COOLANT LEVEL IN DRZ400S

[Lee Frost]

What's the correct coolant level for a DRZ? On mine (bought last Friday) the radiator is full and the expansion tank is also nearly half full with the engine cold. Is that as it should be?

 

[Timpo]

If the rad is full when cold, there need not be anything in the expansion bottle. If there is fluid in the expansion bottle try to keep this to a minimum, as the function of the bottle is to catch coolant that is vented during overheating of the bike, ie, when the pressure cap lifts.
Once the hot engine cools it will draw the coolant back into the rad.
The expansion bottle does has an overflow pipe that will allow excess to vent to ground.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Sounds reasonable Lee. Just a small amount in the tank. Is there a max/min line on the expansion bottle?
Radiator always full, yes. The expansion tank is to allow for what it's name suggests.
If you want to check the strength of the coolant, Lidl have some hydrometers in just now. One does battery electrolyte and the other does coolant for a few pounds.
On the other hand, drain it all out and fill with fresh stuff at the correct strength. Careful bleeding it though if you do that.

 

[Lee Frost]

That's what I thought Timpo. Is it worth draining some of the coolant out of the expansion tank or just leave it and let the overflow pipe do its job if it needs to when I'm riding the bike and the engine's hot?

 

[Timpo]

That's what I thought Timpo. Is it worth draining some of the coolant out of the expansion tank or just leave it and let the overflow pipe do its job if it needs to when I'm riding the bike and the engine's hot?

Drain a little out. Any thing that come from the rad is drawn back, it won't need any more really.
I've only had residual in the bottles on my DRZ bikes.