How to replace motorcycle coolant
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- Опубликовано: 9 июн 2013
- This is an overall review of how a water-based motorcycle cooling system works. Special emphasis is placed on how to burp the cooling system so that air pockets in the cooling jacket will be mostly evacuated before the engine overheats. The risk of permanent engine damage from an inadequately burped cooling system are discussed. The mechanism by which the radiator cap works in a closed cooling system is also discussed.
Ethylene glycol, the most common constituent of antifreeze, will last a very long time. However the anti-oxidant additives contained in modern coolants are depleted much more quickly, and harmful impurities can build up in the system and damage sensitive engine parts. So, coolant should be replaced at regular intervals. The 1995 VN800 Vulcan manual calls for replacement of motorcycle coolant every two years.
To understand how the radiator cap draws fluid from the coolant recovery tank into the main cooling system, watch this video.
• Hidden genius behind a...
If you are bewildered by the wide selection of coolants, and worried about mixing different types of coolant, watch the following video.
• Video
For a discussion of how an automotive water pump works, and an inside look at the weep hole, watch the following video.
• Inside a chevy water p...
This is an amateur demonstration done for entertainment purposes only. The video comes with no guarantees as to safety or accuracy, and it is NOT a qualified instructional video. Before deciding to work on your own vehicle, search for information from multiple sources and consider involving a professional. Motorcycle repair is a potentially dangerous activity, and complication are to be expected and planned for.
Thunderclap sound used under Creative Commons 3.0 license, done by RHumphries at freesound.org/people/RHumphries/ 
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I have been restoring motorcycles for over 32 years and that is the most professional do-it-yourself video I have ever seen on RUclips. Everything you said was exactly right and the exact way it should be done. I would like to personally thank you for showing the public a perfect do-it-yourself video.
Gee, what a kind remark, thank you so much. Really, you made my day.
THANK YOU! I have a 93 Vulcan 800 that has taken me across the US, through Canada to Alaska and back and still going. Your videos have been lifesavers on the workings of my Kawasaki. I’ve sometimes viewed them literally on the side of the road while doing a repair. You are the only Vulcan 800 RUclips. They are excellent! Thanks again.
Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you liked it.
I'm glad you liked it, and thank you back for the reply.
Thanks for posting. Just picked up a used 2006 Vulcan 900, and going through the process of fluid changes. This is a good help.
Excellent video! Thanks I have a 1995 Vulcan 800 and it’s so reliable and still looks like new , I really like to maintain it .
I really like your videos. You show me all that needs to be done. I'm not afraid to do the work, but I normally don't know where to start. Thanks for your time showing us what we need to do.
just bought an 96' vn800 classic, thank you for your video, it's helpful as it's my first watercooled motorcycle.
Thank you for your time, video, and help. People like you help so many of us. Planning on fallowing your instructions for my 2007 1600 Classic. Hope they are still similar. Again. Very much appreciate your work and video help.
These videos are some of the most genuine and helpful ones I've come across for my amateur attack on repairing my vulcan. Thank you.
What a kind remark, thank you.
Good job and Thank You!
I love receiving competent concise instructions like yours that teach me what i need to know without annoying amateur showmanship.
Bravo!
just bought 96 VN800 classic, no owners/service manual. and after 33kms run, no fan movement. so Y-Tube help me out. very helpful and clearly defined process. thanks. kev.
+kevin Doyle Thanks for the feedback. For the benefit of other readers, I'll mention that the fan doesn't come on until the coolant is at operating temp. On my bike up here in Canada, it isn't unusual to have no fan action for the first 20 minutes, or even longer. Usually it would come on after 33 km but in the winter, maybe not. Of course you can isolate and then hotwire the fan input to see if the fan works when fed with power. I got a paper manual from Kawasaki but it's not a great manual, fairly minimal.
Just Bought A 2002 Vulcan 800 Learning Alot Watching Your Videos , Thanks Apireciate It !
Thanks body for the information, i didnt know anything about oil change and coolant change after i watch ur videos,i just bought my 1st bike like 2 months ago,and i had no idea if i was running out of coolant oil or what, i was gonna take it to a shop for them to do it,but is too expensive, but with ur videos iam gonna save some money,i need to do it like now,before it breaks down,my bike is 99 kawasaki vulcan classic.thanks a lot.
Thanks for the feedback, I"m glad it helped.
Nice clear instructions, I just did an oil and filter change after watching your video on my 1998 Vulcan VN800 Classic , it seems quite easy to replace the coolant as well.
