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Race season over distilled water or coolant

2K views 11 replies 8 participants last post by  Twistedsocal13 
#1 ·
Appolisge in advance if this topic has been brought up previously.

So as the topic goes my race season is over and my Gen 2 is being stored in the bricked garage (no heating).

So part of ACU regs is that you need to be running distilled water during races for obvious reasons.

Now that the festive season is around the corner and the motorcycle is being stored away until April next year.

Is there really any need to flush the system out and replace it with coolant. Then flush the system out and replace with distilled water again.

I live in the United Kingdom and the coldest winter we reached was -7 degrees to -5 degrees.

Your wise wisdom is much appreciated as I've come across a few threads commenting on engine blocks/rads cracking.

Thanks ?
 
#6 ·
some of the engines i build i run a distilled water/coolant lowering addative in the summer months on my customers bikes. just called three of them this week to remind them to drain and refill with antifreeze for cold weather coming. so yeah, definatley change to antifreeze solution.
 
#7 ·
It gets down to -40 here so us damn Canadians have a lot of experience dealing with cold.

50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water is what you need. The glycol in the antifreeze keeps it from freezing, and the anti corrosive additives keep it from corroding. Simply drain the existing coolant and replace with this stuff. Top up the reservoir, let it run for a few minutes, and you're done.

"Tipping the bike over a couple times" does not get ALL the water out of the pump or water jacket of the engine. That doesn't work at all and being someone who runs a parts desk at a local dealership I sell quite a few rads and water pump covers due to that horrible advice. It will still freeze and crack. Please don't do that. Plus if you leave your coolant system empty you will accelerate corrosion while drying out your seals.

Your track tech won't want to see glycol in the spring (if you crash and it leaks it's super slippery and a b!tc# to clean up) so when the risk of freezing subsides drain out the glycol mix and replace it with whatever you're running now.
 
#8 ·
Absolutely appreciate all your advices.

I just knipped out and picked up 3ltrs of Silkolene Mag Cool preferred the Castrol stuff but that wasn't around.

Felt the toolbox flipping cold as ever. Can't have the bike sitting like that even if it's just for 1 night.
 
#10 ·
For sure using anti freeze is a smart move. You may not be racing but you want to starting that bike every couple of weeks let it run up to temp then turn het off. Prolonged cold is bad on internal springs and the shell bearings suffer icy the oil isn't freshened up by regular starting. And the additives in the coolant have a lubricating and cleansing effect leaving the system in better condition when you drain out for the new season.
 
#12 ·
well, the best of my knowledge is that even distilled water can and will cause corrosion and that you should always add some sort of corrosion inhibitor such as water wetter or antifreeze. water wetter is great as long as the bike won't be subject to sub zero c° or -32°f temps. if it will be then a product meant as an antifreeze would be your best bet. here is a link I dig up about the details but it seems to be both ambiguous as well as informative, read it and gather what you can. I will just highly suggest you add a corrosion inhibitor since a new radiator is more a pain in the ass then just flushing the system.
https://appliedspeed.com/blogs/tech...s-can-it-damage-the-aluminum-and-create-leaks
 
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