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Coolant system refill after leak.

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  • 19-01-2012 2:38am
    #1
    Alkers
    Registered Users Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭


    Found a puddle beside the bike yesterday and traced it to a hose under the airbox having become disconnected. Is it just a matter of reconnecting or do I need to do anything extra in particular seeing as the system is now more or less empty and hasn't been drained from the lowest point? What ratio of water/antifreeze do I need to add? Bike is a 5k SV 650s.
    As an aside the hose ran into the airbox and another runs out of it just beside, what is the purpose of running engine coolant through the airbox?


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    #2
    Interceptor
    Registered Users Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭Interceptor


    It is common to run coolant through carbs/throttle bodies to keep them warm but I've never seen coolant in an airbox. What size hose is it and where is the other end connected? Are you sure its not the overflow from the radiator?

    To refill the system, just buy premixed coolant from an auto factors - there is no need to go mixing antifreeze/water unless you are heading to the top of Norway any time soon.

    'cptr


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    #3
    Alkers
    Registered Users Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Alkers


    It seems that this may be two separate issues, a loose breather and a coolant leak. I'm going to reconnect everything now and refill the coolant in the hope of finding a leak elsewhere. Is it just a matter of refilling the coolant reservoir? It doesn't look like it is the highpoint of the system i.e. the reservoir looks to be lower than the top of the rad.


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    #4
    Interceptor
    Registered Users Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭Interceptor


    Simona1986 wrote: »
    It seems that this may be two separate issues, a loose breather and a coolant leak. I'm going to reconnect everything now and refill the coolant in the hope of finding a leak elsewhere. Is it just a matter of refilling the coolant reservoir? It doesn't look like it is the highpoint of the system i.e. the reservoir looks to be lower than the top of the rad.

    You need to refill the system through the rad cap - probably under the petrol tank (I'm not familiar with the SV) and keep an eye on the reservoir so that it is half full before you warm the engine.

    'c


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    #5
    Interceptor
    Registered Users Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭Interceptor


    Well? What did you find?

    'c


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    #6
    RosieJoe
    Registered Users Posts: 3,485 ✭✭✭RosieJoe


    BTW, on the bandit there is a hose that comes from the airbox that is used to drain rain water from the box. I have to take the cap off if once in awhile (just beside the rear brake pedal) to run the water out.

    You might have a similar set up on the SV.


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    #7
    Alkers
    Registered Users Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Alkers


    I'm just after completely flushing the coolant system and refilled it with new fluid, reattached the hose also. Will let it sit overnight and hopefully there is no puddle in the morning!


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    #8
    Interceptor
    Registered Users Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭Interceptor


    Simona1986 wrote: »
    I'm just after completely flushing the coolant system and refilled it with new fluid, reattached the hose also. Will let it sit overnight and hopefully there is no puddle in the morning!

    You'll need to start it, warm it and let the system pressurise. The real test comes when it has been ticking over long enough for the colling fan to come on and go off at least twice.

    'cptr


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    #9
    Wossack
    Registered Users Posts: 7,005 ✭✭✭Wossack


    Interceptor wrote: »
    You'll need to start it, warm it and let the system pressurise. The real test comes when it has been ticking over long enough for the colling fan to come on and go off at least twice.

    'cptr

    As above, then park it up overnight on some fresh newspaper, and see how that looks in the morning :)


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    #10
    Alkers
    Registered Users Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Alkers


    So I ran it last night up to 60C, left it overnight and then did the same again today and there have been no leaks. I'll let it warm up till the fan comes on again (100C?) before I deem it safe to ride?


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    #11
    Alkers
    Registered Users Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Alkers


    So I took it for a decent spin (it still didn't reach 100C) so when I got home I left it idling in the driveway and I kept an eye on everything. Temp eventually reached 100C and the fan came on and it cooled down fairly rapidly so everything seemed to be working normally. After I let this happen twice I turned it off and looked under the bike, there was a very small puddle (4 or 5 drops) under the bike, it was coming out of another breather pipe (the one down beside the oil drain bolt in the sump) - it was definitely coming out of this pipe, the outside of the pipe was dry. There is no leakage when the bike isn't running but the coolant does seem to be slowly draining. At the moment I'm keeping an eye on the coolant level, have topped it up since and the temperatures are fine. Any ideas how to go about tracing the leak before I just give up and drop it into the garage (am smashed broke!):o


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