Unfortunately, what they consider to be 'coolant' nowadays is strictly antifreeze. It has a lower resistance to freezing but water has a higher boiling point (i may have this all wrong, but this is what i remember from my research a few years ago).

I run maxima coolanol. It's supposedly 50/50. Don't have any issues.

I noticed my 08 (1700 miles) running at or near the top of the bar after just a little ride around town. The over flow bottle shows my fluid level near the 'L' mark when on the sidestand.

Looks like I may need to drain/flush and refill.

I would fill that overflow tank to the correct level... Bike upright.

1. I am still a tight engine breaking in. I create heat. I'll loosen up and run normal soon. I will still heat up in traffic even when I am broken in.
2. I do not need to check my radiator fluid... IF... I am out of town, slow traffic, my bars drop to one or two. The faster I move in the air, the sooner the bar drops... IF ... That is the scenario...
3... Normal.

I noticed my 08 (1700 miles) running at or near the top of the bar after just a little ride around town. The over flow bottle shows my fluid level near the 'L' mark when on the sidestand.

If you live in a hot climate and have a stock exhaust, I'm not too surprised to here that.

IHO, that overflow bottle doesn't tell you a thing about the proper amount of coolant you have. I doubt very much if what's in there ever goes to the system. The hose to the bottle comes from the top of the rad and nuthin is going in or out unless there is a rad overflow. Fill the bottle all you want. Mine stays at L when bike is leveled (means "L" for "LEVEL" to me hehehehe!). Good enough. If I want to check the real level, I just open the cap on the rad. should be full to the top. Best to do that with bike level too eliminate any spill.

Yes, though, change your fluid and flush the system once in a while. Every couple years is plenty. In this case, it prolly will not have the slightest influence on your engine's running temp but always a good thing to do. You just got yourself a hot bike and it's asking for a COOL pipe.

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/20/2012 @ 10:50 PM *

No over heating problems with my 2012 that does not have any heat indicater bars but the temperature is denoted using actual numbers! The two fans on the 2012 are smaller than the one on my 08. My 08 had never been hot enough to show an over heat signal or loss of fluid. The fans on my 2012 come on around 200 I think.

The heat coming off the rad (and for that matter the bar graph temp gauge) do not necessarily indicate 'overheating"

Overheating is when the temperature is higher than the thermostat can handle and coolant boils out the overflow. If nothing's coming out the overflow tube, overheating is not happening. If it is, there may be another issue. The most common one is air in the system.

Coolants like Engine Ice and Redline Super Cool work by lowering the surface tension of the coolant, allowing it to get closer to the metal of the water jackets and slough more heat off at the radiator using the same principle.

A simple experiment to help understand surface tension: Put a large drop of water on the hood of your car and then add a small amount of detergent. The soap breaks the surface tension of the water and allows it to spread out from the original blob.

Water Wetter was invented to have this effect on distilled water, which is mandated as a coolant at many racetracks due to the slick nature of glycol-based coolant when spilled.

I was stuck on the highway in a construction zone yesterday.Five miles in first gesr mostly stopped.Temp stayed one bar from the top.Was going to the dyno shop.I don't like the highway.Soon as I got by construction 3 bars.
Craig

A flow of cooler air is everything.

Dual fans and Engine Ice after adding Brocks CT Duals = no more hot temps, no more fried right leg even in the HOT Texas sun! IF it rises, the fans kick on and it drops in no time.

I got stuck on the interstate going to talk to my dynotuner.It was like five miles in first gear slipping the clutch and paddling my feet.I was frying the bike was frying.It was 80 outside and the temp was one bar from the top.It didn't spew any fluid or smoke.When I got moving again I felt cold in my leather jacket and the bike went to 3 bars.Life is good.Went the back way home.
Craig

In the state my 2008 ZX14 was when I traded it in, with dual fans, and Engine Ice, and ceramic coated CT-Duals, and well broken in, it seldom ran above the middle of the scale.

Except sitting still at lights on 100 degree days with not even a breeze. But what can you expect?

So the combination worked to not only lower the water temperature significantly, but also to lower the amount of heat blown back on the rider's legs and feet.

In that regard, I love my C14, there is no heat at all blown back on me. When they changed the 2010 and put the heat baffles in, they did a good job.

So I am putting Baker-Built Air Wings on her to allow me to duct engine air onto me in cold weather and cool air onto me in warm weather.

And I will eventually put Engine Ice in the radiator, because it worked for me.

My 2008 zx14 had the same heating problem that what made me trade it in! New 2012 se zx14r! The two fans are great!