

Your service manual will have the procedure for testing the thermostat, but in a nutshell, you need to remove it and test it in a pan of hot water with a thermometer to see at what temperature it opens and closes. The thermostat opens and closes to maintain the proper engine temperature and aid in warm up one that is malfunctioning can lead to overheating. One of them is to inspect and test the thermostat. There are a couple of minor jobs that can be performed when the cooling system is dry that might be handy to do now. Rocking the bike to one side or the other can help drain any remaining coolant in the system. It is a toxic chemical and needs to be disposed of properly, just like old engine oil.

Make sure to use a catch pan, and don’t just dump the coolant on the ground or into the sewer. Most bikes will have a drain plug at the lowest point in the cooling system, and you also have to remove the radiator cap to allow the system to drain. First things first: Get out your factory service manual and go through the recommended procedure, as every bike is different, and there can be special procedures unique to your motorcycle.ĭraining and flushing the coolant should always happen with your engine cold – you don’t want to burn yourself on hot coolant! Also, a hot engine will pressurize the cooling system, leading to a risk of coolant erupting out of the cap when opened, another reason to never start this procedure on a motorcycle that is hot. Changing your coolant is basically the same procedure as changing your oil with a couple of small differences. Coolant should be changed at least once a year, but the frequency is determined by how much and how you ride. If you don’t keep it fresh it’s possible to damage the engine or corrode the cooling system. The tank features handy mounting points and includes instructions, hose, clamps and zip-ties for mounting.Ĭoolant wears out and gets dirty after a while, just like the oil in your engine. The Coolant Recovery Tank ($22.99) has a 275cc capacity and can be connected for either top or bottom inlet. For customizers or fabricators, the small size and variety of mounting and connection options make it a useful accessory. Motion Pro’s Coolant Recovery Tank helps prevent the loss of coolant on long hot rides.įor racers, a coolant-recovery bottle is required by many organizations.
