Anti-Freeze

[Bad On 3]

Hi im going to change the anti-freeze on a interstate and never did it before --what is the best anti-freeze to use and do you mix it 50-50 with water and any additives to use just askin because this summer it was 90 plus and i was pullin a trailer 2 up and the temp light went on for the frist time ever in 2 years of havin this valk.interstate trike --anyone hook up the fan on a toggle switch to run it on hot days --thanks for any help --just might have been too hot and pullin alot of weight   RIDE SAFE

[Patrick]

The anti-freeze should be silca-free.. Its fairly cheap at a Honda auto garage or you can pay quite a bit at a Honda Bike garage.. Some you need to cut 50/50 and other is already to use as is..

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I changed mine back in Oct. went to a local Honda ( auto ) dealer and paid around $15.00 a gal. for the Honda brand 50/50 ready to use.

[hubcapsc]

There's a Prestone 50-50 that sez silica-free on the label... that's
what I used... available at Advance or whatever...

I really like 50-50... I hate mixing and dealing with antifreeze that's
"out of the bottle"... they say animals think it smells good, and it
is poison...

-Mike

[Jesh]

There was a thread earlier about a product from Evanscooling.com, exspensive but never needs changing. Worth a look.

[98valk]

There was a thread earlier about a product from Evanscooling.com, exspensive but never needs changing. Worth a look.

+1 been in my bike for over 10 yrs.

[BF]

It sounds like your more concerned of the warmer months and heat than winter freezing.  If your trike stays in a garage and you're not afraid of it freezing, then I'd say straight water and Water Wetter.  You can get it most anywhere....Kmart, Walmart, Autozone, etc. 

[T.P.]

This is what I use.   http://peakauto.com/antifreeze-peak-global_lifetime.shtml

[Jeff K]

I would hope that ALL coolant is silica free. 

What you are looking for is anything that is silicate free.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Yoy can run the fan with a toggle switch from the plug at the sending unit at the lower left side of radiator through the switch and  and the other side to ground. I ran mine that way for a summer when my sending unit went out. Leave the sending unit wired into the system just piggyback the wire to the switch inline.  This will also helps if you see your gonna be stopped in traffic alot.

[Ricky-D]

The best option in my opinion is to use a litmus strip occasionally to keep a check on the coolant.

Regardless of brands and what they advertise, you don't want to eat away any of the sealing surfaces on the heads and motor case.

Litmus strips will keep you an informed rider.

***

[Farther]

Litmus strips will keep you an informed rider.

What's the range of acceptable pH for antifreeze?

[salty1]

Go to the Honda auto parts at the dealership and ask for the pre-mix blue which has no silicates or borates. This anti-freeze topic is well covered on the forum. Search is your friend. 

[Ricky-D]

With the increasing number of aluminum engines and components the corrosive process is accelerated since the coolant degrades much faster in contact with aluminum than in typical cast iron engines. During the preventive maintenance of any engine, in addition to the freezing point, the pH value of the cooling system should be checked.

Most automotive manufacturers provide in the vehicle manual information about the suggested mileage or time to change the coolant. However it is important, because of the different climate and operative conditions, to measure the pH of the coolant every time the vehicle is at a scheduled service.

Extensive testing has shown that a coolant pH below 8.3 pH is not acceptable for use in engines due to its corrosive nature. The correct pH value should be maintained between 9.5 - 10.0 pH. Below 9.0 pH it is advisable to flush the cooling system and refill with a new coolant solution....EutechInstruments

***

[Farther]

That's surpizing to me.  I would have thought the pH of anitfreeze would be closer to neutral at 7.  Here's a source for test strips and additional information:  http://www.radstrips.com/

[JC]

I looked at the major brands and could not find any that still had the silicates.  That may be a problem that's past.

Most major brands do not have silicates, but many of the store and bargain brands still do (I just finished shopping for mine and found this to be the case). Stick with Prestone or Peak and you'll be fine.

[wild6]

Just gotta ask...

It doesn't look like it from your pic, but a restrictive rad cover/grill could cause overheating as well.

Wait... That wasn't a question!

[Toolman Tom]

Keep it simple!  Put in Evans Coolant no anti-freeze and water.  Evans NEVER needs changing and you don't have to add to it.  Far superior to any anti-freeze.  You don't use any water with it.  I even put it in my Corvette.  Good luck...Tom in Atlanta

[Dirty Dave]

Evans is hard to find. Why don't more performance shops stock it?

[F6Dave]

When I first bought my Valk in '98, most coolants still contained silicates.  The ones designed for GM's Dex-Cool systems were some of the few on the market that were silicate free, and Havoline was a popular brand on this board back then.  I've used it for over 225,000 miles on my 2 Valks with no issues at all.

These days nearly all brands are silicate-free, but there are exceptions.  I saw some Zerex on sale at the local Big R (farm and ranch) recently and looked at the label out of curiosity.  It contained silicates.  So it's still wise to check, because there are stories of water pump seals failing within a few hundred miles after using coolant with silicates.