Ummmmm... Don't Be Like Warchild.....

[Warchild]

It is prudent that one should at least try to maintain a reasonable change interval when it comes to consumable maintenance items. One really shouldn't blow off factory recommendations, simply because one is constantly keeping the Hayabusa on the road... or because of the huge, Huge DOUBLE ***-pain of removing *both* side fairings on the K8.... :glare:

The K8 Service Manual calls for replacing the coolant every two years. My K8 is a mere 12 months old... so I'm good, right?

Um, no. The Service Manual Maintenance Schedule sorta alludes to a mileage figure of 7500 for 24 months... which, IMO, is stupid low, but that is what is printed in the Schedule on Page 0B-1.

So at 31,000 miles, I suppose I am a little tardy changing out the coolant. Upon doing so this morning... I am scratching my head trying to remember the last time I saw coolant that was THIS dark (in 1/2 gallon jug below). No, it's not oil, and as you can see in the small amount of spillage, it is still green, but DAYUMN, this appears pretty damn dark to me.

Erm.... suspect I shouldn't wait so long next time.

Don't be like Warchild...

maintain your change intervals, peeps...

 

[RockiesRider]

Not to self...When it comes to regular maintenance... DON"T BE LIKE DALE!!!!

In other aspects...well let's just say the commitee is still out on that. B)

 

[terrysig]

care to hazard a guess as to why so dark?

i've been waaaaay tardy in changing out the coolant in autos and dirtbikes and have never seen it dark - unless there was an issue with gasket somewhere :glare:

it may however be a artifact of the picture?

The stuff just doesn't seem to breakdown IMHO???

 

[Geezer]

care to hazard a guess as to why so dark?
i've been waaaaay tardy in changing out the coolant in autos and dirtbikes and have never seen it dark - unless there was an issue with gasket somewhere :glare:

it may however be a artifact of the picture?

The stuff just doesn't seem to breakdown IMHO???

I was thinking the same thing. I wonder if mebbe Suzuki put some anti leak stuff in there from the factory like the auto manufacturers do.

 

[Warchild]

care to hazard a guess as to why so dark?

I wish I could come up with a reason, but truthfully... I just don't know, not in this case anyway.

The stuff just doesn't seem to breakdown IMHO???

I am of that same opinion... the only time a chemical breakdown would occur is if there was a second chemical introduced into the propylene glycol solution... gas, oil, gasket material, something. But although the coolant was certainly darker then accustomed to, it still appears to be "pure" in that it is not a cloudy solution, nor does it appear to have any suspended particular matter. It's just... dark.

About the only thing I might be able to even suspect as a culprit is continuous exposure to such massive heat over the 10 months/31,000 miles of use. The 1340cc K8 motor can be one massively hot powerplant (duh), and blasting through the burning desert West in summer only aggravates the situation.

The dark coolant doesn't really have any unusual odor, it still has that slightly "sweet" aroma that we normally associate with propylene glycol-based antifreeze.... though it seems less pungent than the fresh jug of Prestone that is going to replace it.

So... I dunno....

 

[radman]

Additive package breakdown, and oxidized aluminum and hose particles contaminating the liquid. Normal, not good to wait till it's that bad, but still present to some degree in all used coolant. The first change usually shows the most, especially hose particles, subsequent changes are usually less loaded. As a side note, you'd be surprised how long water pumps and radiators last with a more frequent change of coolant-I change coolant yearly in my cars, and have yet to replace a water pump, including a Bonneville that went 288,000 miles on the original water pump/radiator. Heater core did take a ****, but the GM H body of that vintage were famous for it, so I don't consider it related. In this case, salt laden moisture inducted through the HVAC during winter months had taken it's toll on both the core/evap package, and both were corroded from the outside in.

 

[wfooshee]

Um, go find another 'busa in a parking lot somewhere and drain it?

You know, for comparison?

 

[dcarver]

Um, go find another 'busa in a parking lot somewhere and drain it?
You know, for comparison?

