Rad blowing off coolant

[radianguy]

Hey guys, having a bit of an issue and hoping someone has encountered it before.
I noticed late last season that if I was riding and stopped for even a few minutes my temp gauge would rise really quick, temp light would come on and I'd have to start moving again to cool sled down. this happened a few times last couple of rides last season. anyway was doing some maintenance on the sled over the sumber and noticed the Rad hado crystallized deposits in it. I flushed the system, drained and refilled.
The issue I'm having is I see coolant just a drip after it sits for a few days, I changed the Rad cap figured it was the issue, or hoping it was.
Replaced the Rad cap a week or so ago, have not started sled and today I removed the Rad cap and coolant gushes out, like the system is air locked. it did this before I changed the Rad cap also.
Any ideas before I replace the rad or do a rear cooler and Rad delete?

 

[herndonp]

When you flushed it and refilled it did you run engine up to temp the with rad cap off and get all the air out and refill as needed?


Pete

 

[radianguy]

Yes sir

 

[herndonp]

Here is the page from manual for proper bleeding. Let us know how you make out.

best of luck
Pete

 

[herndonp]

I did a few searches and found that some motorcycles experienced the crystals as well due to old antifreeze. Its recommended Nytro owners flush and fill every 2 years. I myself have not flushed for 4 years. I use the voltmeter method of checking the antifreeze. I will probably flush both my machines next summer though to be on the safe side. I had issues with overheating more so after installing the trail tank. So I modified the radiator mount and that seemed to fix the issue along with ice scratchers. I hope its not a head gasket causing your issues.

Pete

 

[radianguy]

I did install a trail tank last season.
I don't think it's a head gasket, sled starts and runs fine, no white exhaust, can't smell antifreeze burning.
May just be trail tank causing it.

 

[herndonp]

If you look closely at where the radiator mounts you will see where I added about 3/4 - 7/8 of an inch of old cutting board (don't tell the wife). I cut out the length and width I needed and then drilled holes to match existing locations. I had to get longer metric bolts to reconnect. It pushes the rad forward away from the trail tank. Plenty of hose so no other mod needed.

Pete

 

[radianguy]

Awesome! Thanks, I'm going to try that.

 

[hibshman25]

Sounds to me like you are getting compression in the cooling loop which would be from bad head gasket and or warped head. Hate to share bad news, but better now than having to fix when snow is on the ground!

 

[radianguy]

Ok so I have found a leak in the rad, new rad has been ordered. I'm wondering now if I should have just done rad delete?
Been doing some reading on it, lots have done it with great success.
One question I have not seen answered though...
On an xtx with mtx tunnel cooler can I delete the rad and be done with it or will I need to add bigger cooler under tunnel?

 

[grizztracks]

Removing the radiator and adding the mountain tunnel exchanger will not be enough cooling capacity in warmer or low snow conditions. The mtx exchanger isn't big enough on it's own. I run both on the trails and very seldom see the temperature light come on unless conditions get really poor.

Even with a new radiator I'd be a little concerned with the radiator having pressure in it after it cools. If the coolant is low when the engine cools it normal creates a vacuum and pulls coolant from the overflow bottle. You still might have a head gasket issue. I've done several head gaskets on these engines and it's always a problem with combustion gas pressurizing the cooling system. I've never seen one have an external leak or burn coolant.

Just finished another head gasket job

Resurfaced head

This the worst plug radiator I've seen out of a Nytro.

 

[mcamzr]

I just saw this post and had the exact same issue. Turns out with mine that Yamaha has a pre and post 2010 coolant and they are not compatible with each other. I had a dealer flush my 2009 and they filled it with the new stuff. Long store short Yamaha replaced the rad one time as the Chrystals break down the alum and it would leak just a few drops a day. And the second time Yamaha called me personally for my story and replaced the rad a second time along with all the hoses, t-stat and housing and water pump. Since then it's been 2years with out issue.

 

[radianguy]

Funny thing is I drained the coolant second year I had the sled and filled with 50/50 mix.
Added the mtx cooler third year, so coolant got changed again.
Fourth year poked a hole in rear cooler, removed and had it repaired, again coolant topped off.
There should be no trace of the oe coolant in the system.

 

[mcamzr]

Any chance Coolant that wasn't compatible with aluminum was put in? Just thinking out loud.

 

[radianguy]

No I made sure it was aluminum compatible and it was supposed to be able to be mixed with any colour coolant.