Coolant reservoir is looking strange..

[The Big Red One]

My coolant bottle is either discoloring or the antifreeze in it is crystallizing. Bikes running fine no overheating of any kind. Antifreeze is 3 years old (original). Never really seen this before, not sure what it is

The bottom of the tank is turning white...so are a few other areas but mostly the bottom. It looks like granules of some type to me, but it could be the plastic aging too I suppose. Anybody else have this? Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated

 

[Spudley]

Ummmm....factory service limit

Inspect every 4,000 miles / six months.

Replace every two years..........yer a year late Bruddah........

BTW the bottom of my tank is white-ish too.  Plastic dis-coloration.........at the very bottom.

 

[BA BUSA]

Sounds like it's time to service your cooling system

 

[HRJR]

I noticed what appears to be the same problem just recently on my 06 LE. From outside of the tank it looked like tapioca on the bottom 3/4 inch of the overflow tank. I took off the tank and drained and cleaned it. The material at the bottom was a white "goop" (sorry for the technical term). Not as much of it as first appeared when viewing from the outside of the tank.

I don't know what that material is either. I'll be flushing the cooling system and replacing the coolant soon.

 

[Wag]

Need to flush your system every two years, minimum.

--Wag--

 

[TallTom]

Both myself and a buddy have had the same crud. I flushed mine as prescribed and most of it is gone. I still accumulate some. Tapioca is a pretty accurate description. When I flushed it, I actually seperated it to try and make sense of it. It isn't solid. It is granular in form and it does appear to be petroleum based. I am going to guess it is some part of the manufacturing process. It isn't a problem as to a failure. It just "is". It has never caused me a cooling issue and yes it is a mystery substance that is not to be worried about from all I can tell.

I still, after a complete flush, have accumulated a little in the bottom, but nothing like it was from the start. My temp gauge is exactly the same post flush as it was was pre-flush.

I can't imagine what would need to be used as part of the assembly process but offhand I would hazard a guess of like lithium or maybe a gasket sealant?

 

[Revolution]

i was wondering what it was also [coolant or plastic?]. thanks fellas.

 

[LadyHawk]

I have that too, the service dude said it's calcium from the coolant. He said to change the coolant ASAP.

Still need to

 

[TallTom]

Service dudes get paid to sell you uhhh service....

 

[Learjett]

(LadyHawk @ Aug. 29 2007,18:34) I have that too, the service dude said it's calcium from the coolant. He said to change the coolant ASAP.

Still need to

Service dude is exactly correct and it is normal to accumulate like that after some period of time. No problem what-so-ever... just simply flush your system well and put in new coolant, engine ice, waterwetter or whatever and have fun!

 

[rubber2burn]

Change your Coolant Also make sure before you put new coolant in to flush the system with Distilled Water.

 

[el stumpo]

Is flushing the coolant doable by a shadetree mechanic? Should I let the Stealer do it? Special equipment ( flusher etc?).

In my younger days on cars, I would disconnect the lower rad hose and flush water through the engine from the top... Not sure if this works on bikes though

 

[The Big Red One]

Thanks guys for all the feedback so far

What I find strange is alot of diff bikes of varying ages seem to have the same issue...HRJR has an 06 thats doing it. I've never seen anything quite like this on any other vehicle I've owned. I think its something peculiar to the busa.

 

[HRJR]

(The Big Red One @ Aug. 30 2007,00:56) Thanks guys for all the feedback so far  

 What I find strange is alot of diff bikes of varying ages seem to have the same issue...HRJR has an 06 thats doing it. I've never seen anything quite like this on any other vehicle I've owned. I think its something peculiar to the busa.

Just to add more info, I have approximately 7500 miles on the 06LE.

I might flush it this weekend.

 

[TallTom]

(whitele @ Aug. 29 2007,19:37) Is flushing the coolant doable by a shadetree mechanic? Should I let the Stealer do it? Special equipment ( flusher etc?).

In my younger days on cars, I would disconnect the lower rad hose and flush water through the engine from the top... Not sure if this works on bikes though  

Yes flushing can be done by an average shadetree mechanic. Or in my case even a below average one

 

[loboboy]

I flushed mine and it is starting to do it again after about 2000 miles.
I am going to flush again here real soon and use engine ice or water wetter instead of antifreeze.

 

[Learjett]

(The Big Red One @ Aug. 30 2007,00:56) Thanks guys for all the feedback so far  

 What I find strange is alot of diff bikes of varying ages seem to have the same issue...HRJR has an 06 thats doing it. I've never seen anything quite like this on any other vehicle I've owned. I think its something peculiar to the busa.

My mom can't drive anymore so I just bought her 1996 Buick Grandsport from her for my daughter. This car is 11 years old and has 29,900 original miles on it. When I looked in her radiator it looked 5 times worse than my Busa did... calcium deposits from age, and not driving much. Had it flushed and cleaned and now is perfect. Age and lack of use is what did it... hummm, sounds like a personal problem.

 

[SnapAttack]

I just did mine when I installed my new SS clutch line...

Anyway, I took removed the overflow tank and flushed it out. I removed the radiator cap and bottom hose underneath the gear shift. Reconnected... filled halfway with water... shook (carefully) from side to side... drained hose again. Put everything back together... filled with half way with engine ice... shook from side to side... filled full... left cap off... started bike... filled with engine ice as needed... Once the bike warmed up I replaced cap to avoid overflow and filled overflow tank to full line. After a few warmup/cool downs.. I needed to add a little more to the overflow.

Not sure if correct but worked for me... took just over 1 and 1/3 bottle engine ice.

GL

 

[xx2busa]

I noticed the same on my 05, I havent flushed it yet as it only has 6000mi. I noticed the overflow tank looked discolored when I bought it used with 2500mi on it. I thought it was just the plastic that was discolored, but after seeing this post I will check it out.

 

[dadofthree]

Make sure you thoroughly flush your system, just don't change the coolant