Accidentally started bike/idled with no coolant in reservoir

[HRC1krr]

Hey guys,

Last weekend I went down on my 2015 1000rr with 400km on it. When I got released from the hospital I went to the tow yard to check the damage out on the bike and was able to start it up. I started it up and let it idle till about 135 degrees Farenheit/57 Celsius and turned it off. Upon further inspection of the bike I noticed NO coolant in the reservoir. It must have leaked out when the bike had fallen b/c it was full prior to that.

My main worry at that time was letting the bike idle with insufficient coolant. I couldn't check the radiator b/c I didn't have the tools to take the fairings off (the 2015 1000rr is not as easy to work on or as accessible). So I had the bike towed to my dyno tuner/mechanic for a full evaluation on the damage and asked him to check the coolant level as well. He told me he only had to add a few ounces of coolant to top off the radiator, so the radiator was almost full. So I'm presuming that there was adequate coolant in the system to prevent any engine damage when I started it and let it idle to 135 degrees Farenheit/57 Celsius even though the reservoir was bone dry. Can anyone confirm this? The thermostat starts to open at 176 F/ 80 Celsius


From the research I've done it seems the coolant in the radiator is what matters more so than what's in the reservoir.


Thanks in advance!

[bladerunner]

If he only added a small amount then I expect you'd be ok. the expansion tank will be open to normal air pressure and thus can drain whats in the expansion tank if you park your bike under a truck/ upside down in the hedge etc but the main system should be sealed by your radiator cap, only bleeding off enough coolant to prevent to much pressure in the rad etc during normal operation, once that pressure is normal it'll seal the coolant system again preventing loss to the outside world ......also if you have no coolant in the system then the coolant temp gauge is usually sitting in air and reads...not a lot!! the fact it was reading normally is kinda good
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Current bikes...cbr929, KDX200's, Rd125lc mk2, RGV250's

[spottedtango]

The best thing to do is check the coolant system for any leaks. It's likely no damage was done.

What might have happened is the cylinder head/bores and gasket will have reached a high temp due to insufficient cooling. You should run the bike up to operating temp to see it idles normally and that it uses no coolant, if it does you should be in the clear.

[Jmh600]

The expansion tank (what you've called the reservoir) is there to catch coolant when it expands in the system.....

Basically, coolant gets hot, expands, radiator cap allows coolant to enter expansion tank at certain pressure. Once the bike is stopped and starts to cool, the coolant in the expansion tank will get sucked back into the system via a negative pressure created when it cools.....

I wouldn't worry. At 57celcius, you might not have even opened the thermostat to allow coolant to flow through the rad. Remember, these bikes like to operate at 100celcius

Joe
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Jmhmotorcycles

[HRC1krr]

Thanks for the feedback all.

https://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy151/redlinernyc/Untitled_zpsaopi3xgj.jpg

I drew a white line showing the connection of the reservoir hose to the radiator cap and radiator. So basically this path is blocked before the radiator cap opens up? So if I turned my bike upside down (hypothetically speaking) coolant would be blocked from flowing into the radiator from the reservoir and vice versa?

Again, radiator was near full, so I think it's fine.

[Jmh600]

That's right! There's a pair of valves in the cap. One opens under positive pressure (when the coolant heats up) and allows it to flow to the expansion tank, and the other opens under negative pressure (when cooling) and allows any coolant the rad requires back in
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Jmhmotorcycles

[Pete.]

You won't have caused any harm doing what you say you did, so you can stop worrying.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[HRC1krr]

[Ariel Badger]

No harm will be done after that but do tell how you chucked a brand new bike down the road?
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[HRC1krr]

[Jmh600]

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

Like they all say - no harm done.

I've currently got no radiator at all on my Ford engined trike . . . and I start and run that 'cos the bugger's too heavy to push in and out of the garage.
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Cheers.
^..^
L.W. - www.moonshiners.org.uk

[HRC1krr]

Thanks again everyone