Water leak

[jllvalk]

I have a 1999 Interstate with 55,000 mile and I walked past it this afternoon and noticed a small puddle of water and a couple of drops of water on the under side of the engine. I live in the Seattle area and we have had a colder then usual winter (temps in the teens). It is parked in an unheated garage. I have owned the scoot for 12 years and have never had any issues with the coolant. I called my brother who lives in a much colder climate and parks his in a similar fashion and hasn't seen anything like it either. Any ideas?  Thanks

[Skinhead]

I've had mine leak from the radiator hose clamp above the thermostat housing.  It's not easy to get to, but if you are lucky you can get a long screwdriver  or a socket on a long 1/4" extension.  If you're unlucky, you have to remove the ad to get to it.

If you determine that is the source of the leak, and you have to remove the rad to get to it, I suggest installing a new wider hose clamp as opposed to the POS thin one Honda used.   This results in higher clamp load and less chance of future leaks.  Also try to position the screw so you can reach it with out removing the rad.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Mine has do that several times. I just fire bike up and let it run a few minutes and it goes away. Water pump seal seems to be the problem. My bike has 170,000 miles on it and still runs like a raped ape.

[pocobubba]

My 2001 I/S had a little puff of steam and a slight antifreeze odor at start up as the bike warmed . It was the lower rad hose clamp. I could see a little fluid weeping at the hose . I put about a half a turn on the clamp , all the clamps were a little loose , probably hadn't been touched since leaving Maryville .

[BobB]

FYI, there is a weep hole on the bottom of the coolant pump.  If that is the source of your leak, an internal seal in the pump is leaking, and the entire coolant pump has to be replaced.  That happened to my Valk a couple of years back with about 70k miles on the bike.

[5_19]

I've had mine leak from the radiator hose clamp above the thermostat housing.  It's not easy to get to, but if you are lucky you can get a long screwdriver  or a socket on a long 1/4" extension.  If you're unlucky, you have to remove the ad to get to it.

If you determine that is the source of the leak, and you have to remove the rad to get to it, I suggest installing a new wider hose clamp as opposed to the POS thin one Honda used.   This results in higher clamp load and less chance of future leaks.  Also try to position the screw so you can reach it with out removing the rad.

Mine did the same thing. After I tightening the clamp it hasn't leaked. It would do it only in cold weather.

[PhredValk]

If it's water, it isn't coolant. I doubt anyone uses water in the rad.
Fred.