xm 800x leaking coolant

[Vidgren]

noticed that there was coolant on the snow under My xm.

it was under the left footrest almost under the driven pulley.

anyone experienced that?

 

[white rad]

yep. I chased a coolant leak on mine for over 1,000 miles. First thing is to check that the cap on coolant bottle is sealed and on all the way. Also check to make sure the overflow hose from the bottle is in place and goes to the nipple that exits out near the right shock tower.

If those are good its likely a leak on one of the lower hoses or from the block. I used an inspection camera to look around the engine bay after the sled sat overnight to find where the coolant would bleed out. I found a leak from the seal between the water pump housing and the block, but doesn't sound like a very common issue. So you might look there and at the hose clamp/connections on the lower hoses. Otherwise a lot of the coolant lines are up high behind the coolant bottle on the mag side, lots of possible hose connection in there that could leak.

Or take it in for warranty!

 

[maxwell]

noticed that there was coolant on the snow under My xm.

it was under the left footrest almost under the driven pulley.

anyone experienced that?

not yet let us know what you find. my guess is its the fittings under the tank going to the rear cooler. they were a problem in 2009

 

[Vidgren]

it doesnt seem to leak while the engine is running. Will take it to the dealer tomorrow (if they can squeese me in) if not im going to run it hot as hell and watch as it cools down.

not My idea of a nice friday night but...

 

[zed899]

If my logic is correct, as im no mechanic, but when the engine heats up, it along with hoses, fittings etc expand and probably seals the small leak you have where ever it might be.

 

[Vidgren]

yeah it has something to do with the expanding/shrinking due to heat/cold alright.

it doesnt leak when i have the sled in the garage or when its running.

My guess is that the aluminium shrinks faster than the rubber hose connecting to it.

if spelling or grammar is way of its because im from Sweden.

 

[dooberry]

If all hose connections check out I would check out the water pump housing as "White Rad" suggested. There is a small hole in the engine case below and behind the water pump housing. This hole is used to confirm the integrity of the oil and water seals in this galley. If you see coolant then the water pump seal is gone. If you see oil then the oil seal is gone. If you add some fluorescent dye to the coolant bottle it will be much easier to locate the leak. Observe for the leak in this area with the engine running. Hope this helps you out.

 

[JoHNI_T]

yeah it has something to do with the expanding/shrinking due to heat/cold alright.

it doesnt leak when i have the sled in the garage or when its running.

My guess is that the aluminium shrinks faster than the rubber hose connecting to it.

if spelling or grammar is way of its because im from Sweden.

I would say your english is better then most around here haha including my self some days....

my coolant is also down below the line with about 600kms on sled so I will top it off but I must be losing just a lil bit as well as it was at the level but it cant be much,, I rather it be fixed now under warranty tho instead of my problem in 2 years.....

 

[snopro]

If you guys think your level is low but don't see any antifreeze under the sled just crack the rad cap a bit. You usually gain a good inch to inch and a half more antifeeze in your reservoir bottle by doing this. This is normal and nothing to worry about.

 

[JoHNI_T]

If you guys think your level is low but don't see any antifreeze under the sled just crack the rad cap a bit. You usually gain a good inch to inch and a half more antifeeze in your reservoir bottle by doing this. This is normal and nothing to worry about.

thanks Ken... even if the sled is cold? seems to be a bit lower then day 1... I will pop it an see but I agree it cant be more then 50mils so I dont think Im leaking but all my days have been deep I only see under the sled when its up side down haha

 

[snopro]

thanks Ken... even if the sled is cold? seems to be a bit lower then day 1... I will pop it an see but I agree it cant be more then 50mils so I dont think Im leaking but all my days have been deep I only see under the sled when its up side down haha

Ya only when it is cold. HaHa. No burnt fingers please!The system is under pressure and that is why it does this.

 

[JoHNI_T]

Ya only when it is cold. HaHa. No burnt fingers please!The system is under pressure and that is why it does this.

haha ya I meant stone cold lol... I assumed after sitting 3 days maybe the pressure wouldnt be as much.... cheers

 

[Destroyer]

my sled is weird, the coolant bottle will be empty after a ride. let it sit for days. Crack the coolant bottle open and it overflows. Why is this?

 

[CamoKVF700]

Coolant systems are under pressure when hot. Each pound of pressure on the rad cap raises the boiling point of the coolant 3 degrees. As it cools down there will be a vacuum increase which draws coolant out of the overflow back into the system. Once coolant is back to ambient temperature, it should be at the cold line. If its outside and -15, it'll be lower. Liquid expands as it heats so when operating temp is reached, it'll be at the hot line or slightly above.

Now as soon as that rad cap is cracked when hot, the system loses its pressure, the liquid instantly returns to its normal boiling point. This causes the molecules to rapidly move faster causing what is known as the boil over.

Rad caps need to hold a certain amount of pressure to stop the boiling and also to pull coolant back in from the overflow as it cools in a closed system.

 

[Newmanater90]

Bill Nye the Science guy lol makes a lot of sense when you explain it like this thanks...

Coolant systems are under pressure when hot. Each pound of pressure on the rad cap raises the boiling point of the coolant 3 degrees. As it cools down there will be a vacuum increase which draws coolant out of the overflow back into the system. Once coolant is back to ambient temperature, it should be at the cold line. If its outside and -15, it'll be lower. Liquid expands as it heats so when operating temp is reached, it'll be at the hot line or slightly above.

Now as soon as that rad cap is cracked when hot, the system loses its pressure, the liquid instantly returns to its normal boiling point. This causes the molecules to rapidly move faster causing what is known as the boil over.

Rad caps need to hold a certain amount of pressure to stop the boiling and also to pull coolant back in from the overflow as it cools in a closed system.

 

[maxwell]

Remember too there is an overflow on top of the shock mount. So if your sled gets hot it will piss out there slowly

 

[Destroyer]

Coolant systems are under pressure when hot. Each pound of pressure on the rad cap raises the boiling point of the coolant 3 degrees. As it cools down there will be a vacuum increase which draws coolant out of the overflow back into the system. Once coolant is back to ambient temperature, it should be at the cold line. If its outside and -15, it'll be lower. Liquid expands as it heats so when operating temp is reached, it'll be at the hot line or slightly above.


Now as soon as that rad cap is cracked when hot, the system loses its pressure, the liquid instantly returns to its normal boiling point. This causes the molecules to rapidly move faster causing what is known as the boil over.

Rad caps need to hold a certain amount of pressure to stop the boiling and also to pull coolant back in from the overflow as it cools in a closed system.

my tank looks empty when it runs too. but I can't ever add any. even if the sled sits for a week when i unseal the bottle cap even slowly it poors over the top

 

[Ola]

my tank looks empty when it runs too. but I can't ever add any. even if the sled sits for a week when i unseal the bottle cap even slowly it poors over the top

That sounds like compressed air in the system.

 

[Destroyer]

That sounds like compressed air in the system.

I put the front end of the sled up on milk crates and ran it with the cap off. It burped and I added 750 ml. Hopefully it was just that air bubble the whole time.

 

[neilsleder]

I think every sled I have had leaked when it's really cold like -25 or less. My 09 summit was really bad! Just keep an eye on it.