Wilsons Sandbox
http://www.frenchandlogan.com/phpBB3/
http://www.frenchandlogan.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=270261
You can used automotive coolant in a bike. But it's recommended to use a type that doesn't contain silicates. They've been known to cause gasket leaks is some bikes. Joe Nassif SFNM A13> Can I use Prestone Automotive Antifreeze in my KLR?
>Can I use Prestone Automotive Antifreeze in my KLR? >Today's blends of antifreeze are aluminum safe they >say, after all, most car engines have Aluminum heads >or intake manifolds. Seems like it would work OK. Does >anyone have experience with this? > >Thanks, >Brad >A9 > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. >http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ > >Visit the KLR650 archives at >http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 >Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... >Let's keep this list SPAM free! > >Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com
Like oil, antifreeze can be religious debate. Some say that silicates are fine in bikes, others say they are a huge no-no. A few of the mfgs have advised against them though, so to be safe, I'd shy away from silicates. Keep in mind that many non-silicate anti-freezes are you local auto parts store shelf are a completely different chemistry. Many are Dex-cool type (typically orange or yellow) which are different than the green ethylene glycol that your KTM came with. The AF folks say they're fine in all alum engines, but you really want to do a complete flush if you change over. I'm using the yellow Preston 15/150 stuff in my Yamaha street bike and it is doing fine, but I did a very thorough flush. Personally, on a bike like a KTM which says to use ethylene glycol and has a relatively small radiator, I'd bite the bullet and buy some of the premixed Honda EG stuff. It will only be a few dollars more, you don't need to find distilled water to mix it with, you don't need to bother with mixing, and it is readily available at Honda dealers. It's a completely safe choice. OTOH, I'm sure you could throw everyday Preston stuff in there and PROBABLY be fine. - Mark> > I am about to change my anti-freeze and have noted > > listings in the past that recommend not to use an > > anti-freeze that contains silicates. > > > I am about to put in some > > Prestone like I use in my auto's or is this wrong. > > Coolant choice can make a difference. I did some research and put > it up at : > http://pages.infinit.net/mcrides/engine_tech/engine_coolant.htm
I wouldn't chance it. I've ridden water cooled GoldWings it seems forever. Changed once to Prestone (silicate antifreeze - got tired of paying Honda's price), and put in a new water pump two weeks later (the only water pump failure I've had in nearly 400,000 GW miles.) Now I've got a cabinet well stocked w/ pre-mixed Honda. I did like the suggestion on here of going to a Honda auto dealer for gallon pricing! Ride safe, Don Kime - VFR750F, GL1500SE, GL1100, KLR 650 OH - M/C Safety Instructor/RiderCoach dkime@... http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTourer/>OTOH, I'm sure you could throw everyday Preston stuff in there and >PROBABLY be fine.
It was about five years back MCN did a survey of Wing owners and discovered something like 70-80% of the water pump failures had happened shortly after the switching to automotive/silicate antifreeze. After talking to Honda they wrote an article that more or less said, Guess how many of us have been ignoring manufacturer's recommendation not to use silicate-based anti freezes. That was about the same time my KDX, which was running silicate anti freeze, developed a water pump problem. Had to replace the shaft as it had developed excessive wear at the spot the lip of the seal mated to the shaft. This was the wear pattern MCN had described as being caused by the silicate anti freezes. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]> I wouldn't chance it. I've ridden water cooled GoldWings it seems > forever. Changed once to Prestone (silicate antifreeze - got tired of > paying Honda's price), and put in a new water pump two weeks later (the > only water pump failure I've had in nearly 400,000 GW miles.) Now I've got > a cabinet well stocked w/ pre-mixed Honda. I did like the suggestion on > here of going to a Honda auto dealer for gallon pricing! > >
I ran an older silicated Zerex formulation in my KLR for about a year and didn't have any trouble. That said, I'd avoid silicated coolants and I'd also avoid DEATHCOOL, er, DEXCOOL formulations as well since I have yet to get a definitive answer to the question of whether or not the KLR's radiator uses lead solder in its construction. The aforementioned Rotella premix is probably a good choice since it's silicate-free and it also alleviates water-quality concerns. RM>That was about the same time my KDX, which was running silicate anti >freeze, developed a water pump problem. Had to replace the shaft as it >had developed excessive wear at the spot the lip of the seal mated to the >shaft. This was the wear pattern MCN had described as being caused by the >silicate anti freezes.
eddie ----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] nomad59@... [b]To: [/b]DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] 6/3/2010 9:40:42 AM [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Antifreeze Hey All Any speacial tricks with a KLR650 when changing (& flushing) the antifreeze/coolant? Or just follow the book? Can ya tell I'm in Michigan? it's june and was 87+ yesterday and I'm worried about it Freezing. ([img]https://ec.yimg.com/ec?url=http%3A%2F%2 ... FJJ2Rw--~E[/img]) Thanks Mark W.
