Checking the coolant level

[Hammam]

After 6,000 kms I decided to check the collant level using the little window on the right side. But... wait a minute, I couldn't see a thing. No top of liquid, neither did it look empty, or full for that matter. So, I decided to use the flashlight technique at night. Same result, all I see is a whitish stuff, but I don't know if that's the coolant or the plastic of the window. If I trust the sacrosaint manual, it seems to me that the top of the liquid should show somewhere in the middle there. But it doesn't. What's the deal here? Another BMW «feature»? What do you guys do? Thanks. [huh][huh][huh]

[Mike in Ohio]

I wait until the engine block cracks, and then I get a new bike. :D

[Jason C]

I had the same problem, in the end I just took the fairing off. I appreciate that this will probably involve slightly more work on the ST than it does on the S.

[Hammam]

Originally posted by Jason C

I had the same problem, in the end I just took the fairing off. I appreciate that this will probably involve slightly more work on the ST than it does on the S.


I can't believe this. I mean, coolant is important, at least as much as oil level. Can you imagine having to remove the fairing every time you want to check the oil? Sure, you don't need to check coolant level as often, but still. May I criticize BMW for that without being flamed or suggested I ride a Honda?

[Mintaka]

The first time I tried to check the coolant level I couldn't see a damned thing through the slot in the fairing, so I took the panel off, only to find that the level was spot on after all[ahh]!
For me, the flashlight technique doesn't seem to help, but I've found that if I rock the bike from side to side as I look through the slot I can just about see the liquid sloshing about. Really BMW, it shouldn't be that difficult to check the coolant level! [bh]

[chris f]

To date, I have managed to check the level using the flash light in a dark garage technique. Even then it is still necessary to slightly rock the bike as a bit of movement makes it easier to spot the coolant surface.
I think the main problem is the low colour contrast between the coolant and the container. If a small amount of dye could be added to enhance the contrast I think the task would be easier. Any chemists out there that can recommend a dye that would not affect the other properties of the coolant?

[Doodads]

http://f800riders.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1515&SearchTerms=coolant

[Dunny]

Wonder if you could swap to a different type of fluid. VW fluid G12 is a nice shade of pink.

[warby]

Originally posted by Dunny

Wonder if you could swap to a different type of fluid. VW fluid G12 is a nice shade of pink.


... or have a floating object in the translucent tank, something big enough not to go down or block the pipe? Even my coffee machine at home has a little floater in the sight glass so that I know how much water I've added. I think BMW and Cuisinart should talk.

Wiggling my bike while pointing a flashlight up its nether regions makes me uncomfortable.

Andreas :D

[Greg.Donald]

Even if you find the level too low you still have to take the fairing off to top up the bottle. Seems to me that BMW haven't thought this one out very well. Why can't they have a clear strip on the side of the bottle for easy reading (oil bottles do) and some kind of bottle extension so you only have to take off the top cover to refill.

Can remember looking at a Suzuki SV650 a while ago with its radiator cap exposed and thinking it looked a bit ordinary - not any more as i now think it is the sensible alternative

Greg Donald

[Streety]

I have the same problem.

Not sure what to do but as I have only done 1100 miles Iam hoping Vines of Guildford knew what they were doing.

And I am certainly not taking the faring off. Never get it back on again.

[avboden]

Bah, complainers, the whole lot of you. Its bloody easy to take off the fairing. 5min max assuming you have the right torx screw driver which you all SHOULD!!! Sure its not convenient but I still prefer it to some big cap sticking out somewhere.

although,, I do just like taking things apart :-P

[Jason C]

Bah, complainers, the whole lot of you. Its bloody easy to take off the fairing. 5min max assuming you have the right torx screw driver which you all SHOULD!!! Sure its not convenient but I still prefer it to some big cap sticking out somewhere.

although,, I do just like taking things apart :-P

I don't mind taking the bike apart to check the coolant level if its warm, dry and bright outside, but when you've just ridden home from work on a dark, cold, rainy winters day, the last thing I want to be doing is stripping the bike to do something so simple.

[Pat H]

Sure its not convenient but I still prefer it to some big cap sticking out somewhere.



What you mean like the front brake fluid filler cap?

[lostboy]

You have to laugh, I too checked the manual and looked and wondered, and read the manual again and looked again. I pondered and thought lets follow the manual intructions and take of the faring. Did that no problem and all was fine and dandy. But either way BMW put one or the other in the wrong place. Guess even the great german design engineers can drop off now and again, nice to know they are human after all [:D]

[Marko]

minimise effort.
If your temp gauge goes up, then check it!

[Streety]

What's coolant?

[lostboy]

What's coolant?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolant

A coolant, or heat transfer fluid, is a fluid which flows through a device in order to prevent its overheating, transferring the heat produced by the device to other devices that utilize or dissipate it. An ideal coolant has high thermal capacity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_capacity), low viscosity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity), is low-cost, and is chemically inert, neither causing nor promoting corrosion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrosion) of the cooling system. Some applications also require the coolant to be an electrical insulator (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_insulation).
The coolant can either keep its phase and stay liquid or gaseous, or can undergo a phase change (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_change), with the latent heat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latent_heat) adding to the cooling efficiency. The latter, when used to achieve low temperatures, is more commonly known as refrigerant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerant).
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yep theres always one [8D]

[beebop]

This thread certainly has generated quite a lot of heat

[Greg.Donald]

Last week when I checked the coolant level I removed the side of the fairing in order to see the bottle as I usually do. What I think is part of the problem is that the level was right up to the neck of the bottle which meant that when you shake the bike you don't see the movement of the fluid level as it is sort of out of sight.

It would still be very hard to see though.

[Barance]

Yep agree its impossible to see but found taking the fairing off wasnt an issue , less then 2minutes,and gave me the chance to clean the bits of motor hidden by the fairing anyway.