Coolant smell, no leaks. How to change out o rings tstat to block?

[rekit]

 Always smell it. Have tightened clamps, new cap, etc. Even put UV dye in, never found it. I am wondering about C/O those funny shaped 0-rings in the water pipe fittings. I already have the carbs off. Are they even available?

[Chrisj CMA]

If the coolant level is stable and you don't see any drips or puddles it's not leaking. This is a common issue with the 1500 flat six. I too had this issue until I changed from Honda coolant to Prestone. No more smell

[Jess from VA]

Hey Jeff, not to thread drift this guy's question, but what coolant do you recommend?  Prestone?  
I've had a jug of some "Asian Formula" coolant for a long time for the rare top ups.  What are you guys using for Valks?  

One of my Interstates continues to drip a bit on cold startup, then stops right away.  I've only had to add about a cup of coolant one time.  It's not a hose clamp, but I'm thinking it's that little bleeder screw under the water pump.  It's tight, but maybe the gasket-washer under that screw?

[Chrisj CMA]

Hey Jeff, not to thread drift this guy's question, but what coolant do you recommend?  Prestone?  
I've had a jug of some "Asian formula" coolant for a long time.  What are you guys using for Valks?  

One of my Interstates continues to drip a bit on cold startup, then stops right away.  I've only had to add about a cup of coolant one time.  It's not a hose clamp, but I'm thinking it's that little bleeder screw under the water pump.  It's tight, but maybe the gasket-washer under that screw?

Most brands are now silicate free. Prestone is to me the most well known. Never had an issue using it in the bike

[Hook#3287]

Years Decades ago Prestone would eat up the water pump seals, I know that because I used it after reading the ingredients label and silicates were not listed.

After replacing the pump, I called Prestone and they reported it was in the last listed item as "additional ingredients"

As Jeff stated, silicates are generally not added in all coolants marketed today, but I still read the ingredients out of habit and I boycott Prestone out of spite.

[Jess from VA]

Well, I need new top-up gallons of antifreeze for both my Valks and my 2017 Dodge van and am wondering if I can use the same stuff for both?  Avoiding silicates for the Valks.

I suppose I should peruse the van shop manual.

[Chrisj CMA]

Well, I need new top-up gallons of antifreeze for both my Valks and my 2017 Dodge van and am wondering if I can use the same stuff for both?  Avoiding silicates for the Valks.

I suppose I should peruse the van shop manual.

I use the same antifreeze in both 

[Hook#3287]

Well, I need new top-up gallons of antifreeze for both my Valks and my 2017 Dodge van and am wondering if I can use the same stuff for both?  Avoiding silicates for the Valks.

I suppose I should peruse the van shop manual.

Jess, your van is a gas job, not Cummings, right?

Unfortunately I didn't learn my lesson on the Valk and used the wrong coolant in my 03 Dodge Cummings 4 or 5 years later. 

Like John from Farmcraft says, "leaky, leaky, not good" 

New coolant pump.

I don't mix coolant between different vehicles or engines due to experiencing pump failures by my own doing, even though my mess ups were 20 or so years ago.

I got bike coolant, truck coolant and any other vehicle coolant.

[Jess from VA]

Thanks Bill.  Not diesel, a 285 horse FI gas straight six.

I will look at the manual for the van.

[h13man]

I occasionally smelled coolant and dismissing it to the overflow tank venting. Well I seen recently that I have a drip off the left engine guard thus leaving me to believe I got confused and didn't put sealant on right bolt on the timing cover. 

[Chrisj CMA]

I occasionally smelled coolant and dismissing it to the overflow tank venting. Well I seen recently that I have a drip off the left engine guard thus leaving me to believe I got confused and didn't put sealant on right bolt on the timing cover. 

Most likely your leak is the top hose that connects to the thermostat housing. Look with a flashlight from the left side you can see it that area is shiny=wet

[Jess from VA]

I occasionally smelled coolant and dismissing it to the overflow tank venting. Well I seen recently that I have a drip off the left engine guard thus leaving me to believe I got confused and didn't put sealant on right bolt on the timing cover.  

Most likely your leak is the top hose that connects to the thermostat housing. Look with a flashlight from the left side you can see it that area is shiny=wet

On this advice, I went out and pulled the left pod off my Interstate to access the top hose clamp.  It wasn't wiggly (it wasn't leaking much, and not at all since it has warmed up), but it took some tightening up (unlike the bottom clamp).  

Honda calls the Interstate pods 'radiator covers'.    They do not cover the radiator.  

Thanks Jeff.  

I'm taking that bike to my ace mechanic an hour South next week, and if he can fix my low beam circuit (relay?) and get my radio working again, I'll be a very happy fellow.  

[F6Dave]

When our Valks were new most coolant had silicates as corrosion inhibitors. That would damage water pump seals as many owners found out the hard way. GM's relatively new Dex-Cool was silicate free and widely available. Its organic acid technology (OAT) replaced the silicates. A favorite of Valk owners back then was the Havoline brand. Prestone now has several flavors, but I've read that their basic coolant formula is a 'Dex-Clone'.

Asian coolant is similar: phosphated OAT, or P-OAT. I've run Dex-Cool in my 2 Valks for nearly 300,000 miles. I've run the P-OAT coolant in my 2 F6Bs for over 130,000 miles. I haven't had any problems.