Dumb coolant question...

[Damn Yankee]

I probably know the answer to this already, but....

Can I get away with draining the coolant by popping open the radiator hoses instead of taking out the water pump drain plugs? Or does that just keep a part of the dirty coolant from being removed? Or...(wishful thinking alert) does the new coolant dilute the old stuff to a point where it's irrelevant?

Thanks for your help as always. Pix from my Lake Huron circle trip forthcoming.

[MagnaDaddy]

Those pesky drain plugs happen to be at the lowest point of the system so I prefer to drain there even though it is a royal pain to get to them.  

[DC Smith]

I am sure I will be in the minority here, but that is the way I changed the coolant in my 2000.  I was surprised at how much came out.  I have to think that the small amount of old fluid that remains would not make much difference.   I don't know what the capacity of the coolant is, but why don't you drain by loosening the hose and measure how much comes out.  Then make a decision on whether you think you should do all that extra work.  I do plan on changing the fluid a little more often using this method.  I guess I would rather spend a couple of extra bucks than all that time.

[MagnaDaddy]

I'll admit I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to coolant as I just had to rebuild form a blown head gasket due to overheating.  So, I want to make sure I get all the old juice out.

Maybe it takes a lot more to get to the lower drain and the water pump on a 3rd gen than on my '86.

[Damn Yankee]

I also had to change the spark plugs, and taking off the radiator was the only way to get to the ones on front, so it was going to be done that way anyhow.
But, yeah, I caught about 60 percent of the bug juice in a large bowl and the garage floor did the rest, hehehe.

Just the same, I think I will go after the drain plugs, if for no other reason to suffer--ERR-- I mean acquaint myself further with the bike.  

I hate doing the 24-K maintenance stuff in the middle of the season
(actually 24,700 following the Lake Huron tour). But the upside is I won't have to deal with it (knock on wood) until the end of 2009!

PS: 96 degrees for the early part of this week with a heat index of over 100--probably just another day in the office for you Texans, but up here, we're hot weather wimps!

[DC Smith]

Well, you don't have to take the radiator off to change the plugs. Loosen the lower screws and pull it forward.

[Magnum Magna]

I will be watching this topic.  I changed my coolant about 2 months ago.  I drained from the hose going to the bottom of the engine.   That looked like the lowest point to me.  I do believe it drained out of the engine also not just the hose from the radiator.

When I bought the coolant.  Honda sold me 3 bottles (I believe 1 quart in a bottle).  I believe I used 1 and half bottles.  I think they sold me three bottles not relising the Magna radiator is smaller then the newer Hondas.

[Damn Yankee]

Believe me, if I could have worked around the radiator, I would have. But the highway bars gave me no choice but to remove the entire radiator. Even then, the @#*!! fan wiring wouldn't come unclipped, so I had to balance it on a box so I wouldn't strain the wires while I replaced the spark plugs. Barnum and Bailey would have been proud.

But back to the coolant. I did pull the drain plugs in the water pump and the cylinders. A bit of a task, but not as tough as I thought it would be. Taking off the front sprocket cover wasn't all that bad, either. (We're talking about a '95 3-Gen Maggie, btw)

VERY glad I did it this way: I got a lot more crud out this way than I did through the radiator hose; it emptied out just as quick as through the hoses, and without as big of a mess. But I'm surprised there were no torque specs for the drain plugs. I just got em snug and watched for tell tale leaks; after a quick 5 mile shake down cruise, no leaks.

I got 2 and a quarter quarts of the 50/50 in, let it run for 10 minuted for the air pockets to dissapate, but I'll need to run it more to get the rest of the collant back in. My local stealership says this Magna takes 3 quarts.
I have to double check the repair manual.

Suffice to say, it's been a learning experience.

[Damn Yankee]

Figures...

Owner's manual sez: 2.4 quarts. Silly stealership....

[Tenebras]

Hey guys, I swear I don't only browse the boards when something is wrong...

Anyway, it's been damned hot here in Santa Barbara (although probably still nice and breezy compared to Texas) and the coolant level's a bit low, so I thought I'd replace it.

But the Clymer's guide says that you should take out the plastic tank and rinse it out, too. Sadly this requires you to pull the gas tank. I guess the question is: is this really necessary? It seems a lot of work to add some anti-freeze and water... (I did this once to my first car, but the reserve tank was a damned sight easier to get to. All praise Volvo.)

Ben

[Herman]

When I changed my coolant, I took out the plastic tank.  There was enough junk in there to make me want to clean it out.  Also, when I change my coolant, I flush it all out with distilled water.  I fill it up with water, run the bike for 10 minuets or so, drain, fill with water again, run, drain.  The second time the water comes out clean and I refill with new coolant.  That way I know all the old coolant is out, and if there is anything left over, it's just distilled water and it won't hurt anything if what ever amount of water is left in there and mixes with the new coolant.

[Tenebras]

Thanks. If people actually do this, it doesn't seem so hard. It just seemed to be a bit... excessive. Pulling all the pieces off and all.

Ben

[Jerry G Turner]

when I changed mine I just flushed the reservior with water till it was clean and then used a pump to pump out the water that was in it, much easier.

[MagnaDaddy]

I agree with Jerry, just flush it out in place.  But I do like to filler up with distilled water and run to operating temp a couple of times before I put in the anti-freeze.