Author Topic: What is this? (Read 3784 times)

zcarlson12 · « **on:** April 28, 2014, 09:40:31 AM »

I put 3 good motos on my R this weekend and started prepping for the race this weekend yesterday. When I pulled my radiator cap off there was this residue on it. I didn't lose any coolant or anything I just don't know what this is. The coolant has maybe 2-3 hours on it and the cap is brand new as well. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

havinnoj · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2014, 09:50:21 AM »

Coolant sludge, hard water build up? Do they dissolve in water or come off with your finger?

zcarlson12 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2014, 09:56:55 AM »

Comes off with my finger. I wiped it all off of the cap and the radiator where the cap fits into. Each time I came off the track I checked the temp and it never got above 180 after 15 or more minutes of hard riding.

Jerry Hall · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2014, 10:31:52 AM »

The creamy stuff is common in aluminum cooling systems when the strength of the antifreeze or corrosion inhibitors has not been strong enough to prevent corrosion inside the cooling system. You can see the corrosion inside the pressure cap filler neck. The silicates in some antifreeze will also look similar to the stuff shown but only appears when the antifreeze get old.

A common mistake guys make is draining the coolant from their bikes during the off season. Corrosion is greatly accelerated in this oxygen rich environment because of the small amount of coolant trapped in the water jacket and radiator that do not completely drain. If you plan to drain the coolant in the off season, remove all of the drain plugs, hoses from the radiator, cylinder and head so that the inside of the water jacket can completely dry out quickly. This procedure is not recommended because bugs will often crawl inside these open passages and nest.

I think that it is best to leave straight antifreeze in the coolant system and fill it completely so that there is not any air anywhere in the system if you do not plan to ride the bike for a while.

zcarlson12 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2014, 10:16:22 PM »

Ok thanks for the info Jerry.

C-Leigh Racing · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2014, 01:13:11 PM »

Another thing, dont mix different types or brands of antifreeze like if you have to add some. Theres some types & brands out there, if you mix them, they turn to a jell & after the engine is hot, turns hard & you have a mess on your hands after that.
Neil

zcarlson12 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2014, 03:35:49 PM »

I have seen you post that before and ever since then have always used the same brand. Thanks Neil.

C-Leigh Racing · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2014, 12:35:47 PM »

Yeah, after seeing the damage first hand at a local shop, I just want to drive the point home as hard as I can, so you guys wont have to go through it.
Neil

SARON81 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2014, 12:41:08 PM »

Using distilled water can also help keep corrosion down in cooling systems that use a lot of aluminum components.

Jerry Hall · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2014, 07:17:04 PM »

Quote from: SARON81;32736

Using distilled water can also help keep corrosion down in cooling systems that use a lot of aluminum components.

Mixing distilled water with antifreeze is fine. Using distilled water by it self in an aluminum cooling will not be much better than tap water as far as preventing corrosion.

SARON81 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2014, 07:57:18 AM »

Quote from: Jerry Hall;32773

Mixing distilled water with antifreeze is fine. Using distilled water by it self in an aluminum cooling will not be much better than tap water as far as preventing corrosion.

That's what I meant... not straight water.