Hi All, I have a beautiful sapphire blue 2008 with 14,000 miles. I guess its time to change the antifreeze. What is recommended? Should I use the alternatives like Engine Ice or is good old Prestone ok? With a Muzzy pipe and a Power Commander, I have no overheating issues what so ever. Thanks for any imput. Lou D

I use engine ice. but if you don't have heat issues....youd be the first lol id just get it from the dealer

Yeah, you don't need to change very often. No need to go cheap. the Kawi coolant is $11. I think you will need to buy 2 bottles if I recall.

Aluminum engines need special additives 8in the coolant. I would only trust motorcycle specific, aluminum engine specific coolant.

Thanks for the reply. A gallon of Prestone is around $17. Not cheap!

I also have a 2008 sapphire blue and I switched over to engine ice for the graphite liberating properties for the water pump and it helps cool faster! And im at 30,000 miles

+1 Engine Ice

I use Engine Ice in my stuff and Honda green in everything else. I keep in stock 4 bottles of Honda and 2 bottles of Engine Ice

Engine Ice it is. Thanks guys

blue I don't know if its needed or not but after draining the radiator I flushed it with distilled water and drained a second time b4 putting the engine ice in, you'll need 2 bottles of the engine ice , it will take 1 3/4 bottles

blue I don't know if its needed or not but after draining the radiator I flushed it with distilled water and drained a second time b4 putting the engine ice in, you'll need 2 bottles of the engine ice , it will take 1 3/4 bottles

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+1 Cooter for flushing before icing. Right way to do it.

By the way, if you check Amazon, they sometimes run a sale on case lots of Engine Ice. I got a case of 8 big bottles last year for about half price. Still have a bunch, unopened it will keep for years.

* Last updated by: privateer on 3/9/2012 @ 1:38 PM *

Guys do u still need antifreeze if so how much of each, cuz all the bottles of engine ice r 64oz?

Guys do u still need antifreeze if so how much of each, cuz all the bottles of engine ice r 64oz?

Engine Ice is (pre-dilluted) antifreeze. Buy two bottles... You'll use about one and a half.

or was it one and three quarters as Scotty said just a few posts above... been a while.

Engine Ice is simply a Propylene Glycol based anti-freeze as opposed to the more conventional Ethylene Glycol based anti-freeze. Propylene Glycol based fluids can also be found under trade names such as Sierra (produced by Peak) and Prestone's "Low Tox" product. Amsoil also uses Propylene Glycol as the basis for their anti-freeze.

Based on ASTM D 1384 testing, the Propylene Glycol coolants do not perform quite as well with regard to corrosion inhibiting characteristics as Ethylene Glycol products when mixed with like additive components. I do not have access to the DIN 51 360-2 test values which determine seal compatibility so I can only speculate that it passes all minimum requirements when mixed at 50/50 ratios. With a treatment ratio of < 3% active additive I see absolutely no reason to use Engine Ice over traditional Ethylene Glycol coolants (other than the environmental and health reasons).

Engine Ice is sold in 64 ounce (1/2 gallon) containers at a price of approximately $20 per container. Our ZX-14 cooling system capacity is 3.4 quarts so you'd need to buy two containers ($40) for a complete fluid replacement. Because Engine Ice is already premixed with de-ionized water at a 50/50 ratio, you're paying $20 for one quart of Propylene Glycol. This is foolish.

Change the coolant annually with any name brand product and you'll be miles ahead of the average rider. Always use distilled water, even for top-off, and you'll never have corrosion issues. Corrosion inhibitors become depleted over time which is why it's wise to replace the coolant annually.

(edited to add environmental comment)

* Last updated by: Fowvay on 7/31/2012 @ 9:39 AM *

Is there any evidence of one coolant possessing a higher thermal conductivity over another? I think the consensus on many forums is coolants like Engine Iceboast the ability to transfer more thermal energy.

I've had no issues with my bike staying within normal operating temps with the factory coolant. Its been unnaturally hot this summer as well.

Webbike World always has good,usually 'neutral" reviews of stuff....maybe the Ice is in there?I did the water wetter deal in my 07 for a season...I didn't see any difference.It's been hot here as well...my 14R has managed to hit 210 a couple of times....no problem though...stock antifreeze...cools right down once rolling again.I do feel sorry for the guys in HOT temps all the time....I did notice some shin cooking(a tad) when she was hot like that...but....

Many white papers have been written in the chemical community with regard to the pros and cons of Ethylene Glycol (EG) versus Propylene Glycol (PG). The most notable difference in the two chemistries is:

1. Toxicity. PG is actually used as a food additive and is not harmful to humans when ingested in small amounts. EG can be fatal in quantities as small as 2-4 ounces.

2. Viscosity. Under cold conditions, EG is less viscous and requires less pumping horsepower. This is most notable at temperatures below 0ºF. At high temperatures the difference between PG and EG is much less notable.

EG solutions offer:
- higher heat transfer coefficient
- better freeze point depression
- less swellability to plastics/elastomers
- higher surface tension/less leaks

PG solutions offer:
- better cavitation erosion protection
- concentrate does NOT freeze.

Because EG has a much lower molecular weight (62.1 mole) than PG (76.1 mole), the heat transfer rate is greater with EG. It's simply able to heat up and cool down faster. EG also has a higher specific gravity than does PG which makes it ideal as a coolant.

References for molecular weight and specific gravity is credited to Dow Chemical Engineering - Ambitrol product research.

Well...there ya go!Okay...so...engine Ice would be....what?PG or EG?Or neither?There was one thing about the Water Wetter...you did NOT need to replace your factory coolant...which was good.

Engine Ice is PG (propylene glycol). It's not a bad product, it's just incredibly overpriced.

Kind of late to the thread as I was Commercial fishing in Ak. ergo no internet. But as some folks are getting ready to store bikes (why?) thought it would be good to revisit this thread.
Fowvay is dead on the money for all the research and experience I've done. Dirt Bike did a study on coolants a while back and found similar. The best cooling they found was straight water with water wetter. Which is what I ran back when I was heavy into trackdays. Currently running LoTox premix cuz its cheap and easy. Considering going back to EG because its cheaper and easier yet! lol.