MV Agusta losing coolant

[-JC-]

I took the MV for a spin last night and lost all the coolant.
The bike is new, has less than 300kms on the clock.
Still running it in, so was taking it very easy, it wasn't too hot, the temp guage didn't go over 100, didn't do too much stop start and every time I stopped it left a puddle of coolant.
This morning there's no coolant at all in the top bottle.
I'm just trying to get the lid off the bottle now to refill the coolant before I send take her back and see if it's a warranty item.
ANyone have similar problems?
-JC-

[-JC-]

ok, after removing the fairings topping her up with coolant and running it for a bit it seems that the coolant is escaping through the overflow, couldn't find any leaky hoses.
Last night I could clearly hear the coolant boiling (bubbling) even though the bike temp wasn't reading over 100...so maybe guessing that they put some cheap arse coolant in with a low boiling temp.
Has anyone had similar experiences or suggest what coolant or solutions?
Cheers
-JC-

[rod]

You can try changing the coolant for something you know is good and make sure the cooling system is purged of air. On a hot bike like the MV maybe try engine ice or some alchohol based coolant. If the temperature gauge is accurate and you know it's not boiling then there may be a something like a little leak into the jacket from a cylinder. My old Laverda did it after a good run and retorquing the head solved that.

It's not an uncommon problem with MV's and I think there are a few threads about it on mvaugsta.net.

[Sventek]

It's a pretty common problem with MVs. Rod is right about engine ice being found to help. If you have a quick look at mvagusta.net, I'm pretty sure you'll find some good suggestions there.

[=Stevo=]

dodgy radiator cap?

[RT]

don't stress mate, its just what they do...... i have attached a small can to catch the over flow, stops it spewing all ova the fairings and stops random people telling me my bike is broken lol

+1 for engine ice, rick gill normally supply it

also check into getting the upgraded water pump and cover, i have just installed it on mine and seems to make a bit of difference so far

also don't put too much coolant in, fill it up only to the low level mark

[rod]

Ha ha, an overflow for the overflow?

[-JC-]

Thanks for the link, checking out mvagusta.net now.
I'll try the engine ice although I bought the bike grom Gill's and thought they would have put that in.
Cheers
-JC-

[Vincenzo]

Certainly agree with previous posts - normally relates to the coolant level. I can remember both of Rick Gill's F4 Demos dumping coolant like crazy when I specifically took them out for 'testing' on really hot days & the temp gauge was over 115 degrees C.

Touch wood, my 312 has been behaving itself in hot weather & have not had any coolant overflow issues.

What you really have to be concerned about is if you lose all your coolant because of a fatigue fracture of the radiator on the top left side just below the securing bracket. It happened to mine & I had to wait 8 weeks for a replacement radiator from Italy.

Again the mvagusta.net has a myriad of worthwhile threads about overheating, coolant leaks, overflows & radiator defects - but don't get too depressed, the bike itself is addictive!!

[dragsta]

Your just not riding it FAST enough dude
I dont think you even had the speedo showing triple digits last night, maybe I could RUN it in for ya

[Shady7/8]

Common known thing for a new MV...

Being new (only 300kms) I wouldn't stress about alternatives just yet... Leave it be for a few more hundred k's then if it's still an issue then look into alternatives... especially if it's not getting hot...
As for what coolant is in there it should be a AGIP coolant or possiblyMotul Inugel
ps 110 is still running fine!

My 08 Brute spat coolant a fair bit during run in then was ridden pretty firmly afterwards and never spat any more...(well til I took her down the road )
My new 06 Brute having done 4000kms only just spat coolant on me on Sat and has never done before.
and my 07 Brute only doing 1800kms has never spat coolant on me...

[Broms]

Could be an airlock somewhere JC. There has been a lot of chatter on the MV forum about air getting stuck in the lower radiator.

The refilling procedure to combat this problem is ridiculous; here is a post from that site after discussion with an MV technician;

Another overheating cure? - Page 7 - MVAgusta.net

The MV rep called me this morning re: the filling of the cooling system. He spoke both with people in the US and Italy. I'm impressed with his/MV's caring and interest.

The cooling system should be refilled per the shop manual which requires both elevating the front end and tipping the bike from side to side to displace trapped air. One person told him that the front end should be raised 1 meter (that's alot) and when tipping the bike two people should do it in order to get maximum lean. That's alot of screwing around in my book but if you want an MV I guess that's one of the prices.

Venting the top of the lower rad is a good solution I believe, and I'm going to ponder that mod. But it will only eliminate the need for tipping. Still have to raise the front end for the engine passages to bleed.

One more tid bit. There is a revised resivoir/surge tank cap which does a much better job if controlling internal pressure in the system. It is black with a yellow dot on it. If you don't have the dot (I don't) then get the newer version. Might just be the cause of that cracking at the upper left of the top rad.