Thank's for sharing anyway::::
Awesome, Informative video. I recently purchase a 04 1500 Classic and am going through and making sure all the maintenance is up to date and taken care of. Great job and thank you.
Thank you. See if you can find a dealers repair manual for your exact model. I get one for every vehicle I own.
I just got a 2006 Vuclan and the videos you showed got me started with changing my own fluids...thank you for being so detailed.
Great bike, you'll be glad you bought it. Thanks for stopping by!
I've just recently bought my first big bike, a vn800 classic and was lost as how to check the coolant level. I'll be doing it tomorrow thanks to this video. Thanks!
It's a great bike, thanks for watching.
Nicely done. I just did mine on a Vulcan 900 following your instructions. Slightly different locations here and there but was easily able to figure out where everything was. Also noticed some dried up residue around the weephole, guess I'll have to keep working on it but just glad to see the problem before it becomes a serious issue. Tanks spelunkerd!
where is the drain plug on the vn 900?
This video saved my butt. Had my "96 Vulcan 800 serviced and some clutch work done. Tech forgot to refill coolant. Had the wife out on our anniversary and got a temp light about 50 miles from the house. Stopped at a gas station and watched this vid. Lucky it was cold out and I was two blocks from an Auto Zone. Bought an 8mm wrench, coolant, and funnels. We went to lunch and let the bike cool, then filled it up and we were back on our way. Saved me a tow and an angry wife. Thanks!
Great, thanks for the followup story. Be sure to check levels again in a few days, since trapped air can clear slowly and need a refill. Also if the reservoir isn't refilling you want to check to be sure there are no cracks in the hose or rad cap that could interfere with automatic refilling.
Thank u so much. I just begin to replacing the coolant on my Vulcan 2005 in a wrong wrong way. But with your video now I go the right way.
Thanks for the feedback, I hope it goes well for you.
Your video is exactly what I needed. Was about to remove tank, so thank you.BUT I still have to remove tank. There wasn't an opening on 2004 vulcan 2000.
1600 classic, here about to do this or am i gonna have your problem
Very clear instructions for the coolant and oil changes. Thanks!
i just purchased a VN 800 , your video's are terrific , thanks Rick
Thanks, man, I'm glad you find them helpful. It's a great bike, I've had very little go wrong with it over 21 years.
Great video, very well edited.
I don't know if you guys mentioned it, but antifreeze attracts critters because it's sweet, but it's also very toxic to them...
Very well explained and illustrated!! Thanks a lot for spending your time showing us this.
regards
J. Merino
You asked how the fluid gets back into the system from reservoir, well when engine cools the pressure turns to vacuum and pulls it back into engine which I'm sure you already knew that and you were just quizzing us. Thanks for you videos makes working on my sons bike a breeze by knowing what to do. And i would have never even thought about much less know how to clean the screen! Thanks again
+Michael Davidson Exactly right, thanks for watching! I did a video where I took apart a radiator cap, showing the two opposing springs that are designed to take advantage of that swing in pressure, automatically purging the system of air yet providing a safe release. The guys who invented the system were brilliant.
+spelunkerd Thanks and yes they were!
Have the same bike 2000 thanks for the video been wanting to change mine for some time now.
Well done & I will subscribe. I had my own shop for 40 yrs - still do some wk in retirement - but I'll ck out videos like yours before doing a job - helps in determining my time to charge & to become refreshed with a particular bike ( I only work on the Japanese makes ). Thanks
You're welcome. Learning auto repair is a process, and there are often bumps in the road as you gain experience. I love doing it, but as shown in the videos there are risks that you need to accept if you do your own work. Try not to get all your knowledge from one source, so that your education is as complete as possible. Good luck!
Awesome videos, thanks for all your advice
Super video. Thanks for the explanation
Thank you, very informative and a huge help! I will be doing this to my bike tomorrow!
great video, thanks for the insights and cheers from germany!
Very detail and informative. Big thanks on all of your videos.
You're welcome, thanks for the encouraging feedback.
One thing I forgot to mention is that while burping and refilling fluid with cap off, it is worthwhile to sit on the bike and gently rock it to left and right to allow air pockets to clear. When the bike is on a side stand like it is, there is a high air pocket that won't clear until the bike is tilted side to side.
Excellent video
A very well done video, thank you for doing it.
Cool video. I learnt a couple of things from it. I have a Vulcan S myself and I will apply the learnt tricks to mine. Thanks foe the time.
This was tremendously helpful. Thanks very much for breaking it down so well.
walter ramalho Thanks, man.
Best video and instructions ever
Thanks, Terry. A quick task without much chance of getting dirty, it wasn't worth changing.
