Coolant help

[Andy levitt]

Hey,

Ive filled up my coolant tank in my r6 twice since i used it which was at the start of this year. so in less than 3 months ive used up 2 tanks of coolant. im getting concerned about it and been looking for leaks but no luck what else would you guys reccomend?
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Speedfight 50 -> Honda NSR 125 -> Y reg YAMAHA YZF R6 -> 08 YAMAHA YZF R6 -> Honda CBR1000RR
Theory test Done 4/6/07
Practical test Done 21/12/07

[Andy levitt]

Just left it on idle for about 10 minutes and it appears to be leaking from where my end pipe can is joint. What sort of situation have i got?
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Speedfight 50 -> Honda NSR 125 -> Y reg YAMAHA YZF R6 -> 08 YAMAHA YZF R6 -> Honda CBR1000RR
Theory test Done 4/6/07
Practical test Done 21/12/07

[iooi]

So the water is around where the header pipes meet the end can ?

Poss head gasket gone and its entering cylinders and then out to exhaust.
Either that or water pump has gone.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Andy levitt]

yeah its where the end can meets the exhaust pipe.

So this sounds very expensive job, ive got haynes manual but only limited mechanical knowlegde. How hard would it be? as it would only be around £10-£20 for a head gasket and im guessing labour would be the main concern at a dealer?
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Speedfight 50 -> Honda NSR 125 -> Y reg YAMAHA YZF R6 -> 08 YAMAHA YZF R6 -> Honda CBR1000RR
Theory test Done 4/6/07
Practical test Done 21/12/07

[iooi]

Its not that harder job. Just a fiddly one on a bike as you have to work round the frame a lot.
I would have a look and see if you need any special tools for the cam chain, or anything else. Certainly need a torque wrench, and not just a head gasket.
If you have never done anything like this before it could take you all weekend to do it, as you need to be carefull you get everything back right.
I guess a dealer at least a couple of hundred to fix.

Take a very steady ride to a dealer and get them to comfirm the problem.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Andy levitt]

The bike must have been like that for a while then, it seems fine when riding it and doesnt have any overheating problems at all. What could happen if i just leave it and refill the coolant with 50% anti freeze and 50% distilled water over say a couple more months?
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Speedfight 50 -> Honda NSR 125 -> Y reg YAMAHA YZF R6 -> 08 YAMAHA YZF R6 -> Honda CBR1000RR
Theory test Done 4/6/07
Practical test Done 21/12/07

[iooi]

Well if its leaking into the cylinders then it could rust them up, or down into the oil.

If you used 2 tanks of coolant it needs to be looked at, as something is very amiss.
You sure its not just leaking out of a hose somewhere, not uncommon for bikes to spit water out of pipes, when not run much.
Either, I would take it to a dealers and ask them if they can test the cooling system as its losing coolant. Think you can pressure test it and it will show if its leaking at the head. Or run it at idle for a good while till its real hot, should start to overheat. Might just show where its comming from then.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Andy levitt]

Im abit confussed now as i left the bike on idel untill fan kicks in, then the coolant is all of a suddern filled to top again. Then ill leave it, and itll go back down again. This says to me that it cant of been leaking but it does still go down. Is it possible that too many short trips has caused the coolant to go as i have done quite alot of short jorneys recentntly?

Also im thinking of taking it for a pressure test, how much do they normally charge and how effective are they for obtaining the problem?
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Speedfight 50 -> Honda NSR 125 -> Y reg YAMAHA YZF R6 -> 08 YAMAHA YZF R6 -> Honda CBR1000RR
Theory test Done 4/6/07
Practical test Done 21/12/07