Yamaha Zeal 250, liquid cooled?

**Dean** · 7th March 2009, 19:48

Hi everyone, i just got me a 1995 yamaha zeal 250, am loving it will post pics soon, anyway i know it is liquid cooled, this is a really noob question so bear with me please. Can i just fill it up with water or is there some sort of?? my dad found the liquid cooling thing and it is low and my bike temp light has turned on a few times.
I really want to take her out for a spin and open her up through the twisties before midnight , so if anyone can help me out with this soon.Any help will be much appreciated, i dont want to sound too rushed.

**Neon** · 7th March 2009, 19:53

If you want to take her for a spin, water is fine. You can get proper coolant and change it later by disconnecting a radiator hose and draining the system. Probably wouldn't do it any harm to do a coolant change either.

Have fun!

**Dean** · 7th March 2009, 20:03

Originally Posted by Neon

If you want to take her for a spin, water is fine. You can get proper coolant and change it later by disconnecting a radiator hose and draining the system. Probably wouldn't do it any harm to do a coolant change either.

Have fun!

Will it preform properly with me redlining it if i don't put in any water before i go out?

**Neon** · 7th March 2009, 20:26

Well, you said yourself that the light's on already. I certainly wouldn't be giving it death with any part of the system operating at sub-standard level. Water is fine short term.

**FJRider** · 7th March 2009, 20:31

If you spend all the riding time at redline... it wont last long at all. No matter how much coolent you have in it.

**Dean** · 7th March 2009, 20:48

Im not going to redline the bike all the time tonight, but im going to test to see how it handles (up there^) speed through corners.
Will be of now, thankyou Neon and FJRider for the help/advice, will post pics of the bike tommorow, cheers.

**ducatilover** · 7th March 2009, 20:51

it wont be too bad with water in it. but i would say as all others do, keep the coolant level right, with coolant!

**erik** · 7th March 2009, 22:15

It's just a temperature warning light, right? Is your cooling fan working? I don't think the temperature warning light should come on unless something's wrong and it's getting too hot. The fan should switch on and cool the bike down before the warning light comes on.

For the coolant you're best to use a 50/50 mix of antifreeze/distilled water. You can get a 10L container of distilled water from the supermarket for not much.

**Dean** · 8th March 2009, 19:37

New yellow paint job, went well yesterday on PRIVATE ROADS, am really loving the zeal 50/50 on touring ability though.It has the power- 16 revs red line, at about 7 revolutions (less than half revs) i can cruise at 120kph with plenty more pull left to about 10 grand where I'm around 150kph (was windy and on a PRIVATE ROAD).But petrol wise I'm sure i filled it up to near( about $19) full and it only lasted 160ks before my tank is reduced to reserve . But very loud,a mix between a throaty rumble when idling and a f1 car when twisting the throttle, good of the lights, should keep me occupied till my full licence.
Any other zeal owners out there?

**breakaway** · 8th March 2009, 19:44

That looks like a it's in good condition. Don't bin it!

**Reido** · 8th March 2009, 19:46

Originally Posted by Dean

New yellow paint job, went well yesterday on PRIVATE ROADS, am really loving the zeal 50/50 on touring ability though.It has the power- 16 revs red line, at about 7 revolutions (less than half revs) i can cruise at 120kph with plenty more pull left to about 10 grand where I'm around 150kph (was windy and on a PRIVATE ROAD).But petrol wise I'm sure i filled it up to near( about $19) full and it only lasted 160ks before my tank is reduced to reserve . But very loud,a mix between a throaty rumble when idling and a f1 car when twisting the throttle, good of the lights, should keep me occupied till my full licence.
Any other zeal owners out there?

oi noob check you're PMs

looks nice btw, cant wait to ride it. hehehehe

**FJRider** · 8th March 2009, 19:51

Originally Posted by Dean

New yellow paint job, went well yesterday on PRIVATE ROADS, am really loving the zeal 50/50 on touring ability though.It has the power- 16 revs red line, at about 7 revolutions (less than half revs) i can cruise at 120kph with plenty more pull left to about 10 grand where I'm around 150kph (was windy and on a PRIVATE ROAD).But petrol wise I'm sure i filled it up to near( about $19) full and it only lasted 160ks before my tank is reduced to reserve . But very loud,a mix between a throaty rumble when idling and a f1 car when twisting the throttle, good of the lights, should keep me occupied till my full licence.
Any other zeal owners out there?

Up and down through the gears, you will use more petrol than you would touring. Especially if you are testing it out. How many litres in a tank ?

**Dean** · 8th March 2009, 19:57

Originally Posted by Reido

oi noob check you're PMs

looks nice btw, cant wait to ride it. hehehehe

Definitely bro, you can take it for a thrash this weekend, i havent really taken it past 10 revs , i think it could do 180kph through the new tunnel

Its a bit to loud for my liking, i dont know if it has a performance exhaust but now my neighbours hate me even when im going slow as i can the bike is just throaty then like a hornet/ cbr sound when accelerating.

**ducatilover** · 8th March 2009, 19:59

180kph would be asking a bit much wouldn't it? gotta love private road testing

**Reido** · 8th March 2009, 20:02

Originally Posted by Dean

Definitely bro, you can take it for a thrash this weekend, i havent really taken it past 10 revs , i think it could do 180kph through the new tunnel

Its a bit to loud for my liking, i dont know if it has a performance exhaust but now my neighbours hate me even when im going slow as i can the bike is just throaty then like a hornet/ cbr sound when accelerating.

let me take it for a blat at lunch time! i have free bock last block!