What water/coolant mix is needed? Should I use Suzuki premix or is the Prestone good? I took the left and right fairings off and couldn't locate a drain plug/valve. Is there one or do I remove the lowest hose(s) to drain the engine and radiator? Is there any specific things I should look for or be aware of?
I have a friend with 6 bikes, the oldest of which is 16 years old. All bought new, non have ever had any fluids changed except oil and he says they all run good. I'm not recommending neglecting maintenance, just saying, this guy loves to ride but he hates to wrench. If you're like that guy, you can do more harm than good.
Here's everything I know about changing coolant in the busa.
GenII Cooling System Flush and Engine Coolant Change Do not do this procedure when the engine is hot. The hoses seem to come off easier if the engine is slightly warm, however. It is best to do this procedure with the bike on its side stand. Raising the bike on a rear stand will...
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Typically, you mix concentrated coolant 1 part : DISTILLED water : 1 part, just read the bottle. Pre-mixed, you don't dilute, just use as is (but don't get premixed because your paying more and more importantly read the final paragraph on this reply). If you vary much from the 1:1 mixture, the engine could corrode or the coolant may dissipate heat less effectively.
Prestone?...here's where you might be better off not wrenching. "Don't use any coolant that is not recommended for use in a motorcycle," that is what I have been told. The main concern is what it might do to an aluminum engine. Don't risk it. Just knuckle under and save that Prestone for the car you bought it for. Buy Suzuki coolant. It's recommended for your bike and it should be what's in there now. Suzuki doesn't recommend mixing different brands of coolant. Unless you flush the system exteremely thouroughly, you will have some of that old coolant left in there. You won't change coolant again for years so might as well do it right.
Distilled water is the best,but not absolutely critical.
Have to disagree with you on this one Rubb. I have been told it is extremely critical that no tap water enter the cooling system. It will leave deposits that clog and removing those deposits entails using chemicals that are less than desirable if you can avoid them. Use ONLY distilled water. Don't use purified water, it must say "distilled" on the lable. It should be free of dissolved solids like calcium that could precipitate out of the liquid in the cooling system. I've heard some say it's fine to use water from the garden hose to flush as long as you give it a final flush with 100% distilled water. From what I have observed, that's not completely safe either.
I normally come up with overly dilluted coolant after I flush with distilled water. Why? It's impossible to get every last drop of flush water out of the engine. I estimate there must be at least 8 fl oz of liquid that stays in the motor after thoroughly draining it even if all hoses are removed to empty them. SO if there is always flush water left behind after you drain the system, it will not be pure water if you ever used tap water during your flush, even if you did a final flush with distilled water. I don't think it's possible to get every drop of tap water out no matter how thoroughly you flush with distilled.
Speaking of this overly diluted coolant, you can deal with it by not filling the radiator right to neck when you replenish with fresh coolant. Run the bike a few days and check the coolant strength. If your coolant is too weak, add a few ounces of concentrated coolant undiluted and run a few more days. Test coolant strength again. Still weak? You might want to drain a quart or so and then add coolant that is mixed with distilled water about 1 part water : 3 parts coolant. Run it again and test. It takes a while but eventually the coolant and distilled water gets to the proper ratio. If you are as anal about this as I am, you can do the final flush with brand new 50/50 coolant distilled water. That's right, pour it in and flush it through then drain it. What's left in the system now is very close to the proper mixture. Richen up that final flush with additional concentrated coolant and pour it back in. Ride and test as described previously....or just toss out that final flush of 50/50 and add new 50/50. It's expensive but you can get the proper mix in there ASAP. This whole spiel I just gave is the reason I never buy premixed coolant. You can't richen up what you have in the bike very effectively if what you richen up with is already diluted.
If you don't flush, you will avoid this whole hassle but you will have some of the old coolant left in the system. It's like changing oil, you can't get every last drop out.