Exactly! Beat me to the punch.

 

[blakebird]

I'm with Radman. Original coolant, running thru the system for 31k is going to do the first flush of new hoses, engine casting, and radiator core.

It seems normal to me that the ethylene glycol would darken just from that.

Definitely worth changing, but it was probably doing it's job fine, with marginal reduced effectiveness if any.

 

[Warchild]

Um, go find another 'busa in a parking lot somewhere and drain it?
You know, for comparison?

Well, to be scientifically rigorous, I would need to find another K8 that rode 31,000 miles in its first 10 months.

Er.... if there is another one out there, I am unaware of it...

Additive package breakdown, and oxidized aluminum and hose particles contaminating the liquid. Normal, not good to wait till it's that bad, but still present to some degree in all used coolant. The first change usually shows the most, especially hose particles, subsequent changes are usually less loaded.

As usual, Rad is probably on to something here. Though any suspended particulate matter must be really, really fine particles, because the liquid itself is quite clear, aside from the green color, obviously.

I still have this half-gallon jug of old coolant; perhaps passing it through a paper funnel is indicated, assuming the particulates are large enough to be trapped...

I am in the middle of the Blow-Job procedure now... bike is on it's first cool-down. As hot as we know the FJR motor to be, it's got nothing on this 1340cc motor... cool-downs are taking forever... :huh:

 

[v65]

So is the title of this thread just for maintenance, or general life advice?

 

[Warchild]

So is the title of this thread just for maintenance, or general life advice?

Yes.

 

[Lake Powell]

Remember to use distilled water with the coolant, not tap water.

Tap water can cuase corosion.

 

[Warchild]

Yep, been down this road many a time in the past few decades....

 

[CAJW]

It is prudent that one should at least try to maintain a reasonable change interval when it comes to consumable maintenance items. One really shouldn't blow off factory recommendations, simply because one is constantly keeping the Hayabusa on the road... or because of the huge, Huge DOUBLE ***-pain of removing *both* side fairings on the K8.... :glare:
The K8 Service Manual calls for replacing the coolant every two years. My K8 is a mere 12 months old... so I'm good, right?

Um, no. The Service Manual Maintenance Schedule sorta alludes to a mileage figure of 7500 for 24 months... which, IMO, is stupid low, but that is what is printed in the Schedule on Page 0B-1.

So at 31,000 miles, I suppose I am a little tardy changing out the coolant. Upon doing so this morning... I am scratching my head trying to remember the last time I saw coolant that was THIS dark (in 1/2 gallon jug below). No, it's not oil, and as you can see in the small amount of spillage, it is still green, but DAYUMN, this appears pretty damn dark to me.

Erm.... suspect I shouldn't wait so long next time.

Don't be like Warchild...

maintain your change intervals, peeps...

One question... How did you manage to get all the coolant on the drip pan? In my garage I go by Murphy's Law that dictates

the amount of coolant that hits the floor is directly purportional to the supply of paper towels one has on hand, plus one quart! Nice job keeping the floor clean!

 

[wfooshee]

Looks like he has a 3-acre drip pan!

 

[FJRBluesman]

Shame on you....

At least it's still green and not muddy brown or it didn't look like a grande Starbucks special.

 

[Warchild]

One question... How did you manage to get all the coolant on the drip pan? In my garage I go by Murphy's Law that dictatesthe amount of coolant that hits the floor is directly purportional to the supply of paper towels one has on hand, plus one quart! Nice job keeping the floor clean!

Adroit pre-positioning of the drip-pan in a strategic manner. B)

Like, I alluded to earlier, this isn't the first decade I've done coolant changes on my bikes. Or even the second decade.

Kay-Rhist... it's not even the third decade.... damnation, I guess I am old....

 

[C&C]

Care to comment on the 'switch' to Prestone; previous recommendations (a la ******* article), recommended the Dexcool from Havoline. I'm thinking it doesn't much matter, but just asking. I have used both (myself) and have never had problems with either.