It's surprising how much engineering is borrowed from other systems.
Seriously great vid and explanation.
I love your videos! Your my Vulcan guru.
Great video and very helpful.
Thank you, Just got 2000 Vulcan yesterday so now I'm trying to figure out if all my fluids are good enough to ride till my book comes in from amazon in a few days.
***** Great bike, you'll like it. Congratulations!
Great answer. In the linked video at the bottom description, I take apart a rad cap and show the two seals and two springs that allow intermittent two-way traffic, both ways, just using thermodynamic forces that are already there. The guys who invented the rad cap, many decades ago, were geniuses.
Hello ☺️ I didn't go thru all the comments, but I have a couple questions. Keep in mind, I'm a newbie. So, my bike has been sitting for a couple weeks... (I haven't even ridden it yet, a friend has a few times as he's been housing it for me and doing some work on it) . Out of curiosity I was tinkering around. When removing the radiator cap, that area, the neck?, was bone dry. Normal?? Also the larger hose coming into the neck has corrosion all around where it connects... Normal?? I couldn't judge the coolant level, as I can't see thru the dirty hose. It also kinda looked like there was a ring of coolant around the weep hole. I have a 97 800 Classic.... Roughly how much coolant does yours hold? When I go to drain it, I am curious if I can tell immediately if it's low... Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing your feedback. ☺️
@@kimberlyannhughes7855 The level can be down a little but normal would be completely full, and it should not be rusty inside. Check out the rubber seals in the rad cap, if there are any cracks at all, replace the cap. Pry that small valve on the bottom open with your fingernail, make sure its not stuck down or frozen. Make sure the tubing leading to the coolant reservoir is free of pinhole leaks. Fill the rad right up to the top with coolant or distilled water. If not sure about the weep hole, clean it off well with brake clean, wipe it dry, then reexamine after a drive cycle to be sure it is not presently leaking. If it is, take it to a shop.
@@spelunkerd Okay, I'll follow through with that and see where I'm at then. THANK YOU!! ✨
@@spelunkerd what were your thoughts on the corrosion at the connection point of the radiator neck and the large incoming hose from the radiator? (By corrosion I mean it's like a dry fluffy foam like substance protruding out and around the connecting point) ☺️
@@kimberlyannhughes7855 If a hose has been leaking slowly, the water evaporates to leave a white powder, often with a hint of the underlying color of the coolant. So, I'd clean the area carefully, inspect the hose, and replace that segment or maybe cut off a bit of the end so you have a fresh connection. You may want to replace the hose clamp as well.
Thanks for the very well explain video. It was very helpful
Thank you. Really straight forward.
Very clear videos you make, with good explanation! Could you also do a carburator cleaning / revising video 😁
Excellent video sir. Thanks. I’m hoping that it is similar with my 1500 .
There are more similarities than differences in most of these. You should try to get your hands on a dealer service manual for your bike, it is a worthwhile lifetime investment that will pay you back for years to come. Ebay often has inexpensive pdf copies, if you can't find a free one somewhere.
Very clear and helpful video! Bravo and thanks!
+Linda Starkweather Thank you.
thank you so much for the quick respond, i will do the test that you recommended
thanks again you are awesome
Good instructions. Thanks a lot!
Very informative! Thanks for posting this.
Nice vid, clear concise and informative. Off to change my coolant!!
I'm glad it helped, good luck!
Another fantastic video ! your the best man thank you
gracias es un tutorial muy practico
Gracias!
Great video, very detail oriented. I wonder where I can get those funnels and suction kits.
Great job with the video.
really great job on this!! had to replace my clutch and this was very helpful in filling the coolant system properly!!
Thanks. Next time, do a video (grin).
Dave
spelunkerd, I got a little of it :) ruclips.net/video/Djp3_SXM4TQ/видео.html
Very clear and well done!
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
Great video!
Thanks, man.
Thx for this video
Nice work👍
Thankyou very helpful video iv just bought kawasaki el 250 1991 not sure about cooling system so will use what you showed us on that...
Most of these are similar but there will be a few differences that you may see in a different model. Try to get your hands on a dealers repair manual for more specific advice pertinent to your bike. Good luck!
Good video. Thanks. Suggest taking off watch - could scratch your paint.
muy bien, videos como estos ayudan mucho , saludos
muchas gracias!
Thanks you solved my problem . Great video.
I appreciate the feedback, thank you.
Thanks Sir.... very well explained.
Thanks!
Great video highly detailed well done
Thanks. Today we have 6" of snow, so I haven't thought much about biking lately, ha ha.
