Checking Antifreeze level?

Got any tips and tricks for BMW R1200RT/R1250RT owners? feel free to share them here.
Post Reply
User avatar
Randyjaco
Posts: 225
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2021 3:18 am
Location: Friendswood, Texas, USA
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT 2017
Has liked: 53 times
Been liked: 46 times
United States of America

Checking Antifreeze level?

Post by Randyjaco »

With all of this summer heat, I am more concerned with the level of my antifreeze. I have found that it is nearly impossible to see the level through that tiny port in the fairing. (I use Prestone rather than the BMW blue). I have been considering adding something highly visible to float on top of the solution; something along the line of mini ping pong balls. I am just trying to figure out something that isn't going to decompose or otherwise cause problems. Any suggestions?
OTOH:Is there some sort of dye that I can use?
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8342
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 395 times
Great Britain

Re: Checking Antifreeze level?

Post by David. »

Looks like Prestone is yellow and designed to mix with other makes of antifreeze with out affecting the original colour.

Prestone Coolant/Antifreeze - YouTube

With the RT coolant expansion tank being slightly opaque, perhaps there is a good reason for BMW blue.

Why Is Coolant Different Colours? | Prestone (holtsauto.com)
Last edited by David. on Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
BoB21
Posts: 845
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:38 am
Bike Model and Year: 2017
Has liked: 133 times
Been liked: 69 times
Great Britain

Re: Checking Antifreeze level?

Post by BoB21 »

Hi,On wethead shine a torch from the front of bike by radiator at level of bottle an the level becomes very clear to see.
User avatar
Steve398
Subscriber
Posts: 926
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2019 8:41 pm
Location: West Sussex, UK
Bike Model and Year: R1200RTLC, 2018
Has liked: 424 times
Been liked: 348 times
Isle of Wight

Re: Checking Antifreeze level?

Post by Steve398 »

BoB21 wrote: Hi,On wethead shine a torch from the front of bike by radiator at level of bottle an the level becomes very clear to see.

I can never see the level through the peephole on my 2018, and invariably have to take the panel off to peer inside the opaque bottle to see the level.


Why can’t they make it a darker distinctive colour or find a better way to display it?
Cum Dubito Desisto
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8342
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 395 times
Great Britain

Re: Checking Antifreeze level?

Post by David. »

Why can't they make the coolant expansion tank out of something which is transparent not opaque.
joeducati
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2022 7:44 pm
Bike Model and Year: 2019 R1250RT
Has liked: 11 times
Been liked: 1 time
United States of America

Re: Checking Antifreeze level?

Post by joeducati »

[/quote]
Agree, pretty tough to see the level, even with the blue stuff. I just got my bike so I pulled the panel off to make sure of the level and it was below the minimum. After I put the panel back on I pointed my bright flashlight from the front and looked through the peep hole and could barley see the level then....
BoB21
Posts: 845
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:38 am
Bike Model and Year: 2017
Has liked: 133 times
Been liked: 69 times
Great Britain

Re: Checking Antifreeze level?

Post by BoB21 »

Only use penlike torch and shows up well through peephole when shined from correct position. If remember correctly from front amd shine up. Always f about bit till find right angle.
User avatar
Doctor T
Posts: 1998
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
Location: west sussex
Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
Has liked: 1152 times
Been liked: 306 times
Great Britain

Re: Checking Antifreeze level?

Post by Doctor T »

Some antifreeze is Bioluminescent. Much easier to see with a LED black light even through the smallest hole.
Post Reply