Coolant Change Out

dogdoc · 07-20-2008, 06:23 PM

Well, I'm near 3 yrs this Oct on my '05 and since the manual says change it every 3 yrs I said lets Get 'ur Done. I took BD's advice and just blocked up the rear of the tank with a 4x4 chunk. Draining the old was easy. Filling it up with water or coolant was damn hard. I used a oil filling thing i bought at wally world with a container on top and a clear hose at the bottom. Removing tank would have been easier but I like it hard. I flushed radiator 2X then added new prestone 50-50 Also flushed side over- flow tank and added new there too. Took about 2 hrs and some new words I have picked up on this forum. All is working well now. :-)

blowndodge · 07-20-2008, 06:46 PM

good work doc. I had a little easier time "refilling" I guess!

cactusjack · 07-20-2008, 08:50 PM

Should have just bought the 50/50 premixed coolant, it's a lot easier to deal with. Is the Prestone formulated for aluminum cooling systems?

blowndodge · 07-20-2008, 09:01 PM

I used the "Low Tox" crap and it said on the lable safe for aluminum. I don't use 50/50 either. I'm using 70/30 water to coolant. I change out yearly.

dogdoc · 07-20-2008, 09:08 PM

I did buy the 50-50 which is simple, but getting the tip to the refill hose in the radiator fill neck and doing 3-4 other things at the same time is hard. Not impossible but not easy. next time i will try tank removal just to get more knowledge on that item.

cactusjack · 07-20-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc (Lonewolf)

I did buy the 50-50 which is simple, but getting the tip to the refill hose in the radiator fill neck and doing 3-4 other things at the same time is hard. Not impossible but not easy. next time i will try tank removal just to get more knowledge on that item.

Sorry, I thought you said you had to add water and coolant separately. I had to raise my tank yesterday to install my fuel processor, I'm glad I didn't have to completely remove it. I could get the tank off my C50T in about 5 minutes, the Nomad is a bit more complicated, or so it appears.

ells · 07-20-2008, 09:58 PM

Had my indie change out the coolant last week and he charged 1.5 hours labor, quite reasonable I figure from what I hear of the process. Someday, when I have more time, I'll do more of of that sort of thing myself but now it is the only way it will get done.

dogdoc · 07-21-2008, 01:43 PM

thx Ells for the quote. I was wondering what a dealer would charge and I was real close. Taking the tank off is not hard and only would take 15 minutes. makes the job much easier.

spirello · 07-21-2008, 02:43 PM

Removing the tank is pretty simple. the fuel line has a quick dissconnect you just push in the tabs and pull it off. take off the chrome speedo cover unplug the two connectors under there. pull off the vent hose on the right front of tank. remove the front tank bolt and the two rear bolts. and there are two plugs under the seat disconnect them and its off. I was a little scared the first time i did it,but once you do it you will be kicking yourself for fighting with it all this time. it takes me mayby five minits.

07-21-2008, 10:04 PM

Lots of coolants advertized as "safe for aluminum engines" or "safe for all engines" are NOT silicate free.

Some coolants use silicates which can play hob with the Nomad water pump.

Pro Honda Cool is Silicate free for sure (but it's not cheap.) That's what I've been using.

ells · 07-22-2008, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spirello

Removing the tank is pretty simple. the fuel line has a quick dissconnect you just push in the tabs and pull it off. take off the chrome speedo cover unplug the two connectors under there. pull off the vent hose on the right front of tank. remove the front tank bolt and the two rear bolts. and there are two plugs under the seat disconnect them and its off. I was a little scared the first time i did it,but once you do it you will be kicking yourself for fighting with it all this time. it takes me mayby five minits.

Should be able to, but can't tell from the pic, is yours a 1600? Just curious if there is any much difference between the procedure between 1600s and 1500s since they have different tanks.

spirello · 07-22-2008, 12:47 PM

Ells Mine is a 1600 like yours. Im not sure how to take off a 1500 ive never had one. good luck to you. It really is easy.

doctorgski · 07-22-2008, 02:43 PM

What about Kawasaki aluma-cool, is that silicate free??? I would hope so as it's a Kawasaki product. Sure hope so, that's what the shop used to change mine this last Feb.

