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Losing coolant

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 7:17 pm
by Ron1000
Hi all,
So my three day old vfr has decide to start losing coolant. Does not look like a bad leak, just a drip from the bottom hose on the top rad on right hand side.

Just wanting to know if this is common and what's the best way to fix it, hoping I don't need to drain the coolant or anything like that.

Fairing removal will be my first task so I can get a look at the issue. Also is there anyway to get the seat off without removing the entire rear section. It looks to me like it's bolted down!

Re: Losing coolant

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:33 am
by Icemaestro
Mine started doing that when the rad cap needed replacing - if in fact it is coming out the overflow tube, and you have the coolant levels correct.

You are clearly lucky enough to have a seat that does bolt on! Some people use velcro instead but you are correct, unbolt the rear fairings and lift up and out, undo the rear light wire before lifting completely off

Re: Losing coolant

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:07 pm
by Ron1000
Had a look today.

Yep took the entire rear fairing off, surprisingly easy to do. Checked coolant, it was down to the min line so topped it up.

Then checked for the leak, took the side fairing top section off. Again no problem. It looks to me as though its coming from the bottom hose on the top radiator. Checked rad cap seems ok slight nik in overflow tube but not leeking.

So i tightened up the jubilie clips and sure enough the suspected hose, clip wasnt very tight so i've redone it (could be doing with putting t-bolt clips on i think). Ran it upto temp and it wasnt leaking. Will only find out for sure when i take it for a run, thinking maybe i can live with it and just top up my coolant once a week!

Re: Losing coolant

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:45 pm
by willandrip
Hose clips should be tweaked when coolant is up to temp; surprising how much slack can be taken up.

Re: Losing coolant

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:55 pm
by Neosophist
Ron1000 wrote:Had a look today.

Yep took the entire rear fairing off, surprisingly easy to do. Checked coolant, it was down to the min line so topped it up.

Then checked for the leak, took the side fairing top section off. Again no problem. It looks to me as though its coming from the bottom hose on the top radiator. Checked rad cap seems ok slight nik in overflow tube but not leeking.

So i tightened up the jubilie clips and sure enough the suspected hose, clip wasnt very tight so i've redone it (could be doing with putting t-bolt clips on i think). Ran it upto temp and it wasnt leaking. Will only find out for sure when i take it for a run, thinking maybe i can live with it and just top up my coolant once a week!
you should check / fill the radiator with coolant as well as the expansion bottlee. (only remove the rad cap when its cold)

sometimes with an old rad cap ive found after taking them off they dont seal well again though so be careful with it.

Re: Losing coolant

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:18 pm
by Ron1000
Leak found, Expansion hose split at the back so you can't see it. I only felt it by accident.

Image, Note ignore small cut at front.

So is it ok to run it even though ultimately it will empty the expansion tank? And whats the best way to fix it, replace hose or cut back and re-attach?

Also I ran it up to temp and it goes past 90 then the fan kicks in a it hovers just over 90, sounds about right to me so thats all good.

Re: Losing coolant

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:47 pm
by willandrip
Ron1000 wrote: I only felt it by accident.
Oooh you. :grin:

Re: Losing coolant

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:39 pm
by Ron1000
All sorted, simple fix just cut off bad bit then re-joined hose.