Which cooling fluid?

[G4L4XY]

Hey guys,

Looking at changing my fluids at the moment. I've changed the brake fluid fine. (however the fronts are still spongy, this may be due to 3mm being left on the pads not sure, they're due for a change though) (and the RHS nipple leaks when squeezing the brake thingy)

Which type of fluid should I be using for my bike. Should I go to a bike store or can anything be used (the manual says "use only high quality (expensive) ethylene glycol antifreeze containing corrosion protection inhibitors for use in aluminum engines)

Which brand do you use?

[G4L4XY]

I think visiting your local bike shop would be a good option, see what they have in stock/advise. You could check out their website also, here is a link.

http://www.hondahamilton.co.nz/store...?ProductId=481

[Akzle]

wet green stuff.
End of.

[F5 Dave]

Whoa, serious personality defect there? Are you answering your own questions in 3rd person?

Or are you silly enough to let your flatmate on your log-on?

$18 worth of Castrol antifreeze from M10 would be just dandy. Or anything else from a bike shop or for that matter a carshop.

You don't mention which bike, but often it is a good idea to flush system both directions with a hose for a while. 90s Yams seem to corrode & colour the water for instance so it is best to take out the thermostat & flush both ways.


WAIT! Did you write :

. . . (and the RHS nipple leaks when squeezing the brake thingy)

?!??!?!

Does this not seem excedingly dangerous to you? It should. Take the nipple out & inspect the surface & the caliper surface. Find out why, clean or replace as required. Don't ride it like this.

[AllanB]

wet green stuff.
End of.

Stuff I use is blue.

Elf brand. Premixed motorcycle coolant.

Your local bike shop will stock suitable coolant. Also pop down to Supercheap and buy a 5 litre container of distilled water and once you empty the existing coolant run the water through the system to flush out the existing coolant. Once running clear, drain all water and fill with your new coolant.
when filling up do it slowly to avoid getting air in the pipes/engine and don't forget to burp the system.

[TimeOut]

I'd be seriously concerned about the spongy brakes.
It's not the pads you have air in the system that needs to come out

[G4L4XY]

Whoa, serious personality defect there? Are you answering your own questions in 3rd person?


WAIT! Did you write :
?!??!?!

Does this not seem excedingly dangerous to you? It should. Take the nipple out & inspect the surface & the caliper surface. Find out why, clean or replace as required. Don't ride it like this.

yes answering my own post because noone else does

The nipple leaks when I have it open when bleeding the brakes, not when I'm riding

[F5 Dave]

what do you mean open? You are very strange.

[SMOKEU]

If the manual doesn't specify which coolant to use, then use any ethylene glycol coolant mixed 50:50 with water (unless of course it's premixed coolant that doesn't need any water added).

[Akzle]

If the manual doesn't specify which coolant to use, then use any ethylene glycol coolant mixed 50:50 with water (unless of course it's premixed coolant that doesn't need any water added).

now thatd depend on your altitude and the season there now space cadet.

[Katman]

And another point to remember, the stronger you mix engine coolant the less effective it is in doing it's job of cooling the engine.

[Banditbandit]

The nipple leaks when I have it open when bleeding the brakes, not when I'm riding

That's not a leak - that's supposed to happen.

When you squeeze the brake lever it pressurises the system - open the valve and it pumps out brake fluid as well as air - when it pumps out only fluid and no air then you have completed the job and there is no air in the system. (When I set up brakes I run a small tube from the valve to an older clean plastic brake fluid container so I can reuse the good fluid - but I do dump old fluid. )

If your brakes are still spongey after you've bleed them then you still have air in the system.

[F5 Dave]

But the left doesn't do it? Nah I'm starting to think this chap should put down the spanners & take it to a mechanic.

[Banditbandit]

Yeah. Messing up working on an engine can be expensive. Messing up working on brakes can be fatal.

[ktm84mxc]

You can use Motul's mix as well most bike shops can get it for you.
Bleeding brake lines is a job best done right as the results of a poor job may not give you a chance to fix it.