Comments on: How To Change the Coolant in Your SV650

By: Stacy

Stacy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:55 +0000

@Murray: I didn't take an exact measurement, but I seem to recall that I had a fair bit of coolant mix left over. Your question reminded me of an interesting article on this subject I read a couple of months ago in Motorcycle Consumer News. I'll scan it and send it to your email.

By: Murray

Murray — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:22:18 +0000

Stacy, do you recall if when you changed your coolant it took the full 1730 ml? Just curious what others might have experienced as well.

Yes, the bike is running absolutely perfectly and in the correct temperature range so you’re right, I probably shouldn’t sweat it. I just thought that 300 ml discrepancy was a little high.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:05:50 +0000

@Murray: This isn’t baking — the measurements aren’t always going to be exact.

Is your bike running fine and within the normal temperature range? If so, I wouldn’t sweat it. The 17xx ml figure came from the service manual, but who knows how they measured it (from a bone-dry cooling system? from a partial drain? etc, etc)

One thing to remember is that you’ll never get 100% of the coolant out of every nook and cranny in the system unless you pressurize it and force it out. Fancy shops have the equipment to do that. For our purposes, close is probably enough.

By: Murray

Murray — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:55:10 +0000

Thanks again for the writeup. I changed my coolant last week and found it quite an easy job to do. Thing is though, my cooling system only took about 1430 ml of my pre-mixed coolant. I rocked the bike back and forth and really tilted the bike to the right side to try to empty all the old coolant and distilled water after flushing. I thought I got everything out. When filling with new coolant, I took all the recommended steps to bleed air out of the system. I have ridden the bike and made numerous warm up and cool down cycles with coolant hot enough to open thermostat and circulate. I then checked the radiator and reserve tank after cool down and they are always full. I’ve tried leaning bike over right and left at sharp angles and rocking to try to release possible trapped air when engine is cold then checking radiator but it’s full. I’ve tried squeezing the hoses in case air was trapped but still everything is full. I’ve been riding a week since changing the coolant and the system is working perfectly, with normal temperatures same as it was before the coolant change. So, the bike is working flawlessly, however I’m concerned as to why it took 300 ml less coolant than it should have. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

By: Murray

Murray — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:39:00 +0000

Thanks for another great article. I plan to change the coolant in my 2007 SV650 in the spring.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:43:37 +0000

@Bryan: You’re welcome. Also: get some frame sliders.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:28:22 +0000

Thanks for the post, was a great help since I had to replace the entire radiator after a drop.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:52:54 +0000

@Steve: Check the coolant level again after the bike has cooled down. Personally, I'd do a complete flush and coolant change, especially after acquiring a used one.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:05:35 +0000

I just bought an ‘07 SV650S and rode it on the freeway to weeks ago. The temperature read 255 deg F and the red light came on, so I turned the bike off. I rode home hours later, it was around the 180’s – 190’s until I pulled in the garage. When I shut it down the temp was 200 deg F. I looked at the coolant reservoir on the left side of the bike, and there is hardly anything in there. I never checked it until now. Can I just add more?

By: Chris Baker

Chris Baker — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:44:54 +0000

Thanks. Excellent instructions and photos. I really appreciate it.