🚀 go-pugleaf

There has been a lot of discussion on this subject from a lot of cycle
magazines, etc.  Automotive antifreeze apparently contains a fine silica
abrasive designed to keep deposits from forming in water passageways.  However,
in motorcycles (specifically Honda for some reason) this silica wears away the
water pump shaft seal and a "drippy pump" is the result.  Well documented on
Gold Wings and ST1100's, probably because they see the most miles.  Honda
antifreeze does not contain this silica additive so it is best to use
"motorcycle coolant", which I have ever since the following incident:

I was in San Diego on my way to Cabo San Lucas with my son and a friend.  When I
started up the ST to head for the border, my friend noticed a "drip-drip-drip"
of coolant under the fairing.  No way I could ride the deserts of Baja with that
kind of coolant leak.

After hours of tearing the bike down in my son's driveway, and getting faxed
service manual pages from Honda Milpitas (thanks Pete), we saw the coolant
dripping out of the water pump shaft weep hole.  Shit!  I had been looking
forward to this ride for a long time.  Replacing the water pump was not an
option as it would take way too long.

Then I remembered the snake oil that works:  Bars Leak radiator treatment.  I
had used it in some leaky car systems years back and boy did it ever work.  So
we got some from Kragans, added half a bottle per the instructions and watched
the dripping stop in about a minute.  Magic!  We put the bike back together and
headed for Cabo.  Never lost a drop in the 3,000 more miles we rode that trip.
Bars Leak is also a water pump lubricant.

The ST had about 60,000 miles on it then.  Now it has 100,000 and I still use
Bars Leak when I change coolant, although I do use Honda coolant rather than
automotive.  The ST has never leaked a drop since the San Diego incident.  It is
so "fixed" that last year I rode the ST through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and 7
western United States, never giving a thought to the cooling system.  I just
love it when something works.

Larry Ramsauer
'91 ST1100
'01 FZ-1

Brent Evered wrote:

> I need the collective wisdom again.
> I have a riding buddy whose '97 VFR has developed a slow leak in or around
> his water pump, and loses the coolant over a long period of time.  He's been
> advised (by the wrench at the dealer) that its likely his water pump giving
> up the ghost.  Someone with whom he consulted asked him whether or not he
> was using 'automotive' coolant, which he is.  (He changed the coolant a year
> ago shortly after buying the bike, but used a top quality antifreeze
> suitable for aluminum engines.)  Even so, he's been told that there's
> something magical about 'motorcycle antifreeze', and that automotive stuff
> shouldn't be put into moto coolant systems..  Given the alchemy and
> controversy surrounding 'motorcycle oils', we're a little sceptical.
> So, what's the scoop? Is there a difference? Could it shorten the life of
> one's water pump?
>
> Thanks, guys.
>
> Brent Evered

"csoto" <csoto_ihatespam@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:csoto_ihatespam-C00FFC.19081827082001@newsr1.texas.rr.com...
> In article <3B8ADAAC.3AF832E5@smyrnacable.net>, Emore
<emore@smyrnacable.net>
> wrote:
>
> >Brent Evered wrote:
> >
> >> I need the collective wisdom again.
> >> I have a riding buddy whose '97 VFR has developed a slow leak in or
around
> >> his water pump, and loses the coolant over a long period of time.  He's
been
> >> advised (by the wrench at the dealer) that its likely his water pump
giving
> >> up the ghost.  Someone with whom he consulted asked him whether or not
he
> >> was using 'automotive' coolant, which he is.  (He changed the coolant a
year
> >> ago shortly after buying the bike, but used a top quality antifreeze
> >> suitable for aluminum engines.)  Even so, he's been told that there's
> >> something magical about 'motorcycle antifreeze', and that automotive
stuff
> >> shouldn't be put into moto coolant systems..  Given the alchemy and
> >> controversy surrounding 'motorcycle oils', we're a little sceptical.
> >> So, what's the scoop? Is there a difference? Could it shorten the life
of
> >> one's water pump?
> >>
> >> Thanks, guys.
> >>
> >> Brent Evered
> >
> >Most auto coolant has sand in it.  OK, silica.  Some think that the
silica
> >wears
> >the seals on motorcycles.  Honda sells a silica free coolant and it ain't
> >cheap.  Toyota sells a gallon of their funky red, silica free coolant for
> >about
> >$14.00.  I have a jug waiting for my next change.
> >
> >Emore
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Silica never hurt my bike!
>
> Charles
>
> --
>


It might if your bike had a radiator and was water cooled...

--
Andrew
00 Daytona
http://ultrasupercool.com

Brent Evered wrote:

> I need the collective wisdom again.
> I have a riding buddy whose '97 VFR has developed a slow leak in or around
> his water pump, and loses the coolant over a long period of time.  He's been
> advised (by the wrench at the dealer) that its likely his water pump giving
> up the ghost.  Someone with whom he consulted asked him whether or not he
> was using 'automotive' coolant, which he is.  (He changed the coolant a year
> ago shortly after buying the bike, but used a top quality antifreeze
> suitable for aluminum engines.)  Even so, he's been told that there's
> something magical about 'motorcycle antifreeze', and that automotive stuff
> shouldn't be put into moto coolant systems..  Given the alchemy and
> controversy surrounding 'motorcycle oils', we're a little sceptical.
> So, what's the scoop? Is there a difference? Could it shorten the life of
> one's water pump?
>
> Thanks, guys.
>
> Brent Evered

Most auto coolant has sand in it.  OK, silica.  Some think that the silica wears
the seals on motorcycles.  Honda sells a silica free coolant and it ain't
cheap.  Toyota sells a gallon of their funky red, silica free coolant for about
$14.00.  I have a jug waiting for my next change.