**Top Cat** · 07-22-2008, 02:51 PM

If they are silicate free shouldn't it state that on the container ???

07-22-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

If they are silicate free shouldn't it state that on the container ???

It seems like it should, but evidently it doesn't always. I wouldn't take any chances myself.

And yes, the Kawasaki stuff is fine and it is reported to be silicate free. I bought the Honda stuff because our local Big-4 dealer didn't have the Kawi coolant in stock.

07-20-2008, 06:23 PM	#1
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Coolant Change Out Well, I'm near 3 yrs this Oct on my '05 and since the manual says change it every 3 yrs I said lets Get 'ur Done. I took BD's advice and just blocked up the rear of the tank with a 4x4 chunk. Draining the old was easy. Filling it up with water or coolant was damn hard. I used a oil filling thing i bought at wally world with a container on top and a clear hose at the bottom. Removing tank would have been easier but I like it hard. I flushed radiator 2X then added new prestone 50-50 Also flushed side over- flow tank and added new there too. Took about 2 hrs and some new words I have picked up on this forum. All is working well now. :-) Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-20-2008, 06:46 PM	#2
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Coolant Change Out good work doc. I had a little easier time "refilling" I guess! __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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07-20-2008, 08:50 PM	#3
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Coolant Change Out Should have just bought the 50/50 premixed coolant, it's a lot easier to deal with. Is the Prestone formulated for aluminum cooling systems? __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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07-20-2008, 09:01 PM	#4
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Coolant Change Out I used the "Low Tox" crap and it said on the lable safe for aluminum. I don't use 50/50 either. I'm using 70/30 water to coolant. I change out yearly. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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07-20-2008, 09:08 PM	#5
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Coolant Change Out I did buy the 50-50 which is simple, but getting the tip to the refill hose in the radiator fill neck and doing 3-4 other things at the same time is hard. Not impossible but not easy. next time i will try tank removal just to get more knowledge on that item. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-20-2008, 09:58 PM	#7
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Coolant Change Out Had my indie change out the coolant last week and he charged 1.5 hours labor, quite reasonable I figure from what I hear of the process. Someday, when I have more time, I'll do more of of that sort of thing myself but now it is the only way it will get done.
	0

07-21-2008, 01:43 PM	#8
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Coolant Change Out thx Ells for the quote. I was wondering what a dealer would charge and I was real close. Taking the tank off is not hard and only would take 15 minutes. makes the job much easier.
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07-21-2008, 02:43 PM	#9
spirello Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: VANCOUVER WA Posts: 576	Coolant Change Out Removing the tank is pretty simple. the fuel line has a quick dissconnect you just push in the tabs and pull it off. take off the chrome speedo cover unplug the two connectors under there. pull off the vent hose on the right front of tank. remove the front tank bolt and the two rear bolts. and there are two plugs under the seat disconnect them and its off. I was a little scared the first time i did it,but once you do it you will be kicking yourself for fighting with it all this time. it takes me mayby five minits.
	0

07-21-2008, 10:04 PM	#10
Guest Posts: n/a	Coolant Change Out Lots of coolants advertized as "safe for aluminum engines" or "safe for all engines" are NOT silicate free. Some coolants use silicates which can play hob with the Nomad water pump. Pro Honda Cool is Silicate free for sure (but it's not cheap.) That's what I've been using.
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07-22-2008, 12:47 PM	#12
spirello Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: VANCOUVER WA Posts: 576	Coolant Change Out Ells Mine is a 1600 like yours. Im not sure how to take off a 1500 ive never had one. good luck to you. It really is easy.
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07-22-2008, 02:43 PM	#13
doctorgski Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ft Myers FL Most of the time Posts: 218	Coolant Change Out What about Kawasaki aluma-cool, is that silicate free??? I would hope so as it's a Kawasaki product. Sure hope so, that's what the shop used to change mine this last Feb.
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07-22-2008, 02:51 PM	#14
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Coolant Change Out If they are silicate free shouldn't it state that on the container ??? __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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