Questionhello, i got a 1999 suzuki vz 800 runing great, but yesterday i just check the coolant tank reservoir and its empty, and it has not any filling way to put some coolant in the tank reservoir. i tried to put directly on the radiator, but is filled up with coolant, so is that ok or what can i do to improve this situation.
thanks for your help.
AnswerI don't have any direct experience with your specific model, but if your cooling system is like every other one I have encountered it is a coolant recovery system.
In a coolant recovery system the rad cap has 2 pressure dependent (spring loaded) one way valves built into it. As the coolant warms up to operating temperature the pressure increases. When the pressure exceeds the cap's rated pressure one of the valves is forced open and coolant moves from the rad to the overflow tank, reducing the pressure in the rad. In this way the system pressure is regulated at the optimum for efficient operation. When the engine is stopped and the rad cools off the pressure in the cooling system decreases and the other valve is forced open by the now greater presure in the overflow tank and coolant is drawn back from the overflow tank to the rad.
Over time, small leaks can result in the level in the overflow tank dropping. If you do not keep the level at or above the specified minimum, air can be drawn into the radiator and it's ability to regulate the temperature of the engine can become compromised.
Information on filling your cooling system should be in your owner's manual and your shop manual. If you don't have a shop manual you should get one - your bike is 10 years old and you will soon have a hard time finding a shop that will work on it. The sad fact is that a lot of the shops are not interested in having their mechanics spend the necessary time learning enough about older models to do a proper job so they simply do not service machines over 10 years old. This means that you will have to do most of your own work, and working on a bike without a good shop manual is just not worth the headaches. (My bikes are even older - that's why I fix them myself.)
I recommend that you get two manuals - a Factory Shop Manual and a Haynes or Clymer. That way when you don't understand the explanation in one you will probably figure it out when you have read the other too. If you spend some time on Google you might even find a factory manual available for free download.
