September 19th, 2016, 11:27 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Spencer
Location: Goose Creek
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki Ninja Ex Posts: 75
|
what kind of coolant should I put in my ninja 250
Or the the best coolant. Can someone leave me a link so i can buy it?
|
|
September 19th, 2016, 11:32 AM | #2 |
Vintage Screwball
Name: B
Location: Washington
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '16
|
Engine Ice available at Cycle Gear or any motorcycle shop and some automotive stores. It will require a radiator flush, though, if you are currently using standard anti freeze
OR Prestone Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant Silicate Free, available at any auto parts store or WalMart. No flush required. Those are the two I use. Pretty much anything that is Silicate Free will be fine in your bike.
__________________________________________________
Goin' fast on slow bikes! |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
September 19th, 2016, 12:04 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Spencer
Location: Goose Creek
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki Ninja Ex Posts: 75
|
Okay thanks alot!
|
|
September 19th, 2016, 12:09 PM | #4 | |
EX500 full of EX250 parts
Name: Bill
Location: Grand Rapids-ish, MI
Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): '18 Ninja 400 • '09 Ninja 500R (selling) • '98 VFR800 (project) • '85 Vulcan VN700 (sold) Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 1
MOTM - Aug '15
|
Anything silicate-free and aluminum-safe is fine. You may want phosphate-free also. For the small amount of coolant used in a bike, I prefer pre-mixed coolant. It avoids needing to get distilled water and the hassle of mixing them. It works out to being a few bucks more over several years, but it's a lot simpler.
FYI, when I picked some up a couple months ago, neither the Prestone or Peak jugs mentioned being silicate/phosphate-free on them. I was expecting to be able to see it somewhere that was somewhat readily available, like the bottle or the product page on their website (checked from my phone while in the store). Here's more info I copied from my post on the 500 board then... Peak's Long Life (yellow) and Lifetime (amber) formulas are listed as being phosphate/silicate-free. Long Life Pre-Mixed is a blue jug with a yellow cap. Long Life Concentrated is a blue jug with a red cap. Lifetime Pre-Mixed is a gold jug with a red cap. Lifetime Concentrated is a gold jug with a blue cap. Prestone's FAQ makes me wonder a bit... Quote:
Their long-life coolants are labelled pretty plainly. Based on their product page, it looks like you have to go to their Prime line to get regular green coolant now. Pre-Mixed is a yellow jug with a blue cap. Concentrated is a yellow jug with a black cap.
__________________________________________________
*** Unregistered, I'm not your mom and I'm not paying for your parts, so do whatever you want with your own bike. *** |
|
|
September 19th, 2016, 12:14 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Spencer
Location: Goose Creek
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki Ninja Ex Posts: 75
|
is this the correct item? I asked because it swys its for cars and light duty trucks
https://www.walmart.com/ip/16879961?...&wl13=&veh=sem |
|
September 19th, 2016, 03:21 PM | #6 |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
Join Date: Oct 2014 Motorcycle(s): 98 Ninja 250/F12 aka ZX-2R "SERENITY", 91 Ninja 500/A5 aka ZX-5R "Phoenix", 84 Honda GL1200A "SIREN" Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 25
MOTM - Jun '17, May '16, Mar '15
|
I use Engin Ice now, but I've used the Peak 50/50 pre-mix, both work just fine for me, I have noticed that it does run a little bit with Engine Ice, but the cost may or may not offset the difference for some.
__________________________________________________
violente et ignorantia ZX-2R BLOG Twitter and Instagram = Ghostt_Scott I'm not here to change your mind, just to inform. |
|
September 19th, 2016, 03:23 PM | #7 | |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
Join Date: Oct 2014 Motorcycle(s): 98 Ninja 250/F12 aka ZX-2R "SERENITY", 91 Ninja 500/A5 aka ZX-5R "Phoenix", 84 Honda GL1200A "SIREN" Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 25
MOTM - Jun '17, May '16, Mar '15
|
Quote:
__________________________________________________
violente et ignorantia ZX-2R BLOG Twitter and Instagram = Ghostt_Scott I'm not here to change your mind, just to inform. |
|
|
September 19th, 2016, 04:14 PM | #8 | |
EX500 full of EX250 parts
Name: Bill
Location: Grand Rapids-ish, MI
Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): '18 Ninja 400 • '09 Ninja 500R (selling) • '98 VFR800 (project) • '85 Vulcan VN700 (sold) Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 1
MOTM - Aug '15
|
Quote:
That link is showing as $67.52 + $31.57 shipping through a third party seller for me though. Not sure if that's a case of jugs or just weird 3rd party pricing, but it should be ~$10 anywhere that sells auto parts, not $100. The basic link https://www.walmart.com/ip/16879961 comes up as I'd expect.
__________________________________________________
*** Unregistered, I'm not your mom and I'm not paying for your parts, so do whatever you want with your own bike. *** |
|
|
September 19th, 2016, 08:30 PM | #9 | |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
Join Date: Oct 2014 Motorcycle(s): 98 Ninja 250/F12 aka ZX-2R "SERENITY", 91 Ninja 500/A5 aka ZX-5R "Phoenix", 84 Honda GL1200A "SIREN" Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 25
MOTM - Jun '17, May '16, Mar '15
|
Quote:
__________________________________________________
violente et ignorantia ZX-2R BLOG Twitter and Instagram = Ghostt_Scott I'm not here to change your mind, just to inform. |
|
|
September 20th, 2016, 05:29 AM | #10 |
ᗧ•••ᗣ•ᗣᗣ•••ᗣ
Name: Nick
Location: NY
Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R and 2014 Triumph 675R Posts: A lot.
|
Never, DO NOT order from their online store. I ordered from there once and so did my brother and gf. My item and my brother's got lost and my gf's item got stock out on the floor to be sold at the local Walmart. First 3 times ordered, last times ordered.
