Drunkn Munky and me were stripping down my RVF yesterday and the water pump area and these inlets were like this. What could be causing it?

TBH? A neglected cooling circuit. It is time to flush that out. If you buy a cooling system flush make sure it is safe for aluminum and stay away from silica based coolant. Your water pump doesn't like silica (which is really just sand!). Also, don't use tap water when you refill the system. Get some distilled water. That buildup comes from the minerals and crap that is in tap water.

Probably using ordinary water in the coolant rather than distilled, and/or not flushing when replacing the coolant, using crap coolant, never bothering to change the coolant, etc. I'd clean as much shite out as you can can get out with something that won't damage the surface. I'd also take the rads off and rinse them out as they'll probably look the same, plus clean the inside of the water pump. I would then put the system back together and fill it with distilled water and a flushing agent to get the rest of the crap shifted. Note that when I did this, I found the internal water pump seal was shot and it was only crap that was stopping it leaking. This seal CANNOT be replaced, so it's a replace the pump job (you have been warned!). I had reason to drain some coolant out of the system a few weeks back, and it absolutely crystal clear and a lovely vibrant blue colour after 18 months. I find it normally goes green and stinks of fish, so despite the arseache of the water pump, I think it made a difference. Hasn't really made a huge difference to the cooling, mind you... lol

Thanks for the replies guys. I've just ordered a set of chinky rads so it's probably a good idea to flush the system through before refilling with distilled water.

I have a dehumidifier and always recycle the water collected and filter through kitchen paper to make free distilled water, just a heads up to anyone that owns a dehumidifier.

Rick

What about water that's come out of a tumble drier? Is that the same sort of thing?

Zippy wrote:What about water that's come out of a tumble drier? Is that the same sort of thing?

No because thats removing water which found its way there via the tap

Dehumidifier is removing the vapour/humidity from the air

Tumble drier should be the same as a dehumidifier. You can't evaporate solids, after all.

So is that a yes or a no guy's lol

On second thoughts a condensing tubble dryer should be fine as its effectively doing the same thing.