SV650 K5 coolant filling?
 

Hello ,

I have a little issue with my SV 5k plate . I did refill the water just slightly above the lower line and bike has lost some water after around 4 weeks just a bit below minimum, is that normal?
Also do you have to lift the tank everytime for refill ? is it no possible to simply refill from radiator cap?

Many y

Re: SV650 water issues
 

Had you drained the system before filling it? If so id expect a drop and the water circulates and fills any gaps. Also if you havent put coolant in and it was just water, possibly some has boiled off?

Re: SV650 water issues
 

Whats the colour of your oil like?

Milky oil signifies water and a possible head gasket fail i believe

Re: SV650 water issues
 

i didn't take the Radiotor cap off to check but from the white bottle on the left hand side it looks white , no milkey stuff etc.
where do you normally top up your water from ? The white container which is a pain in the butt to remove the seat and then tank screws to access or just the radiotor? in another word, is it bad if done from Radiator?

Thanks

Re: SV650 water issues
 

When filling the coolant there are 2 parts that need to be checked:
The radiator filler cap is where you'd be putting 90% of your coolant. Check that with the bike on the side-stand the radiator is full when you open the cap.

The expansion tank is the white bottle where a small additional amount of coolant goes. Filling this up will not fill the radiator. When the coolant system gets to a certain pressure (a little over 1 bar from memory) the valve in the radiator cap lifts slightly allowing some fluid to escape from the system into the line to the expansion tank. When the system cools down the pressure becomes slightly negative and a much lighter valve in the rad cap allows coolant to be drawn back into the radiator from the coolant bottle.

When you fill a system and it heat cycles you can end up with a little air in the radiator getting pushed out under pressure, and replaced by coolant once the system cools. It's not uncommon to find the expansion bottle level a little lower after a little while because of this. You need to make sure the system is cold when you check it or the level may adjust as the system cools.

Jambo

Re: SV650 K5 coolant filling?
 

thanks , so as I understand I should fill the radiator and not the expansion bottle as per my Haynes manual ?

btw I am thinking of draining the water as it is recommended to do every 2 years. can I use an anti freez that has been in my parking for little over 5 years ? the lid was closed and I have two of them .

is it an issue to mix anti freez of different brands?

Re: SV650 K5 coolant filling?
 

Old anti freeze will be fine. Mixing brands is also fine aslong as they are the same colour or so i have heard before, im guesding diff colours are different chemicals

Re: SV650 K5 coolant filling?
 

as the fluid ways are very fine in the radiator it's best to use distilled water. normal tap water may fur up the internals.

yes the SV is a mare fill.

Re: SV650 K5 coolant filling?
 

done mine recently and used red, just because I had a new bottle.

I had my sv on the paddock stand, drain the system by removing the rad cap, them remove the coolant drain bolt on the right side of the engine (as sitting on the bike) looks like the bike is going for a jimmy riddle :p

Refit the drain bolt, then I simply added the 1 litre of coolant to the radiator, and topped upto the filler neck of the rad with water. rad cap back on, ran the bike up for a couple of mins. re checked the rad, added about a thimble amount more of water. Checked the expansion tank and that was at the correct level.

Ran up the bike again, then checked the rad and expansion tank levels. Job done. With using red coolant it was easier to see in the expansion tank.

Lee

Re: SV650 K5 coolant filling?
 

Colour itself is not important. Provided both existing and new coolant are the same type (almost all are) you can mix away.

You must fill both the rad and coolant expansion tank from empty. If the rad is known to be full, then any extra topping up will just need to be done at the expansion bottle.

Jambo
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