__________________________________________________
Spoiler for topic:
|
|
October 2nd, 2016, 10:44 AM | #11 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Spencer
Location: Goose Creek
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki Ninja Ex Posts: 75
|
Can I just poor the prestone coolant in the coolant tank or is there something special I have to do?
|
|
October 2nd, 2016, 10:47 AM | #12 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Spencer
Location: Goose Creek
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki Ninja Ex Posts: 75
|
And is it okay if two coolants mix like I have a different kind in my radiator and I have prestone in my coolant tank.
|
|
October 2nd, 2016, 11:47 AM | #13 | |
Vintage Screwball
Name: B
Location: Washington
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '16
|
Quote:
Generally if they are the same color it's OK but best practice is for it all to come from the same bottle. NEVER mix orange and green coolants.
__________________________________________________
Goin' fast on slow bikes! |
|
|
October 2nd, 2016, 11:52 AM | #14 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Spencer
Location: Goose Creek
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki Ninja Ex Posts: 75
|
Okay so blue and green coolant don't mix.
Or is blue and green okay So is there a article,link, or video on how I can change the coolant? |
|
October 2nd, 2016, 11:59 AM | #15 |
Vintage Screwball
Name: B
Location: Washington
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '16
|
Same color ONLY. Don't mix different colored coolants.
__________________________________________________
Goin' fast on slow bikes! |
|
October 2nd, 2016, 12:59 PM | #16 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
On the other hand, my gallon jug of Advance Auto antifreeze says on the label "Universal formula, add to any color antifreeze."
|
|
October 2nd, 2016, 02:08 PM | #17 | |
Vintage Screwball
Name: B
Location: Washington
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '16
|
Quote:
Blue is typically engine ice. Engine Ice shouldn't be mixed with regular antifreeze. Yamaha uses blue coolant but I'm not sure what it is.
__________________________________________________
Goin' fast on slow bikes! |
|
|
October 2nd, 2016, 02:16 PM | #18 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
From what I can tell, Engine Ice is monopropylene glycol with a small amount of a couple additives that are probably corrosion inhibitors. It's chemically similar to ethylene glycol, and mixes well. Ethylene glycol is a little better a transferring heat then propylene glycol, but it's also more toxic, in case you plan to drink it. Independent sources confirm this, but I've seen company literature saying not to mix them. I suspect that's a self-serving warning.
As far as Spencer's questions, not mixing different colors is certainly a safe plan. Personally, I hate marketing tactics that are designed primarily to get more money from me, so I'll mix anything I want in my motorcycle(s), and if I have any odd reactions I'll report them here. |
|
October 2nd, 2016, 03:58 PM | #19 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
Here's what looks like a fairly straight article about antifreeze: http://www.baldwinfilter.com/literat...9;s/05-2R1.pdf
It looks like old fashioned ethylene glycol antifreeze is green, and other colors are now used almost randomly for the other types of antifreeze. It also looks like there is little harm in mixing different types, but to stay with particular properties you might want, obviously you should stick with antifreeze that gives you those properties. There are apparently some problems with GM's Dex-Cool antifreeze, resulting from its tendency to soften some plastics, and possibly damage gaskets. There's some sort of class action suit in progress related to this. |
|
March 28th, 2018, 07:10 PM | #20 | |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: CJ
Location: Burke
Join Date: Mar 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250r Posts: 1
|
Quote:
|
|
|
March 29th, 2018, 03:36 AM | #21 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brian
Location: NW USA
Join Date: Aug 2016 Motorcycle(s): Triumph Bonneville, Ninja 300 Posts: 204
|
... And just to make it more confusing, if you plan on doing any track days, file all of the above in the back of your brain and use Redline Water Wetter. Glycol of any flavor is a no-no on racetracks. On the other hand, Water Wetter will freeze, so you'll need to switch to green goo during the winter.
__________________________________________________
Let he who has never re-used a crush washer cast the first stone... |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
March 29th, 2018, 07:12 AM | #22 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
Also add some water-pump lubricant to your water+wetter mix
|
|
March 29th, 2018, 03:57 PM | #23 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
I would like recommendations also. Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
|
|
March 30th, 2018, 09:55 AM | #24 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
Avoid anything containing 2EHA & sebacate (DexCool & clones). They come in low-cost coolants (OEM cost) and are used as plasticizer, probably originally intended to prevent leaks in GM engines. But in actual use, it damages nylon-6,6 and silicone seals along with turning into jello when exposed to air or other coolants.
Here's good background article on coolant evolution: http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...t-fundamentals I have many European and Japanese vehicles and prefer not to buy specific coolant for each one. I've settled on Zerex G-05 HOAT phosphate-free/low-silicate coolant to use in all of them. Meets the phosphate-free requirements of European autos and low-silicate needs of Japanese ones, lasts 5-yrs/150k-miles. My wife's Corolla went 300K-miles before we sold it. Original water-pump was just starting to weep, so it lasted much, much longer than most. I suspect from careful coolant selection. On my race-bike and autos, I use MoCool. |
|
March 30th, 2018, 10:48 AM | #25 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
|
|