Coolant Leak

This may be water under the bridge or over the dam, but can anyone answer this for me...for the future.

I found a small pool of coolant under my VFR this week. I have started the bike twice this winter and let it run for ten minutes each time. It was very cold at the time. My question is this a good idea or should I just let it set and only maintain the battery? Did starting the bike in cold weather lend to this issue? I have not taken the fairings off to find where the leak is coming from yet(I am hoping a loose hose), just looking for advice for the future.

Thanks in advance.

Well, I started mine a couple of times this winter to let it run (garage temp of anywhere from 5F to 35F), but had no coolant leak. I don't think that this would cause a coolant leak.

I would take the fairings off to try to find point of origin of leak. Might just be a small leak from the bottom of your coolant container. The clamp that holds that tube on the bottom of this container is not very strong.

If it is coming out of the overflow tube from the bottom of your bike, it could be a faulty pressure cap. In that case it is an easy fix, just buy a new radiator cap.

The cold weather might have caused things to move and shrink causing one of your engine cooling system hose clamps to loosen up and dribble coolant when you presurrisd the sytem during one of your winter storage starts. The cross-over coolant hoses between the clinders have been known to be a regular source of minor leakage on VFRs, but the fix had always been as simple as just tightening the hose clamps (Jubilee clips, as the English would say). You noted that you had a "pool" of coolant under the bike. If it's a small amount, this could be the cause, but if it is indeed a "pool" of coolant, like several inches across, you might have a bigger problem. and you should open up the fairings to trace the leak asap if it is a big leak so you can do the neccessary repairs or send it to your dealer for warranty work before the season starts.

Beck
95 VFR

If the leak is close to the sidestand, it's probably coming from the water pump area. If it's closer to the front wheel, it's more likely coming from the radiator. Initial guess is simply a loose hose clamp.

If the leak is close to the sidestand, it's probably coming from the water pump area. If it's closer to the front wheel, it's more likely coming from the radiator. Initial guess is simply a loose hose clamp.

Thanks for the quick responses. The pool is 10 inches across and closer to the front wheel than the side stand. I will check tonight for the loose hose clamp.

If you are going to be running it periodically during the winter, it should run until it reaches operating temperature. It is good to let it run periodically since it keeps the gas fresh in the carbs or injectors and charges the battery back up from starting it. If you run it less all your doing is draining the battery faster and building up moisture in exhaust system and oil.

Check out that leak, spring is a comin and you want to be ready!!!

There are several schools of thought on that one. I personally like to start my engines in the winter instead of winterizing them. We have a very mild winter.

Cold weather can make seals blow out or just start leaking bad. We see honda cars that blow out a seal when the weather turns cold. It does happen, usually on older seals with high mileage.

Hopefully it's just a clamp or hose.

Get those farings off, Mat, and I'll have a look at it when I'm down there next. We need to hit the ground running this spring! :salesman:

This may be water under the bridge or over the dam, but can anyone answer this for me...for the future.

I found a small pool of coolant under my VFR this week. I have started the bike twice this winter and let it run for ten minutes each time. It was very cold at the time. My question is this a good idea or should I just let it set and only maintain the battery? Did starting the bike in cold weather lend to this issue? I have not taken the fairings off to find where the leak is coming from yet(I am hoping a loose hose), just looking for advice for the future.

Thanks in advance.

Prolly a clamp.

I also found a small amount on the floor.Maybe less than an ounce,closer to the front wheel.Start the bike every few weeks in cold weather,average 0-45 f.Too much snow in front of shed door and the Guzzi up tight next to it,so may not be able to get in there for a couple of weeks.Let me know if you find out what your problem is grdutchie,as I'll post when I get to mine.
Thanks,
Michael