Attak Coolant/Water mixture

[kenbar]

Tested the coolant on my 2007 Attak today. Seems high; greater than 80% antifreeze. I took a sample from the coolant tank and had it tested with an automotive dealer refractometer. Most auto service departments should have one of these testers. I would be careful using off the shelf testers as they are only good for a certain range.

Anyone else finding this issue still? To avoid air lock problems, I plan to remove the filler tank coolant (leaving a small amount at the bottom) and installing 100% distilled water to bring the mixture closer to 60/40. After a run, test again and repeat if necessary.

 

[black700]

i drained mine completely and put in 50/50 mixture just by looking at what was in mine it's look's damn close to straight anti-freeze.

 

[BANDITSSRX]

I have check my sleds with a refractometer type checker and the are within the factory spec. which is 60/40. You cannot use the cheap tester if you are look for true readings for the coolant. It would be like using a $5.00 torque wrench. The highest i found was 70/30. If you buy your coolant from Yamaha it's at 60/40. Never had over heating problems even with my Turbo sled with 60/40...

 

[welterracer]

I drained about a quart out of my sled and added water and a few ounces of WATTER WETTER and it has never over heated since..

 

[kenbar]

BANDITSRXX,

Did you get the spec readings with a refractometer without changing anything? The one I used did not even register, which according to the dealer means the mixture is greater than 80/20.

 

[SharkAttak]

should the anti-freeze be 50/50 or 60/40, are there any post on where to drain from?

 

[Sled Dog]

50/50 should give you -35c which should be lots. To all those people putting down the old style anti freeze checker. These have been used forever with no problems. Make sure it is full to the line when checking. Make sure there are no air bubbles on the float giving you a false higher reading. Make sure to hold it vertical to get your reading. It is not going to be exact but it will be close enough reading for what we need or want our antifreeze at. One more thing to remember if your reading is -35c you are protected past that reading as the coolant will only turn to mush if it got to lets ay -40c. There is no need to make an exact science out of your coolant concentrations of antifreeze. It is not solid ice at -36c and liquid at -35c if your reading is -35c.

 

[Tork]

50/50 should give you -35c which should be lots. To all those people putting down the old style anti freeze checker. These have been used forever with no problems. Make sure it is full to the line when checking.

Exactly! If these things were bad, you would have all kinds of cracked engine blocks, law suits, and they would be off the market and unavailable.

But I do think they are only accurate within a certain range say 30-70% antifreeze.

With these sleds they have been showing pegged 100% from the factory, when in reality it is probably 80%.

Another point is that this is way too high (80%) and your cooling system will not work very well at shedding heat. I know Yamaha shoots for 60% from the factory, but somehow it is more like 80%. I have just seen so many cases where it is higher.

For best cooling, make sure your mixture is 50/50-60/40 and add a half bottle of Water Wetter (available at Pep Boys or Autozone) and then you will likely never have your light come on.

 

[black700]

i put on 1400 miles last year my light never came on but i figure why not change it for only 15 buck's i can run my sled in the garage for like 10 minutes and my heat exchangers are luke warm i can lay my arm right on the rails

 

[Taz107]

Got the premixed 50/50 and water wetter ready to go, should I get the rear heat exchanger as well??? Going to do it on my Vector, just to keep the ice down at the back of the tunnel if nothing else, but just bought the Apex...I did let it run in the driveway (0C 32F outside) for 10 minutes and the fan was already cutting in, which has me a bit concerned... I know the Vector I could fry eggs on the running boards last year, although only once all year did the light ever come on...what should I expect on the Apex? Would the rear heat exchanger be a worthwhile investment?

Thanks...

 

[Genesis Extreme]

Yes.......I believe so. I put the rear heat exchanger on my Attak last year and never looked back. Last year was pretty mild here in Michigan and we had to ride in temps above 32. My light NEVER came on during the sunny warm days of March. The electric fan and radiator on the 06 & 07 sleds is a joke. Yamaha knew they had a problem with cooling....but apparently tried to save weight by putting on this tiny radiator which does nothing to cool the motor. Not to mention.....they placed it behind the brake! Although....I don't use my brake that much.

You have 2 choices: 1) Do like others have done and cut down the coolant mixture and add the water wetter......or do like I did and put on the rear heat exchanger. I liked the idea of more cooling area....and the heat exchanger does not add but MAYBE 2lbs...

 

[fourload]

For a piece of mind get the rear exchanger. I could still get my light to go on occasionally even with a 50/50 and water wetter.Once I put the exchanger on you could feel the running boards were cooler on those marginal rides.It also stops alot of that ice buildup at the rear of the machine.I also put one on my wifes VECTOR GT and it too runs cooler.

 

[Sled Dog]

The heat exchanger is always the right choice in my mind.

 

[SRSchang]

What's the part number on the rear exchanger & plumbing? I can't find it in the fiche or accessory catalog.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Taz107]

8ET-RHECR-00-KT for 121"

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=8231