Okay, so I’ve been wrenching on my own bikes for a while now, and I thought I’d share a little something I messed up with recently. It’s about coolant levels, and why maybe adding a bit extra ain’t such a hot idea. I always thought, “more is better, right?” Nope, not always, especially when it comes to motorcycle coolant.
So, picture this: I was getting ready for a long ride, doing the usual checks, you know, oil, tires, chain, and all that jazz. I popped the radiator cap and thought, “Eh, could use a top-up.” I filled it, not just to the max line, but a bit over, because why not? I figured a little extra wouldn’t hurt.
I started the engine to let it run for a bit, make sure everything’s mixed in. I put the radiator cap on, I thought I was all good, ready to roll.
Boy, was I wrong. First inkling of trouble was when I saw a little puddle forming under the bike. It was not a big deal at first, but I was totally confused. I checked all the hoses, and they were fine, then looked closer, and yup, it was coolant, leaking from somewhere near the reservoir. I started the bike up, and sure enough, it started bubbling and overflowing.
Then, I remembered something I read a while back about how coolant expands when it gets hot. When you overfill it, there is not enough room for that expansion. So, I grabbed a turkey baster – yeah, the kitchen kind – and sucked out the extra coolant until it was right at the max line.
I had to use some rags to wipe down the mess and clean up my bike because that Ethylene Glycol stuff in coolant isn’t good to breathe in and for the environment.
After cleaning up, I started the bike again, and this time, no leaks, no bubbles. I let it run, took it for a short spin, and everything was back to normal. It’s like the bike was saying, “Thanks for not drowning me in coolant, buddy.”
Lessons Learned
- Don’t overfill the coolant: Stick to the max line like glue. It’s there for a reason.
- Coolant expands: Give it room to breathe, or it’ll find a way out, and not in a good way.
- Clean up spills: Coolant is nasty stuff, don’t leave it lying around, and be careful when dealing with it.
So, there you have it. My little adventure in overfilling the coolant. It is not a big deal if you just spill a little bit, but too much, you might start to see some problems. Hope this helps someone out there avoid the same mistake. Ride safe, and keep the shiny side up!
