Bike P*****g Out Coolant

[scratchnsniff24]

Sup guys, long time no gasbag! This year's been intense, hasn't it Hope you've all been keeping well

To cut to the chase; week before last my bike drained itself of some coolant outside Tesco, so I took it home done an oil change and topped the coolant back up, all was well until I pulled onto my drive this evening whereupon I heard the sound of gushing water - it's gone and done it again, I believe from a breatherpipe on the r/h-side just by the bellypan.

Noticed for about 3-4 weeks the bike's been smelling quite warm, but without any odd sounds or loss of power, and I swung by Crofton Court to see what Steve reckoned but it was 5:30 so they'd shut up shop. I initially just put it down to being absolutely filthy from commuting in winter, now I'm not so sure.

No warning lights on the dash, temperature or oil pressure or anything.... So I'm just not too sure where to start looking. Going to have to use the bike for work all week because I have no other options, and I have to pick my buddy up from uni at 8:30 tonight... So I guess we'll see if it does it again.

Topped it back up again this evening, it only took about 200ml judging by the notches on the side of the bottle. It's BLUECOL'u' Universal Top-Up Antifreeze & Coolant, as recommended by the autoparts place in Norton, if that makes any difference.
Can't afford to drop it into the garage for them to take a look at it because I'm quite poorly and missing a few days at work which means money's tighter than Lee's grip on his wallet

Sooooooooo let's start from the top?




This seems to be the same problem - www.kawiforums.com/ninja-650r-er6/173277-coolant-boiling.html but they didn't come to much of a conclusion

[Gonzos Kustom Paint Shop]

fan not working water thermostat u/s

[scratchnsniff24]

Dec 16, 2015 20:43:37 GMT Gonzos Kustom Paint Shop said:

fan not working water thermostat u/s

The fan seems to work fine, I let the bike idle up a few times on the night and it kicked in every time.

Not sure how to go about checking the thermostat, but I suspected it could be that, also. Weird that no warnings lights have came on. I'll look into this in the morning.
I read that it might be a headgasket, but would that happen before 20k? Would there be any other signs? There's no bubbles in the coolant reservoir, no smoke on start up or when hammering down, ermmmm I don't think it's making any odd new noises but it's hard to differentiate from noises already there when you're being paranoid.
There was a slight milkyness to the oil for a couple weeks before I changed it, but I've been repeatedly told that could be from my short commute (3 miles each way) and using the bike for other little stints in such cold weather.

Apparently the radiator cap could be dicky... but I don't know how a cap would get dicky. A faulty seal/gasket letting air in, maybe?
The bikes done a couple 70+ mile rides since the first time it spewed up with no problems until the other night.

[ZX6-Chris]

Id say the thermostat been ducked, doesnt useual shows signs, bike will boil water uo tikl the pressure is high enough to force it was out of a pipe.

As for checking it i bekieve the easiest solution is too take the thermo out, place it in a pan of boilibg hot water and you shoukd be abke to see it open and then close when you out it in cold water

[muzzasv]

if the thermostat was fcuked it wouldnt open at all and once the coolant boils it would create a leak from somewhere, if its coming from the radiator cap then the pressure is getting high enough for it to open the pressure relief valve inside the cap, normally there would be a pipe running from the radiator neck to the expansion bottle so no coolant would be lost although i have seen bikes where it doesnt run to the expansion bottle and just lets it run out on to the floor, the most likely cause is you have a hole in your radiator somewhere which can be difficult to notice sometimes, run the bike up to temperature and check your radiator, it may not be spurting out it may just be flowing out slowly and dripping off the bottom or it may be a fine mist so is sometimes hard to notice

[Hitman]

More than likely the thermostat (if it has one) or worse case the pump impeller, if any are not working it will overheat (then over pressure) even if the fan is working and then it will find the weak spot which would normally be the cap.

[Mainjetmike]

Jet wash the radiator .its probably gunged up with crud .

What made me laugh mind was when it first spueed ( poolie phrase ) some water out you did an oil change .


That's like having toothache and cutting your nails to cure it .
Clean rad and report back .

Ho Ho Ho .

[scratchnsniff24]

Dec 24, 2015 9:56:04 GMT Mainjetmike said:

Jet wash the radiator .its probably gunged up with crud .

What made me laugh mind was when it first spueed ( poolie phrase ) some water out you did an oil change .


That's like having toothache and cutting your nails to cure it .
Clean rad and report back .

Ho Ho Ho .

