Coolant Reservoir - coolant level

jillsogw

Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Messages
89
Location
sacramento, ca
Bike
'04 ST1300
My '04 ST with about 32,000 miles seems to be running hotter than normal. The temp bars have only shown 3 bars. I changed the coolant at 22,000 miles i checked the coolant level and the reservoir was empty. I filled the reservoir and the level has gone down a little bit.

With the reservoir being empty could I also be low on coolant in the radiator/system? Would filling the reservoir allow the system to pull in enough coolant to fill the system?

Is there a better way to check the coolant level in the radiator than taking off the right side fairing?

thanks for your input
jillsogw
 
Yes, if the res is empty it can indicate that the radiator is low. By keeping the res at the proper level for a few trips as long as it wasn't too low it will top it off. I say keep an eye on the temp gauge and the res and keep riding. A few shorter trips up to operating temp and back to cool should help speed refilling the radiator.
 
I would check it at the radiator when cold which means removal of the radiator cap. So you don't have to remove the right side fairing. All you do is remove the inner cowl on the right side reach up and undo the radiator cap and use a mirror to check the level. If its full you're good, but if you need to add some antifreeze to top off just use a antifreeze ball squeeze type checker and fill the radiator that way. It works done it many times.

Good luck!!!!

Jay
 
I've been riding it to work this week and it dropped about 1/2". I'll check again tonight when it cools and see how i'm doing.
 
You may also have air in the system if you didn't burp it according to the instructions in the service manual.

Top off the recovery tank and keep an eye on it. The system will eventually suck in as much as it needs.

--Mark
 
As you found, there will be quite a bit of air in the system when you drain and re-fill your coolant system. The repair manual lists the method to bleed/burp the air from the system. If this wasn't done properly, the system will pull a good amount of coolant from the reservoir bottle to replenish what was lost to take up the 'air' space. Thus, the lower reservoir level. I'd keep filling the reservoir bottle and keep riding. At some point before long, everything will be back where it should.
 
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