but who does that?! The argument is always between wax-based vs. other purpose-made lubricants with no consideration for the manual's strange request. |
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July 25th, 2011, 12:02 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org member
Name: vibhor
Location: india
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250r -2010 Posts: 60
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I have a 2010, ninja 250.
I am using the castrol coolant which says incase of topup, use without mixing with distilled water. Question: I live in a hot country like India, where the normal temperature ranges from 20-40 degree centigrade. And the main purpose of the coolant is to act as an anti-freeze.(when concentrated) so Do i really require a concentrated coolant in my radiator or can i dilute it with water.??? |
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July 25th, 2011, 03:25 PM | #7 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Ichiro
Location: So.Cal. Long Beach.
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250r(sold). 2013 Kymco Super8 150 Posts: 223
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Do not dilute it. Not only does coolant lower the freezing point of water, it also raises the boiling point so follow the instructions.
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July 25th, 2011, 03:53 PM | #8 |
ModMy250.com
Name: Tri
Location: St, Louis
Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R, 2005 R6 Posts: A lot.
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That was his point though. He wants to raise the boiling point so his bike doesn't over heat. Most coolant in vehicles require a 50/50 mix with water. Pre-mixed solutions are already 50/50 coolant & water. You can go as far as 30/70 coolant/water if you really wanted to. Anything beyond that and the lubrication effects from the coolant begins to diminish. I know road racers who run all distilled water. On the flipside, unless the manual really states to add unmixed concentrated coolant, then that's what you should do. Although I've never seen that. When stores sell unmixed coolant, they expect that the buyers will be mixing in the water themselves. It makes it more cost efficient to the buyer.
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July 25th, 2011, 04:10 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Ichiro
Location: So.Cal. Long Beach.
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I'm not sure about that. The way I read his post,he thinks that the main purpose of coolant is to act as "antifreeze" i.e keep the water from freezing.Since he lives in a hot climate, he is not worried about freezing so he thinks he doesn't need as much "antifreeze". As a result, he wants to dilute it contrary to the instructions. I don't think he understands that the coolant acts to raise the boiling point.
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July 25th, 2011, 05:23 PM | #10 | ||
ModMy250.com
Name: Tri
Location: St, Louis
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July 25th, 2011, 06:25 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Ichiro
Location: So.Cal. Long Beach.
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So he thinks you raise the boiling point by diluting the coolant i.e increasing the water to coolant ratio. You don't turn "antifreeze" into "antiboil" by diluting it. If his thinking is correct, pure water would have a higher boiling point than a coolant +water mixture and that is not the case.The same coolant not only lowers the freezing point, but raises the bp of the mix as well so the coolant is just as important in a hot climate as a cold one.
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July 25th, 2011, 07:09 PM | #12 |
ModMy250.com
Name: Tri
Location: St, Louis
Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R, 2005 R6 Posts: A lot.
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No, he's not saying he's going to replace the coolant with water. Just that he wants to increase the water ratio of the coolant mixture. If done right, it will raise the boiling point of the mixture.
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July 26th, 2011, 05:26 AM | #13 | |||||
ninjette.org member
Name: vibhor
Location: india
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250r -2010 Posts: 60
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Want to know.. like if 100% water is used . it boils at 100 degree. if 100% coolant is used.. it boils at ??? degree. if 30% coolant -70% water is used, it boils at .....??? degrees. Thanks to all for replying. |
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July 26th, 2011, 08:03 AM | #14 | |
ModMy250.com
Name: Tri
Location: St, Louis
Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R, 2005 R6 Posts: A lot.
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The boiling point of a 70/30 - coolant/water mixture would be 113 C / 235 F in atmosphere. For a 50/50 mix, it's 106 C / 223 F. However, remember what I said about using too much coolant. You may raise the boiling point of the coolant, but it will also reduce any positive cooling in your system. In the system, the number goes much higher and is dependent on how much pressure is in the system. The pressure is defined by which coolant cap you use. If you are experiencing high temps, try using a 30/70 - coolant/water mix and a bottle of Redline Water Wetter. I used that mix in my old turbo car and that helped keep it from overheating.
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July 26th, 2011, 08:36 AM | #15 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Ichiro
Location: So.Cal. Long Beach.
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250r(sold). 2013 Kymco Super8 150 Posts: 223
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Quote:
My simple point is that the manufacturer has considered the effects of dilution on freezing and boiling points and has created a ratio of water to coolant that maximizes the efficiency of the mixture. Since they have recommended that you not dilute it with water when topping up, my feeling is that if you do dilute it, it will reduce the efficiency of the mixture. Ultimately you can do whatever you like. I am just saying since I am not a scientist, I would follow the mfg recommendation. |
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July 26th, 2011, 09:09 AM | #16 |
GDTRFB
Name: Drew
Location: SE PA
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 - sold 2005 EX500R project Posts: 496
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You could consider an aftermarket oil cooler if you are concerned with running hot. DaBlue1 got one from Thailand.
http://www.ninja250forum.com/forum/i...p?topic=2992.0
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July 26th, 2011, 10:48 AM | #17 | |||
ninjette.org member
Name: vibhor
Location: india
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250r -2010 Posts: 60
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I think we do not get it in India. will keep the above points into consideration. The castrol coolant is very thick and frothy , so thought of adding some water to it, will remember the 70/30 rule. Any one having idea about how the coolant from motul is? Motucool.. or something? |
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July 26th, 2011, 11:04 AM | #18 |
ModMy250.com
Name: Tri
Location: St, Louis
Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R, 2005 R6 Posts: A lot.
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Waterwetter is a coolant additive. Sold in just about every US auto parts shop. Not sure about India. Maybe you can get it imported?
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=74&pcid=10
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August 1st, 2011, 06:28 AM | #19 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: RAMN
Location: Squamish, BC Canada
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 Posts: 9
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So I ended up going to my dealer and he said, normaly you can just use the same colour of coolant... ie: If it is green, use another green coolant if it is blue, use blue. One of the differances I was told is one is really toxic and the other isnt... (so if you have a cat, dont let it lick up the green coolant, I hear they really like it for some reason...)
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August 17th, 2011, 04:26 AM | #20 | |
CBR250R Traitor
Name: Jon
Location: Greater Philadelphia Area
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