Coolant Change

Parts                                                                                       Tools

antifreeze – silicate free                                                          10mm socket

distilled water  ONLY                                                              drain pan

drain seal washer                                                                   phillips screwdriver

Note: This procedure is often overlooked – be sure to change your coolant every two years to prevent cooling system corrosion.

Note: Motorcycle Consumer News investigated a rash of water pump seal failures in Gold Wings and concluded the cause was from silicates found in regular automotive antifreeze. Be certain to use Honda motorcycle coolant or automotive coolant that is silicate free!

1. Be sure to do this procedure with a cold engine!
2. Loosen the setscrew in the radiator cap with phillips screwdriver
3. Follow the lower radiator hose down to the water pump housing on the front of the engine and remove the very bottom center drain bolt, 10mm
4. Remove the radiator cap
5. Drain the coolant into the drain pan

Note: Dispose of the coolant in a safe manner. Ethylene glycol tastes sweet but is very deadly to animals which may come along and drink it if you drain it onto the ground. It is equally toxic to children which are attracted to its lovely color.

6. Reinstall the drain bolt with a new drain seal washer (careful – this bolt can break easily, 7 ft.lb)
7. Remove the left side cover to gain access to the coolant reservoir
8. Remove the reservoir mounting bolt and the breather hose by the cap
9. Dump the coolant into your drain pan
10.  Reinstall the reservoir being careful that all the hoses are in place
11.  Dilute the antifreeze 50:50 with distilled water – not tap water
12.  Fill the radiator with ~ 4 quarts of this 50:50 mix
13.  Fill the coolant reservoir to the upper line with ~ 1 quart of this 50:50 mix
14.  You next want to bleed the air out by putting the transmission into neutral and starting the engine
15. Run the engine at idle for 2 –3 minutes and then blip the throttle 3 – 4 times to dislodge any trapped air bubbles
16. Shut engine off
17. Add coolant to the radiator and to the reservoir to bring up to the proper level
18. Install the reservoir cap and side cover
19. Install the radiator cap and its setscrew