Coolant question

[jimp1967]

I noticed my over flow bottle is in between the add marks when warmed up, since I only need to add less than a cup to top it off, can I just add distilled water or is that a no no?

[bansheesandrider]

You can do it if you have to, but Yamaha recomends a 50/50 mix of distilled water and antifreeze. If you live where the temp gets below 32 degrees then you are compromising you freeze protection. Remember a Banshee has a very small cooling system compared to your car or truck, so a cup can be a substantial percentage. Some guys on here run straight water but I would not, antifreeze also has anticorrosion protection in it. You can say you will antifreeze later, but will you remember before it is too late in the winter. Personally, I would do away with the overflow bottle, run the hose that used to go to it down the frame tube behind the radiator and cut it off at the bottom of the frame and zip tie it down. Fill the radiator up, start the bike and let it come up to temp and burp out what it needs to and call it good. That is the way my bike has been for the last 18 years with no problems. I also change my coolant every 2 years in all my bikes so there is absolutely no corrosion in the system anywhere.

[firebanshee]

I noticed my over flow bottle is in between the add marks when warmed up, since I only need to add less than a cup to top it off, can I just add distilled water or is that a no no?

You should check your coolant at the rad cap, your bottle could be close to full but your rad could still be low on coolant.