Press Release | January 1, 2017
Motion Pro’s Coolant Recovery Tank helps prevent the loss of coolant on long hot rides.
For racers, a coolant-recovery bottle is required by many organizations. For customizers or fabricators, the small size and variety of mounting and connection options make it a useful accessory. The Coolant Recovery Tank ($22.99) has a 275cc capacity and can be connected for either top or bottom inlet. The tank features handy mounting points and includes instructions, hose, clamps and zip-ties for mounting.
Motion Pro Coolant Tips
Coolant wears out and gets dirty after a while, just like the oil in your engine. If you don’t keep it fresh it’s possible to damage the engine or corrode the cooling system. Coolant should be changed at least once a year, but the frequency is determined by how much and how you ride. Changing your coolant is basically the same procedure as changing your oil with a couple of small differences. 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.
Draining 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. 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. Make sure to use a catch pan, and don’t just dump the coolant on the ground or into the sewer. It is a toxic chemical and needs to be disposed of properly, just like old engine oil. Rocking the bike to one side or the other can help drain any remaining coolant in the system.
There are a couple of minor jobs that can be performed when the cooling system is dry that might be handy to do now. One of them is to inspect and test the thermostat. The thermostat opens and closes to maintain the proper engine temperature and aid in warm up; one that is malfunctioning can lead to overheating. 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. Look at it closely for wearing parts or corrosion too, because it should be replaced if there is any doubt.
Another job to perform now is an inspection of the cooling hoses to make sure they are in good condition. Any wear or cracking means that hose should be discarded, and a new one installed. It is also a good idea to inspect all of the clamps holding the hoses. We recommend using Stepless™ ear clamps because they are more secure, have a lower profile, and are easier to install than standard hose clamps. Motion Pro carries a full line of Stepless™ clamps for motorcycle and ATV applications and the tools you need to install them.
Once you go through all of the mechanical components, flushing the system once with clean water will ensure a thorough cleansing. Reinstall the drain screw and fill the system with water only. Start the bike and run it for a short period of time, but do not allow the engine temp to reach over 100 degrees. The goal is to run the bike long enough to flush the system but not enough to burn yourself when you drain it. Turn off the bike, remove the drain plug again and drain out all the water. Your system should be completely flushed of all the old coolant now.
A word about coolant: There are many different types and brands of coolant available for your motorcycle. For general use, standard glycol coolant is the best choice, especially in areas where the temperatures may drop to freezing or below in the colder months. Nothing will protect your engine from freezing as well as a standard glycol coolant. Be sure to check your vehicle’s owners manual and use the type of coolant recommended by the manufacturer. Some of the automotive anti-freeze coolants have silica in them to combat corrosion in cars, but can damage the smaller and more delicate seals in a motorcycle cooling system. There are many other types of coolants that can help reduce engine temps but they may not protect the engine as well from freezing or corrosion.
Another important point: Use distilled water in your cooling system! Tap water or regular bottled waters have varying levels of minerals and salts in them that will damage your engine when they are precipitated out by the heat cycles of your engine. Using distilled water will eliminate this issue and help you to avoid costly repairs down the road.
Okay, time to get back to work. The system is now flushed and everything is assembled properly. Take your coolant mixture and start refilling the system. It’s very important to get all of the air out of the cooling system! Some engines have a bleed screw at various locations in the cooling system to allow air to escape. Consult your service manual to see if your bike has a feature like this. Leaning the bike away from the filler cap can help get air out of the radiator. Fill it so that the coolant is just below the sealing surface of the filler neck.
