I need some help ASAP here, I'm planning a trip very soon.
My viper is slowly losing coolant this year. I've put 320 miles on it so far and I've had to top off coolant probably 4 times. I've been trying to decide where it's going but I need some expert opinions here.
This year when I first got it ready to go I pulled the PV's to clean them and found a drop of antifreeze on the mag PV. So then I pulled the head, cleaned everything up, sprayed gasket tack on the gasket and torqued the head to 23 ft lbs. But since then I've still had this problem.
Here are clues I have to work with:
1. A bunch of leaks started to appear around hose clamps and connections (excess pressure?)
2. Snow around the right footwell area sometimes has a green tinge to it (pressure blowing coolant out the overflow?)
3. The coolant cap was loose once, I thought maybe I just put it on wrong, but maybe it was popped up a bit by pressure?
4. The mag piston has a little bit different wash than the other two and the plug looks the same as the other two except for a little bit of gray in places. Nothing big for sure, picky as I am, I disregarded it. The sled runs great too. But could that be antifreeze?
To me, all this seems to point to head gasket but I already thought I fixed that. How else could the system get over pressurized? What else can I check?
My viper is slowly losing coolant this year. I've put 320 miles on it so far and I've had to top off coolant probably 4 times. I've been trying to decide where it's going but I need some expert opinions here.
This year when I first got it ready to go I pulled the PV's to clean them and found a drop of antifreeze on the mag PV. So then I pulled the head, cleaned everything up, sprayed gasket tack on the gasket and torqued the head to 23 ft lbs. But since then I've still had this problem.
Here are clues I have to work with:
1. A bunch of leaks started to appear around hose clamps and connections (excess pressure?)
2. Snow around the right footwell area sometimes has a green tinge to it (pressure blowing coolant out the overflow?)
3. The coolant cap was loose once, I thought maybe I just put it on wrong, but maybe it was popped up a bit by pressure?
4. The mag piston has a little bit different wash than the other two and the plug looks the same as the other two except for a little bit of gray in places. Nothing big for sure, picky as I am, I disregarded it. The sled runs great too. But could that be antifreeze?
To me, all this seems to point to head gasket but I already thought I fixed that. How else could the system get over pressurized? What else can I check?
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Another thought: The mag cylinder burned down last year because of an air leak with the base gasket. Possible head warpage from heat? If the head was warped, how would I be able to tell and how would I fix it?
Check the head with a Machined flat edge, If head is warped, either replace or have it milled at a machine shop. .020 is good. If you mill head be sure to run the complete head gasket set, install new gasket also. If compressed air is leaking into cooling system the system will blow over and engine will overheat.
The sled does not have a problem overheating. The light only came on once this year because it sat idling too long.
I thought I read on here about taping some 220 grit paper to a flat surface and moving the head in a circular motion to even it out.
I thought I read on here about taping some 220 grit paper to a flat surface and moving the head in a circular motion to even it out.
That sandpaper idea dosnt sound very appealing to me. You should take it to a machine shop to be resurfaced.
sandmanmike1
New member
I believe it was me that trued my head with a sheet of glass and the 220 grit paper. You can inspect for warpage with a straight piece of glass as well if you do not have a machined edge. I did mine that way because I was leaving to go ride the next day. If time allowed I may have done it different.
Hmm. I guess it remains to be seen if the head is actually warped. If it is, depending on how bad I might try the paper idea. I'll probably be able to pull it apart tomorrow afternoon and I'll post what I find.
First thing I'm going to do though is check torque on the head bolts, then see if there are bubbles coming up in the coolant tank when running.
First thing I'm going to do though is check torque on the head bolts, then see if there are bubbles coming up in the coolant tank when running.
sandmanmike1 said:
How did the finish look? Would you suggest a higher grit to make a smoother surface? I will be using Permatex spray on gasket tack which I believe would help alot of the finish isn't as smooth as before.
sandmanmike1
New member
If I remember right we followed up with 600 grit. Originally I had a piston ring break when it was -30 degrees in Curtis. A few pieces of the ring went dancing on top of the piston and ruined the head. I bought a replacement head from Ebay and bolted it on. Looked good but after I run it I had a leak. So I took it to a friends house and my head had 2 or 3 high spots. A few beers later had it running with no leaks.
