Puzzled

[Darron1117]

Hello Rocketeers,

Okay, a bit baffled.
Flushed and filled radiator a month ago.
Followed directions to the T.
Overflow bottle stayed full for weeks and now, it is empty.
When I ride, the bike leaks out coolant but only after it's warmed up and I
take off. Nothing drips while bike is sitting. No trace of coolant around overflow cap.
None near radiator cap and picture shows the trail it takes when it leaks.
Should the overflow be full of coolant when bike is cold and sitting on side stand?
Why is it empty now? When I refilled radiator, it took 1 full jug (half gallon) of coolant and almost
half of another equaling about 3 quarters of a gallon to fill radiator and overflow which seems not near enough, correct?
How much coolant should be in my bike? Is this why coolant comes out?

Thanks,

 

[Kevin frazier]

Capacity is 3.2L, I know you said that directions were followed to the T, did you loosen the bolt to let air out of system when you re-filled ? Is the temp light coming on when you ride?

 

[Darron1117]

I loosened bleeder bolt until coolant ran out as I re-filled.
No temp light has ever come on.

 

[idk]

The overflow tank should NOT be full when the bike is cold. There should be enough room for excess fluid which has expanded under pressure to flow into it, and then get sucked back when it cools down and shrinks.

If you filled the overflow when it is cold, and the radiator is properly filled with no air bubbles, then it will expand into the overflow - which has no room for it. Therefore the overflow will overflow into the wide world at large, killing polar bears and koalas. Then the engine and coolant will cool down and fluid will be sucked back into the radiator, leaving air in the overflow, and making you think that there is a problem with your bike.

 

[Steel]

Wherever it's leaking is sucking air in as it cools, instead of sucking in the coolant from the reservoir bottle. It could possibly be the radiator cap is failing. It's spring loaded to let the pressure go, if it's not then the pressure is being forced out somewhere else.

 

[Joesmoe]

Thread closed - duplicate post by same captain for same problem.