maintenance q's

[White trash]

Thanks for that, WT . Nice to know I got something right here (with my meger DIY home mec knoweledge ).

The 100% coolant thing is a bad habit I picked-up from a more "exprienced" biker. I'll stop following his bad habits, and let logic, reasoning & knoweledge do the thinking for me. 50/50 from here on in

Actually, I've just checked with someone who knows a lot more than me and it seems I'm talking utter plop! DOT5 is synthetic, 5.1 is mineral. Me and Wkid are both right.

[DEATH_INC.]

Agree, I've never seen a manufacturer recommend a stronger brew than 50/50 with water.

Pretty sure the stuff is actually more corrosive than plain water if mixed too strong......

[FROSTY:Me]

what was all the fuss about silicon brake fluid awile ago?--It seemed to cause spongy feeling brakes or summat like that. I use good old fashioned dot4 fluid and change it once in awile but then i'm a cheap sod and get dot4 for free at work

[DEATH_INC.]

what was all the fuss about silicon brake fluid awile ago?--It seemed to cause spongy feeling brakes or summat like that. I use good old fashioned dot4 fluid and change it once in awile but then i'm a cheap sod and get dot4 for free at work

Isn't nearly all brake fluid silicone based now?

[k14]

I think the DOT 5 fluid is better than DOT 4, but apparantly it goes off after a month or so, thus the "spongy" lever. So you would have to replace it alot more frequently. It is used on race bikes etc i think.

[White trash]

Isn't nearly all brake fluid silicone based now?

As I said, "I'm talking plop." Ignore my ramblings.

[vifferman]

If we're going to be picky, it's HYGROSCOPIC, not HYDROSCOPIC.
Sounds weird, I know, but that's what it is.
A 'hydroscope' is a device for viewing things under water, whereas "hygroscopic" means a substance readily absorbs moisture, even moisture from the air.

Also also also, it IS a good idea to use distilled water in your coolant, as tap water may contain some silicates, metal salts, etc., none of which are ideal in an engine containing mostly aluminium alloys. You can buy it relatively cheaply (i.e., cheaper than milk, petrol, antifreeze, etc.) from the supermarket. If you have the kind of battery in your bike/car/mobility scooter that needs topping up occasionally, use it for that too. I used it exclusively in my VF500's battery, and it lasted from when I bought it to when I sold it - over 7 years! Reduces sulphanation and all that...

Blah blah blah...

(Sorry - too much info in my head - it keeps leaking out....)