Great video. Answered a burning question- what that hole was next to the engine coolant drain - a weep hole! Makes total sense. Just bought this 95 VN750 and was thinking that hole in the bottom of the engine was a sign of trouble. Thank you - Good Job 😀
Only guys who have worked on cars will recognize what that hole is for, others will wonder. What I find rewarding about learning how these systems work is the remarkable overlap from one system to another. Cooling systems in particular are both fascinating and a common point of failure in all vehicles. Thank you for the feedback. I wish I could do more motorcycle repairs, but this Vulcan has been so reliable through the years that I haven't had anything serious go wrong.
Good information
Awesome just what I wanted to see thank you I appreciate it
appreciate the info...
muito bom! fiz como no vídeo, deu tudo certo e ficou ótimo com minha vn800 95'. Obrigado 👍
Gracias! You may like the motorcycle repair playlist I made, all videos are of the bike we both own.
muy buen video muchas gracias por compartirlo
You're welcome, thanks for the followup.
super cool video keep them coming
great job thank you.
Few comments Dave! First, very good quality of detail in your video along with some good tips all throughout. I know very little about motorcycles and would have never known about pulling the top assembly to get to the radiator cap. And now for the most important question. How in the world do you work in shorts with your bare knees on the concrete? Smiling...
Nice vid - I just wish my system/components were as clean and easy to see :-)
smart man, very clear.
Thanks!
Great video! 5 Stars!
Thanks.
thanks this help me alot
No problem, thanks for the feedback.
Excellent!very didactic thanks.
Thanks!
It really helped a lot, save from Brazil haha
thanks. great videos
Thank you.
thank you
Thx for your tips man i appreciate them a lot.
No problem, thank you for the followup.
Now on i'll follow you up thanks again,i'm in Montreal,Canada
thanks nice job
Really great video, thanks for making. I have a kawa so Im sure this will prove invaluable at some point in the future =)
I'm glad it helped. Even if you don't own this exact model, there are more similarities than differences when you work on other bikes.
thanks !! i am scared to do it !!!
Easy, you'll have more confidence after you've done it.
nicely done thx
Thanks much for vid and stressing the importance of burping. Takes a little patience but is so important. Good job. Jerry
Thanks!
I remember working on my first car (Chevrolet Chevet) And learning that as the car started heating up. The liquid would start lowering. Then Id add more as it lowers. GOOD POINT. to add to the video for others that have never learned that.
Yeah, it's even more important for cars, where the volume of trapped air can be much larger. Of course after a few hot/cold cycles the system should eventually burp itself, but a lot of damage can be done in the first hot cycle.
Thanks for the reply also.
So many videos I have left comments on and its like No one watches or bothers with them after uploading videos. So Thanks
I’ve gotten a lot of air out of my vehicle cooling systems by squeezing the radiator hose while I’m running it to burp it. Be very careful. It may be hot. Keep long hair, loose clothing, and hands away from fan and belt.
I had a van with a rear heater. They can be a bugger to get the air out and can even cause a air lock which can overheat the engine. Ask me how I know.
thank you.
+5TRYD4 No problem, thanks for watching.
great video, very helpful
any idea why my vn88 1994 would be shooting way to much white smoke from exhaust and backfiring?
thanks
+vilfranc2026 White smoke is classically caused by coolant contaminating the fuel causing excessive water vapor in exhaust. The thing I would worry about is the chance of a head gasket leak, which is one of the more common causes. If coolant is getting into fuel, then often combustion products can be found in the air inside the cooling system, and there is a gas tester you can use to easily prove that. You carefully put the tester onto the open rad cap and if there are combustion products in coolant then the liquid tester turns yellow. Don't burn yourself. Let's hope it's something more innocent, like condensation of water in fuel from winter storage.
Thanks for demystifying the cooling system. I would like to see taking to speedo off though.
Oh, you mean how to undo the speedo cable. It just spins off with your fingers, right hand threads. Thanks for watching!
Oh, by the way, I did a separate vid of how to replace a broken speedo cable, if you are interested.
Well I hope this helps with my 2015 model... As the expantion tank hose split and was wondering how to get fluid up the hose..
You got it. Like a straw, even a tiny pinhole is enough to break the suction and prevent automatic burping. You can assess how full it is by opening the top radiator cap, and if you fill from there you'll get a head start on completely filling it. Then sit on top and rock the bike from side to side to get the air pocket burped, preferably with engine running. Only thing is, never open that cap when engine is hot. Once open, it is then safe to run the engine to warm. Automatic burping takes many days to complete so you want to get it close before relying on that.