Coolant overflowing

RogerRZ

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Hi all, the last couple of times I went out with my 2013, when I park it, it leaves a tablespoon sized puddle of coolant on the ground. It seems like it's coming from the overflow bottle, but it's not overheating (after my busted radiator last fall, I've kept the display on to engine temp), with temps under 200 degrees at all time. The coolant level in the bottle is between the marks.

Thoughts?
 

EricV

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Have you had the tank up recently? Are you sure the lines from the radiator to the overflow bottle are un-kinked? And that the radiator cap is secure, all the air has been burped out of the system, etc? If you have air in the system still, it will cause some oddities that might not show up on the temp gauge, as they would be brief changes in coolant temp.

And do check the level in the Radiator itself, just to be sure.
 

RogerRZ

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Have you had the tank up recently? Are you sure the lines from the radiator to the overflow bottle are un-kinked? And that the radiator cap is secure, all the air has been burped out of the system, etc? If you have air in the system still, it will cause some oddities that might not show up on the temp gauge, as they would be brief changes in coolant temp.

And do check the level in the Radiator itself, just to be sure.
Level in the rad is fine. I'll check for kinked lines. If there is air in the system, what is the best way to get it out?
 

EricV

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Level in the rad is fine. I'll check for kinked lines. If there is air in the system, what is the best way to get it out?
Typical method is to just leave the cap off or at one click, (so no pressure will build in the system), and run the engine until it's fully warmed up. That's usually enough time for the thermostat to open and full circulation of the coolant to occur for long enough to get any air pockets out. A few minor revs before shutting down won't hurt to get impeller speed up and hopefully flush/burp any last pockets of air in the system.
 

RogerRZ

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Typical method is to just leave the cap off or at one click, (so no pressure will build in the system), and run the engine until it's fully warmed up. That's usually enough time for the thermostat to open and full circulation of the coolant to occur for long enough to get any air pockets out. A few minor revs before shutting down won't hurt to get impeller speed up and hopefully flush/burp any last pockets of air in the system.
That's what I did when I re-installed the rad, but I might not have let it run long enough to open the thermostat. I'll give it a try. My Old Man always says "check the easy stuff first".

Thanks!
 

EricV

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If you haven't already, double check the hose that runs from the overflow bottle to the ground. I have seen it lightly crimped where coolant would come out, but it couldn't suck air in, so the bottle got a vacuum when riding and then when stopped it expanded again and spit a little coolant.

This could also just be harmless equalizing of the coolant level and mean nothing! :cool:
 

eemsreno

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My 12 was spitting coolant out the recovery tank overflow when I stopped.[about a year ago] Replaced the radiator cap and that fixed it. But the coolant in the tank would fill clear up upon stopping.
 

Don in Lodi

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Bottle between the marks? Do you have a skid pan on the bike? The water pump weep hole/hose on the right front will let coolant travel across the pan to the left rear and drip off.
 

RogerRZ

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So I finally got a free afternoon, and lifted the tank to take a closer look. It doesn't seem like the coolant is coming from any of the hoses or vent lines. All was well there. The back of the cylinders seem to have had a bit of coolant on them, but I can't seem to figure out where it could have come from. It only drips a little bit on longer trips (50 or so miles). A few pics, but I don't know exactly where to start the search...20201114_154453.jpg20201114_154547.jpg
 

RogerRZ

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I've been watching the coolant temperature very closely, and all is normal here. The coolant overflow bottle is empty (this is the first ride where this was the case).
 

RogerRZ

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It's not the hose, and I think it's higher than the temp sensor. I wonder if the thermostat gasket is a "known" issue, or I just drew the short straw
 

Don in Lodi

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That thing sure needs to be hosed off. If you've got the tank tilted up you can go ahead and get a pressure tester hooked up to the radiator and start watching for a source. That thermostat housing should be sealed with an O-ring, could easily be the culprit. Seriously worst case scenario here, but it is possible for a headgasket to leak externally. You've got to have pressure and get your eyes on it.
 

Nikolajsen

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By the way......about Don in Lodi's post
Does anybody know at what pressure the cap on the radiator opens?
 

RogerRZ

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Unless it leaked from the very top of the thermostat housing, I'm not liking the leak patterns I see in the "closer look" pictures I took this morning. 20201115_072203.jpg20201115_072408.jpg
 
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