Emore

In article <3B8ADAAC.3AF832E5@smyrnacable.net>, Emore <emore@smyrnacable.net>
wrote:

>Brent Evered wrote:
>
>> I need the collective wisdom again.
>> I have a riding buddy whose '97 VFR has developed a slow leak in or around
>> his water pump, and loses the coolant over a long period of time.  He's been
>> advised (by the wrench at the dealer) that its likely his water pump giving
>> up the ghost.  Someone with whom he consulted asked him whether or not he
>> was using 'automotive' coolant, which he is.  (He changed the coolant a year
>> ago shortly after buying the bike, but used a top quality antifreeze
>> suitable for aluminum engines.)  Even so, he's been told that there's
>> something magical about 'motorcycle antifreeze', and that automotive stuff
>> shouldn't be put into moto coolant systems..  Given the alchemy and
>> controversy surrounding 'motorcycle oils', we're a little sceptical.
>> So, what's the scoop? Is there a difference? Could it shorten the life of
>> one's water pump?
>>
>> Thanks, guys.
>>
>> Brent Evered
>
>Most auto coolant has sand in it.  OK, silica.  Some think that the silica
>wears
>the seals on motorcycles.  Honda sells a silica free coolant and it ain't
>cheap.  Toyota sells a gallon of their funky red, silica free coolant for
>about
>$14.00.  I have a jug waiting for my next change.
>
>Emore
>
>



Silica never hurt my bike!

Charles

--

Charles Soto - Austin, TX *** 1979 KZ650, 1999 GSF1200S, DoD No. "uno"
Free Tibet!*
* With purchase of equal or greater value.  Not available in all stores.
While supplies last.  Void where prohibited by law.  As seen on TV.
(If you can't figure out my email, you should unplug the WebTV and lie down.)

Larry and Emore:

Thanks, guys. My pal's bike was also dripping from the shaft weep hole, so
it sounds like it could be the old sand in the vaseline problem, as you
suggest. He's in for a new water pump anyway at this point, but its
comforting to have some idea how to avoid buying another one next year.

brent evered

In article <tolr7cmgkrj586@corp.supernews.com>,
 "Andrew" <yogig@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote:

>"csoto" <csoto_ihatespam@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
>news:csoto_ihatespam-C00FFC.19081827082001@newsr1.texas.rr.com...
>> In article <3B8ADAAC.3AF832E5@smyrnacable.net>, Emore
><emore@smyrnacable.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Brent Evered wrote:
>> >
>> >> I need the collective wisdom again.
>> >> I have a riding buddy whose '97 VFR has developed a slow leak in or
>around
>> >> his water pump, and loses the coolant over a long period of time.  He's
>been
>> >> advised (by the wrench at the dealer) that its likely his water pump
>giving
>> >> up the ghost.  Someone with whom he consulted asked him whether or not
>he
>> >> was using 'automotive' coolant, which he is.  (He changed the coolant a
>year
>> >> ago shortly after buying the bike, but used a top quality antifreeze
>> >> suitable for aluminum engines.)  Even so, he's been told that there's
>> >> something magical about 'motorcycle antifreeze', and that automotive
>stuff
>> >> shouldn't be put into moto coolant systems..  Given the alchemy and
>> >> controversy surrounding 'motorcycle oils', we're a little sceptical.
>> >> So, what's the scoop? Is there a difference? Could it shorten the life
>of
>> >> one's water pump?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks, guys.
>> >>
>> >> Brent Evered
>> >
>> >Most auto coolant has sand in it.  OK, silica.  Some think that the
>silica
>> >wears
>> >the seals on motorcycles.  Honda sells a silica free coolant and it ain't
>> >cheap.  Toyota sells a gallon of their funky red, silica free coolant for
>> >about
>> >$14.00.  I have a jug waiting for my next change.
>> >
>> >Emore
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> Silica never hurt my bike!
>>
>> Charles
>>
>> --
>>
>
>
>It might if your bike had a radiator and was water cooled...
>
>--
>Andrew
>00 Daytona
>http://ultrasupercool.com
>
>

Well.... DUH!

Charles

--

Charles Soto - Austin, TX *** 1979 KZ650, 1999 GSF1200S, DoD No. "uno"
Free Tibet!*
* With purchase of equal or greater value.  Not available in all stores.
While supplies last.  Void where prohibited by law.  As seen on TV.
(If you can't figure out my email, you should unplug the WebTV and lie down.)

Emore scribed in news:3B8ADAAC.3AF832E5@smyrnacable.net:

> Most auto coolant has sand in it.  OK, silica.  Some think that the
> silica wears the seals on motorcycles.  Honda sells a silica free
> coolant and it ain't cheap.  Toyota sells a gallon of their funky
> red, silica free coolant for about $14.00.  I have a jug waiting for
> my next change.

The orange "extended life" automotive coolant available at your local
auto parts store is silica free and relatively inexpensive.


'85 VF700S
--
Michael J. Freeman                       (a.k.a., Pi)
mike_freeman@mac.com_noSpam            Cincinnati, OH
"Insanity runs in the family; it practically gallops"
Ellison, H. Thompson, D. Parker, Prince, SRV, Led Zep