Hahahahaha, it felt oily, not coolant-y, and the oil level had gotten mysteriously low within a couple days. It was due a change anyhow, and I figured if there were ever a time.
Plus, let's be fair, it's always good to have trimmed nails 'specially if you wanna keep the old girl happy

Since investigating the issue further, after no re-occurrence, I have seemingly found a leak from the waterpump (pic 1), and one of the breather/overflow pipes under the tank has perished/come off at both ends (pics 2 & 3). Apparently a known flaw and subsequently relocated on later models. Hopefully it won't spew petrol onto the hot engine before the weekend
The bike's obviously circulating coolant because the colours have mixed, but I'm not sure how well. Strange there's no idiot light flashing, though.

Hoping to drop it in at Crofton Court for them boyos to have a look and give it a service (it's overdue, but Christmas and 30 months of hospital/sick time/broken innards etc), anyone know what a major service would usually cost?

Just got a pressure washer, waiting until payday on Friday to get a hosepipe and then I'll give it a ruddy good going over and report back. If Steve or the boyos figure it in the meantime I appreciate the help

[scratchnsniff24]

Dec 23, 2015 9:34:11 GMT ZX6-Chris said:

Id say the thermostat been ducked, doesnt useual shows signs, bike will boil water uo tikl the pressure is high enough to force it was out of a pipe.

As for checking it i bekieve the easiest solution is too take the thermo out, place it in a pan of boilibg hot water and you shoukd be abke to see it open and then close when you out it in cold water

That sounds like a bit of a bugger of a job... It's not only that I'm an idiot, the bike being off the road for any length of time is a huge chew what with hospital/doctor stuff and commuting, so I'm nervous of getting stuck into jobs like this D=

Dec 23, 2015 16:44:49 GMT muzzasv said:

if the thermostat was fcuked it wouldnt open at all and once the coolant boils it would create a leak from somewhere, if its coming from the radiator cap then the pressure is getting high enough for it to open the pressure relief valve inside the cap, normally there would be a pipe running from the radiator neck to the expansion bottle so no coolant would be lost although i have seen bikes where it doesnt run to the expansion bottle and just lets it run out on to the floor, the most likely cause is you have a hole in your radiator somewhere which can be difficult to notice sometimes, run the bike up to temperature and check your radiator, it may not be spurting out it may just be flowing out slowly and dripping off the bottom or it may be a fine mist so is sometimes hard to notice

The pipe it leaked from came from the top of the engine and runs down the side to the bellypan. If that matters any?
There's definitely a leak from the pump, though, it looks slight, and the coolant level hasn't dropped noticeably.

I hate this mechanical stuff :') I was convinced it was the best thing in the whole world when I was a kid, but it's just a confusing and expensive headache! D=

[bucko]

Are you bleeding your system when you have filled it up?

[ZX6-Chris]

the quicker way to find out if it is the themo is to buy one,. replace and test.

this will mean you have time to test your old one and the new one should work ok.

[iconic944ss]

I'm confused - which bike is this???

In any event - when refilling try squeezing the coolant hoses - can help displace some trapped air.

[scratchnsniff24]

Jan 4, 2016 20:39:26 GMT bucko said:

Are you bleeding your system when you have filled it up?

Just been topping up, nobody at the autoplace said to... Should I have? Testiclé

£££ Chris :/ If it isn't the problem part that's money pissed away.

2011 er6n

[muzzasv]

Jan 4, 2016 13:06:32 GMT scratchnsniff24 said:

Dec 23, 2015 9:34:11 GMT ZX6-Chris said:

Id say the thermostat been ducked, doesnt useual shows signs, bike will boil water uo tikl the pressure is high enough to force it was out of a pipe.

As for checking it i bekieve the easiest solution is too take the thermo out, place it in a pan of boilibg hot water and you shoukd be abke to see it open and then close when you out it in cold water

That sounds like a bit of a bugger of a job... It's not only that I'm an idiot, the bike being off the road for any length of time is a huge chew what with hospital/doctor stuff and commuting, so I'm nervous of getting stuck into jobs like this D=

Dec 23, 2015 16:44:49 GMT muzzasv said:

if the thermostat was fcuked it wouldnt open at all and once the coolant boils it would create a leak from somewhere, if its coming from the radiator cap then the pressure is getting high enough for it to open the pressure relief valve inside the cap, normally there would be a pipe running from the radiator neck to the expansion bottle so no coolant would be lost although i have seen bikes where it doesnt run to the expansion bottle and just lets it run out on to the floor, the most likely cause is you have a hole in your radiator somewhere which can be difficult to notice sometimes, run the bike up to temperature and check your radiator, it may not be spurting out it may just be flowing out slowly and dripping off the bottom or it may be a fine mist so is sometimes hard to notice

The pipe it leaked from came from the top of the engine and runs down the side to the bellypan. If that matters any?
There's definitely a leak from the pump, though, it looks slight, and the coolant level hasn't dropped noticeably.

I hate this mechanical stuff :') I was convinced it was the best thing in the whole world when I was a kid, but it's just a confusing and expensive headache! D=

where abouts on the top of the engine, track it right back to where it connects