4-Valver Cooling System - How Best to Service?

[desmoquattro]

I've got a 2005 S4R. On Saturday I developed a hole in the rubber hose that returns water from the horizontal cylinder and lost a bit of coolant. We managed to rig up another hose to get me home, but it got me wondering: when I replace the hose set, what should I do to clean the system? Should I flush it with distilled water? Maybe clean the places where the hoses attach?

I know to use distilled water when filling the cooling system. I use Water Wetter as coolant as well. Anything else I should look for?

Many thanks,

Joe

[ducpainter]

I use Kool Aid, just a water wetter type product, in my 996 because some tracks don't allow anti freeze.

For a street only bike if I wasn't having over heating issues I would use antifreeze for its corrosion protection properties.

As far as cleaning the system, a flush with water should give you an indication of the health of the system.

[hypurone]

Be really careful (read: do not use) with any of the "cleaning" products out there for cars. they are harsh and sometimes act up with the more sensitive components of the system (sensors, t-stats etc).

+1 to just plain water, and I would use distilled as it has no minerals that will leech out onto the metals of the bikes cooling system...

[desmoquattro]

Thanks for the updates, guys. They were pretty much in line with what I was planning. Just need to find my Desmoquattro service manual