i have a 03 r6 and i decided to change out my coolant. i completly drained it and went to refill it. The service manual i have says it takes 2.26 quarts. after about 1.5 quarts it started to overflow. how much do i need or am i missing something here?

There are two things at play here, one the 2.26Qts includes some extra that goes in the expansion tank, two you may have an air pocket in the motor preventing more coolant from going in. I generally fill it until it gets to the bottom of the filler neck then start the bike. This allows the coolant to circulate and be filled the rest of the way up.

thanks

Hey how hard is it to drain the coolant? How did you go about doing it? Could it be pumped out from the filler neck?

Thanks

If you take the fairings off the right side you will see the waterpump housing where the lower rad hose curves around and enters a 90* plate and into the block. On that plate you underscrew the bottom bolt and it will drain all the coolant.

PM me with an email address and I'll send you the Service Manual page.

If you take the fairings off the right side you will see the waterpump housing where the lower rad hose curves around and enters a 90* plate and into the block. On that plate you underscrew the bottom bolt and it will drain all the coolant.

PM me with an email address and I'll send you the Service Manual page.
Notice the service manual says to replace the copper washer each time you drain the coolant. Good luck finding one! I have checked several dealerships and not one of them has the washers, nor do they do what their own service manual says. Imagine that! I wonder how many other things on the service list they skip over.

I have drained mine several times and still use the original washer. I think it is more of a safety precaution like the crush washers on the oil drain plug, if you put it on like Superman you need to replace them each time because you squish them instead of stripping the threads, if you tighten it like a normal person and safety wire it shut you never put extrordinary forces on the washer.