Disappearing antifreeze

[Skeeter]

Hi guys, its finally warming up in Western NY so I spent some quality time with my 99 RSV today getting ready to ride.

 

I've noticed that I have to top off the antifreeze reservoir a couple times each season. There's no sign of it getting into the oil. There's never any drips under the bike.

 

I'm sure you guys have a suggestion of where I can look for signs of a small leak. I thought I saw a thread on here one time about this issue, but I can't find it now.

 

Thanks for the help

Skeeter

[k9cottage]

are you over filling the system, with heat expansion the fluid will go into the bottle when cooled it will go back into the radiator " if you overfill the bottle it will spit out any excess next time it heats up. if it is always at the same low point when cold that is the level it wants to work at .

[Peder_y2k]

FWIW, antifreeze mix has water in it, and water evaporates over time, especially when warm. The ethelene glycol does not evaporate (albeit very slowly), so in my bike, I just add distilled water to the reservoir to bring the mix back to the correct consistency.

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

Edited April 14, 2014 by Peder_y2k

[billmac]

Are you checking the fluid with the bike upright off the side stand > if not it will look low then blow it out the over flow when warmed and riding.

[Skeeter]

Thank you for the input guys. Yup...I checked it with the bike level and there was no antifreeze in the tank under the seat. I assumed it had to be at least up to the "low" line so I added about 6 to 8 oz. The bike was cold when I checked.

 

Ride safe guys.

Skeeter

[muaymendez1]

Id like to add a question here.

I checked my fluid level because I had to replace a hose. I removed the radiator cap and filled the radiator. I then started the bike so it could suck in the fluid. It ran till it was out of fuel because the tank was removed abd also sucked in the coolant It took another 2cups .

I put everything back together. Should I just be able to add more to the expansion tank or do I have to remove the fuel tank again to check the level in the radiator?

[Peder_y2k]

I would simply add more to the overflow tank, then check every outing and refill as required. If the level doesn't stabilize, then problems remain.

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[Skeeter]

K9Cottage, you may be right... I may have over filled the system. I put my new battery in tonight and started the bike up and let it run a minute or so and it started pushing a little antifreeze out the overflow.

 

Thanks again for your help guys. I'm taking Millie (that's my bike's name) out for a ride tomorrow.

 

Skeeter