Liquid cooling desappears

[cosmiccowboy]

Hi, my name is Giulio and I'm from Italy. I bought a Rocket III Classic on April and run for about 9.000 km (6.000 miles, I suppose) all around Italy. I had no problem till a couple of weeks ago, when I change the original pipes with empty ones. The noise, better, the music is fantastic, BUT since now, I noticed a unexplainable liquid cooling consumption. There are no spots of liquid on the engine, or on the garage's floor, but the liquid simply desappears from the liquid tank.
As my dealer has no explanation for this odd fenomenous, I hope to find an answer on forum. Anybody had the same or similar problem? Thanks and good luck! Giulio

 

[zaphod]

Hi Guilio

Worse case - head gasket? What is the oil like? Is it clean (OK) or frothy (not good)?

When you fitted the straight-through pipes did you or the dealer load a new ECU map? If not then you risk running the engine too lean and hence too hot. This could lead to the head warping and a head gasket failure.

Hopefully, you just have a leak somewhere that blows it out when under pressure. Look for tell tale signs of dried coolant on or under the engine.

Good luck.

Z

 

[zenbiker]

Coolant consumption + no leaks = head gasket leak. It has to be going somewhere and if it's not on the floor, it's going out of your exhaust. Sorry to say it but there is no alternative.

 

[TurboFan]

Hi Guilio, (I think I had an Alfa Romero by that name! :lol: )
Lots of us have had pressure caps fail. If the cap is bad it could be venting off when you are on the road and you aren't seeing a puddle in your garage by simple good luck. Check the cap, (dealer can do it easy) and then if that isn't it, start worrying that the motor is too lean and now damaged. GOOD LUCK, hope it is OK.
Martin

 

[dragline708]

Take some kleenx or toilet paper folded up
flat , start the bike let it run, till its warmed up good

then put on a pair of cheap gloves( so don't burn hands )
Hold tissue about 2 maybe 3 inches from muffler exhaust
have someone twist throttle and Rev Up 5 to 10 times , it should stay dry
If its very damp or wet , you have a head gasket blown
and its leaking by the exhaust valve ( out exhaust )

If oil is puss snotty looking color , then gasket blown on intake valve side .

Could also be warped head , crack head or block needs to be decked
( lets hope not )

ALSO
could be this but not likely its rare
Let bike get very warm , so fan comes on , sometimes but rarely
there is a micro pin hole in radiator , it only draws coolant out ( in mist ) when fan kicks on ( causing a suction )
it will get bigger over time so can see leak more easly

ALSO check for leaks in garage when bikes warm and fan kicks on
around hoses clamps , rad cap , over flow bottle and hose all around engine and under bike .
check for leaks 10 minutes after bikes stops

You could also use a dye in coolant and a black light
( as in air conditioning ) to find a leak :wink:

PS : make sure you are running the right tune in the ECU
for your exhaust combination .

wayne

 

[hawg dawg]

glad ya lending knowledge again drag!!--john

 

[dragline708]

John ,
I'm not lending my knowledge again ,
but since cosmiccowboy has only posted Once .
I figured he'd possibly miss a PM , and need , maybe
a little extra input , how to find a leak , that might not have
been posted .
There are more then enough , know it all's on this forum ,
that think they know everything .




wayne