Is This Normal?

Is the coolant resevoir supposed to be empty? I just took off my left fairing and noticed there's no coolant in there.

The last time I rode the bike, temps and bike behavior was normal. I haven't started the bike for about two months now...

Should be some in there. Have you checked it, since you got it? (realize it has been a while, since you got it, but be honest).

[image: View Post]Rivcyko, on Jan 2 2009, 04:43 PM, said:

Should be some in there. Have you checked it, since you got it? (realize it has been a while, since you got it, but be honest).

Nope, bought it new and now 2 years later at 23k miles is the first time I've had the fairings off. Neglegence, I know...

But I'm due for a coolant change, brake fluid change, etc.

Like I said, temps were always in the normal range, so I never bothered to check the level.

So where did the coolant go? There are no leaks, and I do my own oil changes and never noticed any coolant or anything strange in the oil.

Cool. I think you're ok. I would chalk it up to bad dealer prep. Put the level between low and high, (be sure to use a non-silicate coolant). Open the doors, crank-up the furnace, put a box fan, blowing out, in the closest room, fire it, warm it, see where it's at. Watch the drain tube on the underside. After that it's, "till the next season", and keeping an eye on it. (Really do think you'll be ok, though).

[image: View Post]Alien VFR, on Jan 2 2009, 10:47 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Rivcyko, on Jan 2 2009, 04:43 PM, said:

Should be some in there. Have you checked it, since you got it? (realize it has been a while, since you got it, but be honest).

Nope, bought it new and now 2 years later at 23k miles is the first time I've had the fairings off. Neglegence, I know...

But I'm due for a coolant change, brake fluid change, etc.

Like I said, temps were always in the normal range, so I never bothered to check the level.

So where did the coolant go? There are no leaks, and I do my own oil changes and never noticed any coolant or anything strange in the oil.
Blown head gasket?
Could be just a small breach on the gasket that was just slowly sipping at the coolant system?
Open you radiator cap and see how far down the coolant is.
for the many years I owned my 4th gen, I can only remember having to add coolant twice or three times to get it up to the full level line on the bottle, and It wasn't much I had to add. Most likely from normal evaporation. Losing all the contents in you expansion bottle is definitely normal, unless the dealer never filled it in the first place(?).

Beck
95 VFR

If you havent checked it in over 2 years there is nothing wrong. The level in the resevoir does deop overtime. Most honda autos will go from the full mark to lower mark in one oil change. Either a tiny bit gets burnt or evaporates. You need to check every so often. At loeast with every oil change. Another good reason to pull the fairing for an oil change.

You are probably low in radiator as well.


Shame on you.

[image: View Post]soichiro, on Jan 2 2009, 05:47 PM, said:

Shame on you.

Yeah, I know. I suck.

Here's a picture of my coolant level inside the radiator. Looks ok, right? It will probably be closer to spring when I actually flush for new coolant. Should I just add some in the meantime?

Where do I add it, to the radiator or the overflow canister?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1053.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1056.jpg

Both. Was it running, when you took the pic.

[image: View Post]Alien VFR, on Jan 3 2009, 04:59 AM, said:

Here's a picture of my coolant level inside the radiator. Looks ok, right? It will probably be closer to spring when I actually flush for new coolant. Should I just add some in the meantime?

Where do I add it, to the radiator or the overflow canister?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1053.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1056.jpg
That doesn't look bad at all at your radiator cap!
I don't see any oil contamination either, looks clean.
I think Mr. Dealer just did not fill the expansion bottle during their inspection.
I think you're OK, but do keep a watch on the system for some miles after topping up the bottle, just to be sure.

Beck
95 VFR

Whenever your bike sits in traffic and the temp guage shows 220 + degrees some of that coolant is boiling out onto the street thus lowering your coolant level. You really have to remove the left side fairing from time to time (oil changes?) and check the level in the white plastic reservoir. You can add a 50/50 distilled water/coolant mix there.

[image: View Post]Rivcyko, on Jan 2 2009, 11:02 PM, said:

Both. Was it running, when you took the pic.

No, it wasn't running. Should it be running for an accurate reading?

Well, it helps for burping, (and should be on the side stand). How much do you love your carpet? You could prolly get away with topping off the rad.s, then adding to at least, the low line, on the res. BUT if you intend on buttoning her up, run it, burp it, fill res., run it, watch temps, and there times, Get back to us, then put it back together.

Coolant doesnt look bad like it use to when everything had cast iron blocks and heads.

JUst top both of them off, The rad level should be to the very top, so it is a little low as well.