BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Well it's nearly 70 degrees today and beautifully sunny and clear. Winter and cold weather is over and time to change the coolant in the radiators on either side of our fuel tanks. Need to get out the winter coolant and put in the appropriate summer coolant/antifreeze. I realize that most of the antifreeze sold today is considered "all year round coolant" but it has been my experience that the coolant sold in the spring and summer has special additives that enhance the ability of the coolant to transfer heat away from the engine. So to be on the safe side I always change my coolant out prior to the start of the high temperature days.

I won't make specific recommendations as to brand as I don't want to be accused of being on the payroll of any particular coolant manufacturer. I use 'em all!

BTW--be sure to properly dispose of any used coolant. We need to continue to protect our environement.

Happy changing!

Wayne/Towerworker

Wayne

Don't forget to change the old/stale air in the tires. Personally the cool higher elevation air is best. I have my sister send me some from Denver every year.

Also - remember to fit the low light filaments to your bulbs - now the nights are longer it's a waste to have those high energy output filaments burning all the way home, you might dazzle someone!

Be careful not to get any coolant on the paint-work when you undo the drain plugs or you could damage the paint. I also put in a lower amp fuse in the bar heaters so they dont get as hot in the summer. I love my bike......


Croc

I can't believe that an esteemed member of the forums like Wayne is spreading such fallacies and misinformation.




You should NEVER use coolant in the winter. You should ONLY use anti-freeze in the winter and coolant in the summer.

"You should NEVER use coolant in the winter. You should ONLY use anti-freeze in the winter and coolant in the summer"


Darn! Now I know why my grips wouldn't heat all winter long and my defroster would not melt the ice on my shield.

FloridaBeakster--I owe you one!

An old fart like me learns something new every day.

Wayne/Towerworker

Don't forget to remove the snow-chains from the tyres too!

I guess everyone has their favorite springtime maintenance activities. My favorites are:

Swab out the moisture condensation inside the fuel tank, perform a piston ring groove alignment, and buff out the corroded spots on the inside of the handlebars.

Does SpeedBleeder make a Speed Drainer for the coolant valves? I can't find one on-line.

Can I use a Katadyn Purifier for the air? Is there an inline regulator available for the pressure pump?

Are those low light filaments available from PIAA? Do they lower the cost for the lower output?

What swabs do you use for the tank condensation procedure? Are Q-Tips okay or do I need synthetic cotton?

I rotate my tires.

Mike

A lot of our ilustrious forum visitors are not aware of the benefits of the low light filaments as they are obscure but many....allow me to illustrate:

First they are less costly than the regular ones....Duhhh!!! they produce less light, in addition you get:

More miles per gallon, being lower intensity the air just in front of the light is cooler, reducing the drag on the bike. Likewise, the alternator has less draw, which translates into less load on the engine, less wear, less heat.
Less wear, less heat makes for a more efficient engine, less comsumption....ad infinitum

As a matter of fact, I have calculated that if every vehicle owner that has daylight running lights changes to the lower light filaments we can reduce the cost of a barrel of oil to $43 and the cost of a gallon of gasoline to $0.75

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR>>>>>PASS IT ON>>>>>

towerworker wrote:it has been my experience that the coolant sold in the spring and summer has special additives that enhance the ability of the coolant to transfer heat away from the engine.

There's probably a correlation between improper coolant usage habits on the R1150 and clutch spline failure.


EDIT: I just realized that at some future point, somebody will be researching clutch spline failure and will come across this thread that points him to improper coolant usage.

MikeCam--you changed your avatar!! Such a dapper lookin fella.

Somewhere in Asia or possibly Europe someone is reading my posts on the importance of proper coolant service. They are preparing to do serious and irreparable damage to their bike and I will be responsible for leading them down the gnarly and twisted path of motorcycle maintenance dis-information.
(according to MikeCam)

Well all of these above mentioned procedures have been thoroughly tested in my state of the art engineering and design facility. All recommended processes are fully beta-tested and have been worked out to the most finite detail. You can rest easy at nite knowing that I have left no stone unturned. That being said------if you bust it........I don't know nuthin!


And MikeCam------you aren't the only one around here who is full of you know what!

Wayne

"MikeCam--you changed your avatar!! Such a dapper lookin fella."

That's my Post Office picture.

boxermania wrote:A lot of our ilustrious forum visitors are not aware of the benefits of the low light filaments as they are obscure but many....allow me to illustrate:

First they are less costly than the regular ones....Duhhh!!! they produce less light, in addition you get:

I need to find out your supplier. My guy has been charging me more for the low light filaments saying that I would easily make up the price difference in fuel savings.

Biff's R wrote:I rotate my tires.

I rotate my tires but always hate when I have to put the whitewalls out, so I plan ahead and install tires so only one whitwall is out at any given rotation.

Quick question for the experts here on the forum about summer coolant - what SPF rating do you recommend for driving in the southern tier states? Also, I tend to burn easily - is it better to install highway pegs or just continue to lay my legs up on the jugs during summer cruising? Thanks for your insights!

MikeCam wrote:"MikeCam--you changed your avatar!! Such a dapper lookin fella."

That's my Post Office picture.

How much do I get if I bring you in.

Biff's R wrote:

MikeCam wrote:"MikeCam--you changed your avatar!! Such a dapper lookin fella."

That's my Post Office picture.

How much do I get if I bring you in.

Don't misunderstand. It was taken in front of the Post Office at Montebello, hence, my P.O. picture.