Antifreeze

[xxdcmast]

As part of replacing my oil cooler i need to replace my antifreeze. Will regular car antifreeze work or do i need something special.

Also are there any benefits to using ICE on a street bike? Is it worth the extra cost if any?

[SSearchVT]

Read the manual to see if there is anything special about the coolant for the bike and make sure what you pick up meets the requirements (most likely Prestone and Peek will be fine). Given the amount you'll use (less than a gallon) if pre-mix is available grab it, otherwise make sure to use distilled water...

[LuvDog]

As long as it's compatible with an all aluminum cooling system then you should be fine.

The advantages of going with ICE or something similar is that it will keep the temps down. If you do a lot of rush hour riding and sitting in city traffic that may help.

[Stoneman]

To repeat what LuvDog said: MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE FOR ALUMINUM!!!

[Little John]

Can you mix ICE with other coolants, or just water?

[Degsy]

You don't mix engine ice with anything.

[s a x m a n]

and engine ice is not allowed at loudon ...

[Honclfibr]

If by ICE you mean engine ice, that's just premixed 50/50 propylene glycol and water with corrosion inhibitors. I believe it's actually *less* efficient at cooling than standard ethylene glycol (car) antifreeze, the only advantage over standard coolant is that it's race-approved by most tracks on account of being less slippery/toxic than EG.

From a cooling standpoint water is tops, no coolant will transfer heat from your engine to the radiator better as water's specific heat is much lower than any coolant. Water wetter will supposedly increase the heat transfer somewhat but if you're running straight water the heat transfer is already so much better than 50/50 coolant I'm not sure what is the point...but then again, watter wetter supposedly contains corrosion inhibitors too, which is a good thing with water.

Coolant mixtures do three good things: Raise the boiling point of the liquid (Making the coolant more resistant to boiling over at high temperatures). Lower the freezing point (so your engine doesn't crack open below freezing). And prevent corrosion/rust.

Don't mix standard ethylene glycol coolants with propylene glycol coolants, this supposedly creates a mixture which is less efficient at cooling than either one alone. Use one or the other mixed in proper proportion with distilled water (or pay ridiculous amounts of $$$ to get pretty purple water wetter in which they've already mixed it for you) but not both.

[Honclfibr]

Originally posted by s a x m a n
and engine ice is not allowed at loudon ...

Errr...so what *is* allowed at loudon? Straight watter or nuftin?

[Paul_E_D]

water wetter is allowed.