How to flush your cooling system

[lukeinmexico]

Thank you for this post. It makes this job seem easy and straight forward.
I took a ride yesterday and my engine was getting hot; the fan wasn't turning on.
Does anyone know of a good post showing how to check the fan motor and switch?
This forum is great, thanks for all of the help!

[lukeinmexico]

Thank you for this post, it helped me when I had to switch out my thermo switch and I decided to flush the coolant.

[bubba9710]

My dad and I are getting ready to do a little road trip through the Saskatchewan Badlands next week so I decided a little maintenance was in order. I changed the air filter and the oil, as I do annually, but I had never done the coolant before. I figured that was in order being that I've run this bike for four seasons without changing it. Thank you for the crystal clear step by step instruction. This was so easy, I don't know why I haven't done it before. Simple instructions with clear pictures (so clear I knew the coolant drain bolt was a 14mm) make life easy! I'll try to post a few pictures from our trip next week when I get back. We both ride Wings. His is an '80 and mine an '81. We love them! Best and smoothest bikes we have ever owned...and we have had a few. Thanks again for another tutorial so easy you should be ashamed if you don't do the maintenance!!

[lukeinmexico]

Thanks again for this thread.
I used it again after I replaced my timing belts and thermostat and had my radiator cleaned out.
I was able to do three flushes on two gallons of distilled water.
Great thread.
Thanks again.
-Bobby

[Dalydude]

While waiting for parts, I'm flushing the cooling system. While draining, it started out with nice clear green fluid, but now I'm getting this camo-green goo reluctantly dripping out. Sure glad I'm flushing it out. I'm guessing it's oil/water mix. I'm thinking of doing the first flush with Simple Green! (Well, that actually sounds like a bad idea )

Will water still work just fine, or should I find some product to use?

The green goo! The dark green stuff IS simple green I used to clean the bolt before removal)

[lukeinmexico]

Hmmm...I'm sure other people know more than me, but if you have oil in your radiator fluid you might have a bad water pump or water pump seal(s). To answer your question, I use distilled water for my cooling system flushes.
-Bobby-D

[Dalydude]

Hmmm...I'm sure other people know more than me, but if you have oil in your radiator fluid you might have a bad water pump or water pump seal(s). To answer your question, I use distilled water for my cooling system flushes.
-Bobby-D

Agreed. There are several places the cooling /lubrication systems come close to each other. I hate to think about that.

[cruzan_papa]

I look forward to doing this i got my bike for 2 years now and i can only hope that the dealership did a flush...but just for my sake ill do it so i exactly when it was done. Thanks for this dude your awesome!!

Edit:
Has someone or can someone do a DIY on switching out an ignition? Someone hit my bike and now my handlebars wont lock so im guessing ill need a new ignition but dont know how to switch it out...thanks again!

[uman54025]

While waiting for parts, I'm flushing the cooling system. While draining, it started out with nice clear green fluid, but now I'm getting this camo-green goo reluctantly dripping out. Sure glad I'm flushing it out. I'm guessing it's oil/water mix. I'm thinking of doing the first flush with Simple Green! (Well, that actually sounds like a bad idea )

Will water still work just fine, or should I find some product to use?

20160423_123802.jpg

Do you have coolant in the oil also ? Sounds like it could be a bad head gasket to me.
I have read on auto repair forums that people use liquid Tide laundry detergent with the water for flushing out oil in the cooling system.

[arseatea]

This may come up twice. But, I was just getting ready to flush and fill my 83 1100I when I saw your thread. I was going to use Prestone 50/50 prediluted. It does not say it is silicone free and does say that it is for all cars and light trucks. I would guess this is not the right stuff for the Honda..

[Chewy]

I have a question: When flushing my system, water is being pushed out of the filler neck. not a lot, but steady and level never went down. Is this normal? It scares me a little at the moment.

[randall_l_davis]

I think that there may be too much antifreeze in the radiator and it is just simply pushing out the excess. After it warms up, check the level and add more if necessary.
On another note for the previous reply, I purchased Zerex Asian Vehicle Formula. It states that it is Silicate free. I'll post a pic.
Also, I flushed mine with ThermoCure which is also made by Evapo-Rust.

[Jack-the-Dwarf]

Hi, i am about to change my waterpump for the third time in a a short period.
My coolant never drops when I follow the steps so i can't refill, but when i turn off the engine it volcanoes out.... I seem to never get more than 2 or 2,5 litres of coolant into the system, what might have killed my last pump..... I am helpless right now

[Chewy]

Hi, i am about to change my waterpump for the third time in a a short period.
My coolant never drops when I follow the steps so i can't refill, but when i turn off the engine it volcanoes out.... I seem to never get more than 2 or 2,5 litres of coolant into the system, what might have killed my last pump..... I am helpless right now

how often have you had to replace the water pump?
what brand water pump did you use?
did you change out the thermostat when you replace the last water pump?

[Jack-the-Dwarf]

Hi, i am about to change my waterpump for the third time in a a short period.
My coolant never drops when I follow the steps so i can't refill, but when i turn off the engine it volcanoes out.... I seem to never get more than 2 or 2,5 litres of coolant into the system, what might have killed my last pump..... I am helpless right now

how often have you had to replace the water pump?
what brand water pump did you use?
did you change out the thermostat when you replace the last water pump?

The original was broken when we opened the engine (luckily we found it by chance) so i bought a new one from Honda, the one with tge steel impeller, but that died after only 2000km, unfortunately the 90 days warranty of the US seller passed.... So i bought a repair set for the pump and we rebuilt it and mounted it again, and now my engine is tripping from the wheephole, so there is again something wrong with the pump and it has to be changed again....
The thermostat is working properly.....

[Chewy]

thats not very far for a new water pump. how long has it been since you rebuilt it and installed it?

[Jack-the-Dwarf]

thats not very far for a new water pump. how long has it been since you rebuilt it and installed it?

Rebuilt in february, installed a few weeks (6 at max) ago. And not ridden since then, as i found coolant tripping from the wheephole the day after and still a week later.... I am not brave enough to ride it in this state....

[Chewy]

could be that the o-rings got damaged on install. pull them, and check for damaged spots. good luck.