Author Topic: Coolant for K1100  (Read 7676 times)

Offline subforry

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 162
Coolant for K1100
« on: October 30, 2013, 01:48:02 PM »
Hi all,

Among other things I would like to change the coolant.  I remember hearing that there is blue and orange besides the usual green and mixing them can lead to jelly in the cooling system.

What type of coolant should I use?  I think the coolant is orange.  These newfangled bikes and their cooling systems.  I think I will go ride my air cooled bike.
  • Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
  • 1996 K1100RS
1981 Suzuki GS850G
1990 Suzuki Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) - sold
1996 BMW K1100RS
2009 BMW K1300GT

Offline roninvt

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 219
  • free range, cage free
Re: Coolant for K1100
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2013, 06:50:53 PM »
I used to use BMW coolant, I switched to green about 10k ago with no problems
1990 K75C
1993 K1100RS

Offline Scott_

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 2242
Re: Coolant for K1100
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2013, 07:19:42 PM »
Well, BMW coolant is blue, traditional coolant is green, and the only coolant I have heard of that's orange is the DexCool crap by GM.
I wouldn't use DexCool even if it was the last bottle on the shelf. I used to have it in my truck and it ruined 2 sets of intake manifold gaskets.

Ok, rant off...... anyway most any antifreeze listed as being safe for use with aluminum engines/parts should be fine.
  • My Garage
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
1997 K1100LT 0302488 (R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb

Offline wmax351

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1237
Re: Coolant for K1100
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2013, 11:43:43 PM »
The VW Group stuff, G12, (Sold as Pentosin G12, available at NAPA) will work well too. Supposedly "lifetime," but I would change it every several years. Made specifically for Aluminum headed engines, due to issues with their mid 90's cars and the normal green stuff. My dad killed his '95 the green crap.
  • Albuquerque, NM
  • 91 BMW K75 Standard, 98 Moto Guzzi California EV
Bikes:
Current:1991 BMW K75 Standard, 1998 Moto Guzzi California EV11
Past: '83 BMW R65LS, '75 Honda CB550F, '69 Honda CB175, 1999 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, 1973 Triumph Tiger TR7V, 1971 BMW R75/5 in Toaster outfit, 1979 Harley Davidson XLS-1000 Sportster Roadster

Tags: