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xj700 water cooled - coolant question

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by tumbleweed_biff, Aug 5, 2009.

  1. tumbleweed_biff

    tumbleweed_biff Active Member

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    Hey,
    Lacking a Haynes book, can someone tell me if the coolant is just water or if it is the typical 50/50 water/anti-freeze mix?
     
    tumbleweed_biff, Aug 5, 2009
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  2. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    I don't know what the book says but I run a 50/50 mix in mine.
     
    mlew, Aug 5, 2009
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  3. srinath

    srinath Member

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    I have 1/2 a mind to run pure water in mine. The bugger overheats for nothing.
    Maybe in october I'd switch to 50/50. So colder weather helps it stay cooler too.

    Cool.
    srinath.
     
    srinath, Aug 5, 2009
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  4. tumbleweed_biff

    tumbleweed_biff Active Member

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    I thought anti-freeze helped it to cool better? Are you sure your pump is working properly? Your fan?

    Also, as the bike has the added electrical pull related to pump and fan, does the alternator provide any more current than on the others? Or is it just as anemic as the other XJ's?
     
    tumbleweed_biff, Aug 5, 2009
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  5. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    The Factory Book says to use Straight Ethylene Glycol Ant-Freeze Coolant.
    Ethylene Based Coolants
    Were categorized as: "Permanent" Summer Winter Coolants.
    Won't freeze.
    Hard to Boil.
    Will KILL all your Pets and wildlife if you spill some and don't get it all picked-up!

    They don't want you to use straight water.
    The system NEEDS to be able to run at a temperature HIGHER than it takes for water to BOIL.

    If you run straight water and overheat ... once the Pressure rises above 7.5 Pounds ... the Radiator Cap is going to allow the Pressure in the System to be relieved.
    The Water will BOIL and keep Boiling and Steaming until the Temperature gets below Boiling.
    (Which usually won't happen in time for all the water to Boil.)

    Spend the money and put-in a Brand of Anti-Freeze that will be kind to the Alloy and not Boil if you get stuck in a traffic jam.
     
    RickCoMatic, Aug 6, 2009
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  6. tumbleweed_biff

    tumbleweed_biff Active Member

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    Thanks Rick.

    Silly question though, how do I know if an anti-freeze will be "kind to the alloy"?
     
    tumbleweed_biff, Aug 6, 2009
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  7. schmuckaholic

    schmuckaholic Well-Known Member

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    Personally, I run the 50/50 premix. HAP over on the Maxim-X site says one might want to up the glycol in the mix if your temps get uber-cold. Like in Canada, where he is. :)

    The main thing to look for is that the coolant have NO silicates or phosphates. None. When I first got mine, I did a writeup, of course... :mrgreen:

    Oh, and BTW Rick... the owners manual says 50/50 mix.
     
    schmuckaholic, Aug 6, 2009
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