Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: okrider on August 23, 2018, 01:20:08 PM
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Hey folks, when I got my Concours last month, it had a coolant leak and the overflow reservoir was empty. Undid the radiator cap and saw that it had blue coolant in it. I tightened the hose clamp that was leaking and had some engine ice laying around, so put that in the overflow tank. Just talked to the mechanic who did the job and he said he used Honda Type 2 coolant. Do I need to flush the system because they are different types of coolants? Engine ice is Propylene Glycol while Honda Type 2 is ethylene glycol. I've been reading that they gel up if mixed together.
Going to be buying some distilled water for the flush and refill with Engine Ice afterwards. Thoughts?
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You should not mix different type of coolant. So yes, if you (or anyone) mistakenly mixed different types, you should, drain, flush, and refill with an appropriate type. While it's not specified by Kawasaki, I do like Engine Ice coolant. I've not noticed any difference in cooling while using it but I like it because it's non-toxic.
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Kawasaki brand "Aluma Cool" product is an ethylene glycol base.
I can't say if that is what 'comes in it from the factory' tho, I would assume ethylene glycol base did.
as for flushing... why waste distilled water..?
flush a couple times with tap water first (drain, fill, run, drain), then do a single distilled water flush, as the final step, before adding whatever different type coolant you chose.
Lots of nooks and crannies to get cleaned trying to accomplish it in one single flush.
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Distilled water is $1.50 a gallon. Not enough to get excited about.
YMMV.
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Just went ahead and did it. Thanks for the replies. I kept the left lower fairing in place when taking the drain bolt out, prevented me from making a mess as the fluid just hit the fairing and made its way down to the catch pan
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I wondered how much water will stay in the system when doing a water flush. If filling with 50/50 after will you have a true 50/50 mix because of trapped water in system?
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I wondered how much water will stay in the system when doing a water flush. If filling with 50/50 after will you have a true 50/50 mix because of trapped water in system?
Not enough stays in the system to significantly impact your 50:50 ratio.
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compare the quantity drained, to the fill' it should clarify any suspicions...
Total Amount 3.4 L (3.6 US qt)
(Reserve tank full level, including radiator and engine)
during replacement, it's such a small cooling system, it should be evident, and clear, the the flush and refill (again, measured quantities) have indeed been satisfied.