Hope this helps.

Nothing is easy owning an MV.......other than tearing up money.

[Vincenzo]

It must be an 'Italian' thing, as the Benelli Tornado radiator bleeding procedure required 'gymnastics' too; but one of the more endearing features of the 900 Tre was how cool the bike was compared to the F4's.

[-JC-]

The refilling procedure to combat this problem is ridiculous; here is a post from that site after discussion with an MV technician;

The MV rep called me this morning re: the filling of the cooling system. He spoke both with people in the US and Italy. I'm impressed with his/MV's caring and interest.

The cooling system should be refilled per the shop manual which requires both elevating the front end and tipping the bike from side to side to displace trapped air. One person told him that the front end should be raised 1 meter (that's alot) and when tipping the bike two people should do it in order to get maximum lean. That's alot of screwing around in my book but if you want an MV I guess that's one of the prices.

Venting the top of the lower rad is a good solution I believe, and I'm going to ponder that mod. But it will only eliminate the need for tipping. Still have to raise the front end for the engine passages to bleed.

One more tid bit. There is a revised resivoir/surge tank cap which does a much better job if controlling internal pressure in the system. It is black with a yellow dot on it. If you don't have the dot (I don't) then get the newer version. Might just be the cause of that cracking at the upper left of the top rad.

Mate, that is insain. I'm finding as fantastic as Italian bikes are they lack sanity, the Aprilia also has it's fair share of insanity too.

Your just not riding it FAST enough dude
I dont think you even had the speedo showing triple digits last night, maybe I could RUN it in for ya

Not sure what your point is mate, you were riding it when it started to gush coolant.

Topped up the coolant and turned up the pace for a spin, didn't lose a drop of coolant and the temp stayed nice and low.

Serves me right for trying to run the bike in as per the manual...I should just go back to running it in on a Track day.

-JC-

[Ozboy]

don't stress mate, its just what they do...... i have attached a small can to catch the over flow, stops it spewing all ova the fairings and stops random people telling me my bike is broken lol

+1 for engine ice, rick gill normally supply it

also check into getting the upgraded water pump and cover, i have just installed it on mine and seems to make a bit of difference so far

also don't put too much coolant in, fill it up only to the low level mark

^^ This is all you have to do JC, I've not lost a drop of coolant in the MV.

Avoid riding in summer, its just aggrevating on the MV, unless of course your going rural riding.

[wolfies]

Must be a common problem as mine which is a 08 brutale which only has 300 ks on clock did the same thing tonight which is a cold night, temp gauge around 102 and as I stopped to open the gate noticed collant pooring out of overflow . The top bottle is still half full . Am not going to worry about it yet ,as if it is a warrantee issue or things just bedding in , we will have to wait and see. JC what did you find out.Cheers

[-JC-]

Must be a common problem as mine which is a 08 brutale which only has 300 ks on clock did the same thing tonight which is a cold night, temp gauge around 102 and as I stopped to open the gate noticed collant pooring out of overflow . The top bottle is still half full . Am not going to worry about it yet ,as if it is a warrantee issue or things just bedding in , we will have to wait and see. JC what did you find out.Cheers

Wolfies,
As others have said it's a common known problem.
Basically if you're gonna ride slow or through traffic you're gonna squirt coolant. I was running mine in fairly slowly on a cool night and lost a heap of coolant...I overfilled the overflow bottle the next day and went for a 30c day ride at moderate pace and didn't lose a drop of coolant.
If you're overflow is still 1/2 full you've got nothing to worry about...in fact it's probably still too full.
There's lots of advice out there and different possible solutions...the severity of this problem will depend on how you want to ride it.
My plan is to gradually work through this beginning with the first easiest solution (keep the overflow at the minimum level), I'll also ride normally with less focus on the run in proceedure in the manual...if that doesn't work the work through the other options...engine ice, second overflow, larger pump, bottom radiator bleeder, etc if I have to.
Checkout the MV website there's heaps on there about this.
This also aligns with the advice from Rick Gill's (where I bought the bike from), they're also happy to check it out if I want to make sure that there's no trapped air.
Cheers
-JC-

[jules_1972]

What rpm range do you ride in?

Might sound silly, my old 888 used to run cooler at 100km/hr if I was in 5th
gear with higher rpm rather than 6th and lower rpm.
The water pump impeller design was the key to that one.


Vee2 has done the Impeller mod/Fan mod on his MV F4, this made a very noticeable difference to running temps....

Ping him.

[RT]

a little over $300 for the updated water pump from mv, worth the money IMO, bike has been running sweet and i don't stress at every red light now

[-JC-]

^^^ I'll probably end up giving that a go, I do like the slow, scenic rides along the coast.

Jules, the bike is fine at 100...it only heats below that, and yes I was originally keeping the revs down...following the run in instructions in the manual.

-JC-