K11 Owners Group

[michaelcurrin]

What antifreeze is everyone using?

Is the BMW brand really required?

I just drained the system to remove the oil / water pump. Had an oil leak at the internal seal, which I was able to diagnose using the search feature here.

I found some posts that mentioned antifeeze / coolant but was hoping to get some more up to date info.

Thanks

Mike
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Mike Currin
20 BMW R1250RS
93 BMW K1100RS / EML Speed 2000
06 Ducati ST3
67 Triumph 650 chopper

[Rider]

Mike,
The safest mixture to use would be the BMW blue stuff mixed 50/50 with distilled water. The BMW coolant is expensive but a gallon will do for at least two fills. Otherwise a phosphate free antifreeze can be used.

Ed
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2007 650 Burgman, 2003 400 Burgman


Some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you.

[Phil Marvin]

Hi, Mike,
You can certainly use the BMW coolant if you desire. Here in El Paso, there is no BMW bike dealer and, with the closest one 275 miles away, I don't use the BMW coolant. With aluminum engines very common, most all anti-freeze is suitable. I use whichever is on sale, and have for over 150k miles on various K-bikes. I have used Prestone, Texaco and Wal-Mart brands, as far as I can remember.

You live in North Carolina. I lived there for a number of years (Spruce Pine, Greensboro, Lillington, Beaufort, and while in school, Chapel Hill). While it got cold, I don't remember temperatures below, say, 15 below zero (F). That being the case, I would use the BMW-recommended mix of 60% distilled water and 40% coolant, rather than Ed's recommendation of 50/50. But that's me! I don't remember any below-zero temperatures in El Paso, ever.

Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

[Euripides]

Mike: I recommend to run BMW ONLY engine anti-freeze mixed with DISTILLED water. NEVER use tap water in anything! You can run either 50/50 or 60 percent antifreeze and 40 percent distilled water, your call. I live in Virginia where is gets colder than in North Carolina and have run 50/50 in all my cars and trucks for years with no problem. The 60/40 may provide slightly greater anti-corrosion protection but as long as you change the coolant every two years, that should not be a problem. However, the 50/50 mix will provide greater heat transfer than will 60/40. Considering how hot it gets in North Carolina in the Summertime, the 50/50 mix is what I would elect to run. I recently ordered BMW engine coolant by a telephone call to Morton's BMW in Fredericksburg, VA and the price was quite reasonable. You could order it from the your closest BMW dealer (Greensboro or Raleigh?) or a discounter like Chicago or Morton's. ( I like both Chicago and Morton's, but if you order from Chicago plan ahead and allow extra time as sometimes they are a bit slow. They are good on prices.) Don't forget to check all of your hoses for hardness and cracking and check your coolant expanion tank for cracking and check the system fill cap gasket or o-ring and the thermostat for corrosion and proper operation. - Euripides

[Phil Marvin]

Hi, Euripides,
Read the BMW-recommended coolant mixture again. BMW recommends 60% DISTILLED WATER and 40% ANTI-FREEZE, not the other way around. The 50/50 won't hurt, but you get better heat transfer with the 60/40 mix. Down here, I've heard of people using a 70/30 mix because of the high ambient temperatures certain days in summer. As far as the coolant brand, I wouldn't have a problem if there were a local dealer. But with the closest being 275 miles away, I'm not going to order it, then pay hefty shipping charges, especially since I've never had any problem and my local dealer (before they gave up the BMW franchise) did NOT use BMW coolant; he usually used Prestone.
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

[Flying Duck]

I'm with Phil. Distilled water only with a 60/40 mix. "Any" antifreeze these days is good for aluminum engine parts.

Of interest is that I've noticed that they are now selling pre-mixed antifreeze/water. Nothing like paying $8/gal for distilled water, huh? And I thought it was bad when I found $4/gal gas in CA. Now they want you to pay twice that for WATER!
_________________
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94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
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[will3hawks]

When you consider that the coolant only gets changed every 2 years, buying a gallon of the BMW stuff for under $20 seems to be a no-brainer;hell, that's 2 beers a sandwich and the tip at your favorite watering hole. It has been my experience that the BMW coolant will not hurt anything, but going cheap could end up costing you lots. Garbage in, garbage out. For some reason, everything BMW makes is "fluid sensitive" and I would er on the side of going with that which I know works.
_________________
The truth is 100 miles east of Memphis
BMWMOA# 70125
94 K 1100RS (Speedwagon)
"Even if I should die on the road, this would be the will of heaven"
Matsuo Basho, 1644-1694

[will3hawks]

You can order BMW coolant from any BMW car dealer as well.
_________________
The truth is 100 miles east of Memphis
BMWMOA# 70125
94 K 1100RS (Speedwagon)
"Even if I should die on the road, this would be the will of heaven"
Matsuo Basho, 1644-1694

[michaelcurrin]

My problem with the BMW coolant isn't the price, just the drive to the dealer, didn't realize I could get it from an automotive dealer.

Anyhow decided to bite the bullet and emailed Max BMW to add it to my order.

Thanks

Mike
_________________
Mike Currin
20 BMW R1250RS
93 BMW K1100RS / EML Speed 2000
06 Ducati ST3
67 Triumph 650 chopper