Changed my coolant and now what????

[sawdustar]

I hate to keep asking questions, but I sure would like to know.....

I just got this Valk...1997 Touring Edition. 70K miles on it. Really clean bike, well kept.
I changed the oil and filter and all is fine.
I changed the coolant and now the coolant tank under the side cover it totally empty.!! I know that I was smelling the smell of hot coolant when I took the first 50 mile ride after the coolant change. What's up with my coolant being gone out of the tank under the left side cover??

[pancho]

hey sawduster,,, probably had some air pockets in the coolent system, and sucked the coolent out of the tank after a ride and it cooled down. Top off the radiator when it is cool, and put coolent into the overflow tank up to the cool mark,, should be OK as long as there are no leaks.

[sawdustar]

Thanks. I'll need to go and buy some more coolant. I ran it while I was still changing the coolant. I usually drain the system, cap it all off, fill the radiator until I can't fill it any more, crank and run the bike for a couple of minutes, blip the throttle a few times, let idle for several more seconds. If the radiator is full, I then top off the overflow tank and close it all up. I found no leaks....even after the ride.

My son had an issue with his VT1100C2.....it would pour steam and coolant out the overflow tube and all but totally drain the coolant from the bike. Ended up being the radiator cap needed replacing and that fixed his issue.

I just don't want to burn this bike up. I love this thing way too much to allow that to happen. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Also check your coolant drain bolt. Mine was slightly dirty and not making a good seal. Wouldn't notice leakage while sitting but when up to temp would leak slightly .

[pancho]

We do like our Valks..... pretty good motors,,, don't hear much about burning them up.  Good to see someone close.

[MP]

I have had to bend the tabs on the rad cap before.  To make it tighter.  If too loose, it will allow liquid/steam to escape the cap, and will suck air in when cooling, instead of from the overflow.

MP

[sawdustar]

OK...I checked the rad coolant level this morning before heading off to work. It was completely full of coolant. The only thing now is to narrow down why the overflow tank goes empty.

[Bone]

You said you top off the overflow tank. Mine has a full line is that where you top it off at the full line ?
There has to be room for expansion.

[sawdustar]

You said you top off the overflow tank. Mine has a full line is that where you top it off at the full line ?
There has to be room for expansion.

No, I filled it to the bottom line on the tank. Of course it is now Empty of all fluid....so I gotta find where it's going.

[Bone]

Ok I had to get my owners manual. 2 lines upper and lower the level should be between those 2 lines, that's what mine has

I would add more coolant to the overflow tank and see where the level ends up after your next ride. There are places for air to hide and the coolant will fill those causing the level to go down in the overflow tank.

[R J]

I'd say since you didn't burp the system it is trying to burp itself.

[custom1]

Is it empty as soon as you shut the bike off or after it has cooled down?

[sawdustar]

Is it empty as soon as you shut the bike off or after it has cooled down?

An excellent question.!!!!!
I know it was filled to the line AFTER I had burped the system upon filling the rad with coolant. Once I was sure the rad will full and burped pretty well, I capped it and moved to the overflow tank, filled it to the top line first time through. Took a 1 hour ride and check the tank next morning. Empty. I know I had been smelling hot coolant the whole ride.

Radiator is full and fine. I may have a leak in the line that runs between the tank and the rad. I haven't been away from the day job long enough to have the time to check it in full detail.

[trout dude]

Check the o-ring on thermostat housing and all clamps mine was leaking from there and a few clamps you will have to pull  radiator to do this but better safe than sorry. Hope this helps
  Trout Dude

[pancho]

A common cause of problems with this system is a pinched hose running from the radiator to the overfill tank,, this causes over pressure to blow out around the cap. Check the hose where it goes between the radiator and frame,, it't got a pretty sharp bend there,, you may want to pull the the fuel tank and inspect/replace the entire line.

[sawdustar]

OK....I removed the overflow tank, cleaned it out because it had trash in it and rinsed it out really good. The hoses appeared to be ok. I put the tank back on the bike, hooked up the hoses and filled it to the UPPER mark on the tank with the bike on the side stand. I will take the bike on a longer ride and see where I stand with the coolant after that. Maybe more news early next week.

[pancho]

Well, you will see then, but you did say  "Empty. I know I had been smelling hot coolant the whole ride." so I sort of think there may be a bit of a problem there to chase down.....  One step at a time   .....

[salty1]

Sawduster is your reservoir leaking, small crack?

[sawdustar]

Sawduster is your reservoir leaking, small crack?

I didn't see nor experience any leak from the tank....but I will know for sure today as to if it's holding coolant or not. 

[LoBug504]

A little different experience but worth a try maybe...2005 Honda Civic doing the exact same thing, thought it was the head gasket, changed the head gasket, water pump, thermostat...wound up being a bad radiator cap. The tell tale was that the system would never pressure up. The hoses would stay soft, put on a new OEM cap and voila she works great now...$500 spent for a damn $18 radiator cap...

Worth a try??

- Lo

[saab9k]

A little different experience but worth a try maybe...2005 Honda Civic doing the exact same thing, thought it was the head gasket, changed the head gasket, water pump, thermostat...wound up being a bad radiator cap. The tell tale was that the system would never pressure up. The hoses would stay soft, put on a new OEM cap and voila she works great now...$500 spent for a damn $18 radiator cap...

Worth a try??

- Lo

\


yes always find the problem first.

[Chiefy]

A common cause of problems with this system is a pinched hose running from the radiator to the overfill tank,, this causes over pressure to blow out around the cap. Check the hose where it goes between the radiator and frame,, it't got a pretty sharp bend there,, you may want to pull the the fuel tank and inspect/replace the entire line.

Found mine pinched off when I tried to shoot some canned air through it.  I wasn't losing any coolant though.  Was servicing the system when I replaced the water pump.

I have never ever done a cooling system service on a car or a bike where I didn't smell coolant on the first ride after finishing.  Coolant level in reservoirs always change on the first run.   Seems like the system is dealing with air pockets and finding its "level" on the first run.   Re-fill it to the proper level and ride it again.  Don't fret if it still goes down a little.  If it keeps emptying, then dig in.

[sawdustar]

OK.....

Good news!!!! I have made a couple of rides and the coolant level in the reservoir tank is now stable and holding coolant as it should. I'm happy that this issue is now over.

Thanks to everyone for tips, checks, advice, and imparted wisdom. Much appreciated.! 

[Chiefy]

OK.....

Good news!!!! I have made a couple of rides and the coolant level in the reservoir tank is now stable and holding coolant as it should. I'm happy that this issue is now over.

Thanks to everyone for tips, checks, advice, and imparted wisdom. Much appreciated.! 

Cool, but what are you doing here?  Go ride that bad boy.