Luc’s Tips May 2012: Coolant System Inspection
Last Updated: April 1st, 2024
Keeping ourselves cool for the upcoming summer is important. However, we don’t want to neglect keeping our motorcycles cool too!
Arizona heat is masterful at exposing the faults of any cooling system. For those of us with water cooled motorcycles, checking the motorcycle’s coolant system before the summer can prevent us from being stuck on the side of the road and prevent us from causing engine damage or worse.
I recommend performing a coolant level inspection. Your owner’s manual or service manual will be a great guide for performing this inspection. Consider inspecting coolant levels when the bike is warm; the system is pressurized, so leaks have a tendency to appear primarily at operating temperature.
Follow this simple checklist:
- Check Coolant Level
- Visually inspect hoses
- Look for cracking, splitting, bulges, dry rotting, or unusual wear
- Check hose clamp connections as they may require tightening
- Replace hoses according to service manual or if hose condition requires replacement
- Look for coolant residue on engine cases
- Dry coolant reside is an early indicator of a leak
- Heavy coolant pooling requires immediate attention
Beat the heat this summer with a simple inspection of your coolant system. In the future, make sure to inspect at recommended service intervals.
Make your next ride the coolest one this summer!
-LUC
