Got a small coolant leak somewhere...if I run it hard it leaks enough to steam up pretty good. Normal driving I only get a whiff of Prestone when the wind is right. So it seems to be a pressure issue.

I can't see any noticeable leaks along any visible tubes, and it's definitely not the overflow.

Just wondering if anyone else had similar problem to point me in the right direction before I starting taking fairings off and such...don't want to overlook anything.

I have notice less gas mileage, which may be due to a loss in power (18K) or due to the fact that I drive the biker harder. So I hope it's not a head gasket issue.

Thanks.

2001 F4i

 

If you have a leak, you should be taking off fairings anyways to properly diagnose where it is coming from. You are going to have to trace where it is coming from by a.) following the coolant drips or b.) running the bike and looking for the leak as she warms up. Make sure you keep coolant nearby to refill when she cools and double check your oil for coolant. If oil is in your coolant, you have a bigger problem like the head gasket.

 

before you go nuts.. look at you coolage reservoir. if its low, then fill it up. afteward, note it it goes down from highto low. if it does then you might have a leak.
if it does not go down than you are smelling the over flow.

 

i have the same problem. i'll fill it up, then about 500 miles later it'll be empty. i drove the bike about 4000 miles with no visible coolent in the resevor (mostly cause i'm an R-Tard), and it never overheated

 

About a year and a half ago I had a really really small leak that was driving me nuts! Everything looked clean and dry, yet when I'd stop at a stoplight I could smell it, and every once in awile see a tiny puff of steam, and the coolant level in the reservour went down very slowly. I finally found it though.... there's 2 small coolant hoses going to the thermowax valve on the throttle bodies (the little thing that controls the fast/cold idle), and one of them had a tiny leak from around the hose clamp (looked like it was overtightened... hose was mushroomed out). Snipped the end off and retightened it, never a problem since

Just one thing to check out... and if that's what it is you'll never find it just taking the fairings off and looking... gotta take the tank and airbox off and look for any white coolant residue on any of the hoses

 

Thanks for all of your responses.

Yes, having a slow drop in the resovoir.

I'll check out that valve too thanks. Need to check the air filter anyways, and probably will drain a flush the coolant, should be able to see any oil then.

Man I need a garage.

 

Since we're on the coolant issue before i start a new thread.

When should you flush/replace coolant and brake fluid.? Im at 10,300 right now