Servicing a cooling system every 8,000 miles

[GoldWingrGreg]

Honda recommends that our cooling system be serviced every 8,000 miles. In the Service Manual, Honda shows how to inspect a cooling system. Basically it includes pressure testing a cooling system, and radiator cap. It also includes removing the reservoir tank, cleaning it, and inspecting the reservoir, and it's hoses.

Below is an example of why a cooling system inspection is important. It's been my experience, once a leak is found, most owners are not aware that they have a coolant leak. This particular Wing's cooling system was under a pressure test for over 2 hours, and still no coolant had dripped onto the floor. It's leak is slowly pooling into a rubber mat. Once the level fills the mat area high enough, it will then begin to drip off. Depending which way it drips, it may then pool into another area before finally hitting the floor. On GL1800s, all mats lay differently. Some leaks may pool, while others may instantly make a quick route to the floor. While being rode, the pool may instantly empty because of acceleration forces. The thing to remember is this, our Wings have over 42 hose clamps, any of which may cause a leak, and the owner may not even be aware of it. Unfortunately the only way to know if your Wing does not have a coolant leak is to constantly do cooling system services.

I would guess that 40-50% of the Wings that come in for a service have a coolant leak. The sad part about having a Wing service is this. Most service departments do not have the pressure tester and the adapters required to test for it.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Here are 2 examples of GL1800 engines. By looking at the outer walls of the cylinders, also known as water jackets, it can easily be seen one cooling system was well cared for and the other not.

The first picture show water jackets with a white-powder-buildup around the cylinder walls and water passeges. Coolant, or old coolant, was circulating in that area and white deposits built up on the cylinder walls. Such deposits hinder heat transfer from the combustion area, through the cylinder wall, and into passing coolant.

The second picture shows one with no white-powerder-buildup around the cylinder jackets. If that engine had no coolant leaks, a radiator cap and recovery system and fans operating correctly, its guaranteed to be a healthy cooling system.

As described above, Honda says to service the cooling system every 8,000 miles. And, every 2years, or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first), the cooling system service requires that the coolant is also replaced. As with all their maintenance guidelines, be sure do it at least that frequently and use the correct coolant.

The link below are examples of ones that are not serviced correctly.

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...al-overheating