Sheermadness03
New member
Beer fixes everything!! -Edsxr700m
New member
RTYsxv.....tell me what you find because I seem to have the similar issue. I noticed this weekend after time my warning light came on and I didn't know why. I opened the hood and the coolant was way low then I noticed coolant on my right footwell. That would mean a hose is bad or overflowing right if its going on my footwell.
sickric
New member
Have you looked straight down from the top of the motor, past your exhaust manifold, in the cut out holes in the belly pan ?
(I noticed my coolant level getting low after rides) (couldn't figure out where it was going, it took a while to find, its hard to see way down there.). I had coolant leaking in that area on my 02 Viper.
Found out it was the mechanical seal behind the impeller on the water/coolant pump.
Talked to a Yamaha mechanic at a shop and he said that it was a common problem with Vipers, I bought new seal and gasket and replaced , I have had no leaks or low coolant since.
Hope this helps you.
(I noticed my coolant level getting low after rides) (couldn't figure out where it was going, it took a while to find, its hard to see way down there.). I had coolant leaking in that area on my 02 Viper.
Found out it was the mechanical seal behind the impeller on the water/coolant pump.
Talked to a Yamaha mechanic at a shop and he said that it was a common problem with Vipers, I bought new seal and gasket and replaced , I have had no leaks or low coolant since.
Hope this helps you.
tyler66665
New member
Same Problem on my SRX
I had the same issue when I first bought my SRX. The coolant was leaking but wasn't sure where it was going. I had never worked on this sled before so brought it to a mechanic. He told me the coolant was leaking into the motor through the water pump so he replaced all the seals in the pump and she is running great now.
FYI he did all the work without having to pull the motor. Removed the pipes and was able to pull the water pump out and rebuild it.
I had the same issue when I first bought my SRX. The coolant was leaking but wasn't sure where it was going. I had never worked on this sled before so brought it to a mechanic. He told me the coolant was leaking into the motor through the water pump so he replaced all the seals in the pump and she is running great now.
FYI he did all the work without having to pull the motor. Removed the pipes and was able to pull the water pump out and rebuild it.
I pulled it apart tonight to have a look:
There's a leak on the mag cylinder - the shiny area on the gasket. Looks like I'm going to need a new head gasket. There isn't much evidence of a leak on the piston dome, it must have been pretty small. You can see it's a little wet in places, but not washed clean like a big leak. I attached a pic of the spark plugs as well, and they look pretty much the same across the board. The mag side plug is slightly darker in a few places.
On side note, what do you guys think about the piston wash on the other 2 cylinders? I've been running at 0 degrees F or less.
There's a leak on the mag cylinder - the shiny area on the gasket. Looks like I'm going to need a new head gasket. There isn't much evidence of a leak on the piston dome, it must have been pretty small. You can see it's a little wet in places, but not washed clean like a big leak. I attached a pic of the spark plugs as well, and they look pretty much the same across the board. The mag side plug is slightly darker in a few places.
On side note, what do you guys think about the piston wash on the other 2 cylinders? I've been running at 0 degrees F or less.
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sickric said:
It's all dry down there, thankfully. I've read alot about those seals and it doesn't sound like a fun job. I ran my finger underneath the pump housing just to make sure and it came up dry.
sxr700m said:
On my sled, if it was warmed and driven, and then it sat overnight and I opened the coolant tank the next morning, there would still be pressure on the system that gets released. I'd check this out, if there is pressure that could indicate a head gasket leak. I thought mine was just a hose leaking at first. I found leaks too, several of them, but what I didn't know was that they were caused by the excess pressure put on by the head gasket leak.
I've read on here about leaks that even put out enough pressure to blow off the coolant cap under throttle. Hopefully you can figure out whats going on, I'd read sickric's post and check out your water pump seal as well.