Radiator hoser

craha · March 24th, 2009, 10:28 PM

I recently pulled off my radiator hose while trying to install frame sliders on my bike and lost a good amount of coolant. Not a decision I'd make again but, there it is... Now I guess I need to top off and bleed the air out. Does anyone know if it is OK to just add the new coolant to the old or do I need to drain all the old and replace with the new?

Alex · March 24th, 2009, 10:55 PM

I'd just top it off. You need to add it via the radiator cap itself, not just into the overflow container. Once it's full again, it may take 2 or 3 short rides to get fully up to temp and force most of the bubbles out, before cooling down and repeating the process. On a bike with a temp gauge you can see this behavior, but as we only have a warning light, it's unlikely the engine will ever get to that high a temp to light the indicator.

craha · March 25th, 2009, 12:11 AM

No need to drain, that sounds good to me. Got it about the radiator cap and overflow. I saw that in the Service Manual. The manual also describes running with cap off while bubbles work themselves out. So, is the process you describe to fill, re-cap, ride to heat up, let cool down, and then remove cap once bike is cool?

Alex · March 25th, 2009, 12:17 AM

When you first fill it up, running it with the cap off for a short while while some bubbles make their way out isn't a bad idea. After that, turn off the bike, make sure it is still filled all the way to the top, and replace the cap. You're pretty much done at that point. Check it after 2 or 3 rides if you want to make sure that it is still filled to the top, but if your cooling system is working correctly and there was enough in the overflow, everything should be peachy without you doing anything else.

craha · March 25th, 2009, 12:22 AM

Thanks much. I'll get on that tomorrow so that I can get riding again ASAP!

g21-30 · March 25th, 2009, 02:16 PM

You should consider premixing the antifreeze with water in a 50:50 solution. Also, if you have pets, be careful and not spill the antifreeze where they could drink it. It is very tasty and very deadly. Any mixture that you have left over can be stored in a sealed container.

noche_caliente · March 29th, 2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g21-30

You should consider premixing the antifreeze with water in a 50:50 solution. Also, if you have pets, be careful and not spill the antifreeze where they could drink it. It is very tasty and very deadly. Any mixture that you have left over can be stored in a sealed container.

+1 - since you mentioned looking at the manual, you probably already saw that it calls for the mix, gut just wanted to be sure

TnNinjaGirl · March 29th, 2009, 03:33 PM

I find that by leaving the cap off of a running vehicle it (most of the time) will overflow. Keep some rags around.

March 24th, 2009, 10:28 PM	#1
craha ninjetter Name: Craig Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r Posts: 27	Radiator hoser I recently pulled off my radiator hose while trying to install frame sliders on my bike and lost a good amount of coolant. Not a decision I'd make again but, there it is... Now I guess I need to top off and bleed the air out. Does anyone know if it is OK to just add the new coolant to the old or do I need to drain all the old and replace with the new?

March 24th, 2009, 10:55 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	I'd just top it off. You need to add it via the radiator cap itself, not just into the overflow container. Once it's full again, it may take 2 or 3 short rides to get fully up to temp and force most of the bubbles out, before cooling down and repeating the process. On a bike with a temp gauge you can see this behavior, but as we only have a warning light, it's unlikely the engine will ever get to that high a temp to light the indicator. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

March 25th, 2009, 12:17 AM	#4
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	When you first fill it up, running it with the cap off for a short while while some bubbles make their way out isn't a bad idea. After that, turn off the bike, make sure it is still filled all the way to the top, and replace the cap. You're pretty much done at that point. Check it after 2 or 3 rides if you want to make sure that it is still filled to the top, but if your cooling system is working correctly and there was enough in the overflow, everything should be peachy without you doing anything else. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

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March 25th, 2009, 12:11 AM	#3
craha ninjetter Name: Craig Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r Posts: 27	No need to drain, that sounds good to me. Got it about the radiator cap and overflow. I saw that in the Service Manual. The manual also describes running with cap off while bubbles work themselves out. So, is the process you describe to fill, re-cap, ride to heat up, let cool down, and then remove cap once bike is cool?

March 25th, 2009, 12:22 AM	#5
craha ninjetter Name: Craig Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r Posts: 27	Thanks much. I'll get on that tomorrow so that I can get riding again ASAP!

March 25th, 2009, 02:16 PM	#6
g21-30 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sam Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 and ZX-12R 2000 Posts: A lot.	You should consider premixing the antifreeze with water in a 50:50 solution. Also, if you have pets, be careful and not spill the antifreeze where they could drink it. It is very tasty and very deadly. Any mixture that you have left over can be stored in a sealed container.

March 29th, 2009, 03:33 PM	#8
TnNinjaGirl Ms. Personality Name: CB Location: Murvill, TN Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): Depends on the week you ask Posts: A lot.	I find that by leaving the cap off of a running vehicle it (most of the time) will overflow. Keep some rags around.