Hi all ,Been absent for a few months but still riding my K . She's running great and trouble free.I'm just wondering about changing out all the cooling system hoses in prep of taking a very long trip if I survive the corona  garbage and can travel this summer. Not sure which bike I am going on yet, the 1988 K100rs or my old reliable 75 Moto Guzzi 850-T so I'm getting both of them up to the task while I'm stuck at home hunkered down.The question I have is about the coolant . Is there any good reason to use the BMW stuff over regular green automotive coolant?

Coolant?  The BMW stuff provides the funding for the dealer's spawn to attend an expensive university. They also want the dealer to do the change.  $$$$

Personally, I use Peak Long Life Coolant.  Been using it for 6 years now in 5 different bricks with no issues.  I change every other year which translates to about 6,000 miles on my commuter bikes and 12,000 to 15,000 on my touring K75RT.

As far as hoses, I had a bike with over 125,000 miles on it and the original hoses were still looking good.  The only hose I ever had go bad was the one on the right side of my RT that goes outside of the crank cover that got scraped open when the bike low sided on a turn.  From what I've seen, you could probably get along nicely on the hoses you have now.

Thanks for the quick reply.I was thinking that I could use a good quality automotive product . Thing with the hoses is just that when I'm 6000 miles from home I don't want to have to deal with anything so I'm thinking new just so I don't have to worry about it.Gets hot out in the southwest in September when I plan on passing thru there and if they are going to go that's when it will happen ,way out in the desert in the middle of nowhere .

Carry a roll of rescue tape for the hoses. (That's what I do.) The hoses generally last "forever" but I have had one go on me. (I was only 800 miles from home in The Bay Area and it happened on a Monday so all of the three nearby BMW dealers were closed. Arghhhh!!!!)

https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Tape-RT01019-BRK-RT1000201201USCO/dp/B00AEBKYPG/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=rescue+tape+black&qid=1585661752&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-3

Any decent automotive anti-freeze will do.  Long ago you had to make sure that it was compatible with an aluminum alloy block but just about all are these days.

All of the premixed stuff is 50/50 but if you decide to mix yourself (with DISTILLED water) then I go with 60/40 water/coolant.

I've been out in New Mexico in 120F with original hoses and done another 20,000 miles since.  Brick hoses are pretty indestructible as far as I can tell.  They certainly aren't made of the same crap rubber they use for the clutch rod boot or the Z-tube.

Duck's rescue tape is an excellent idea, I carry a roll of it in my tool kit.

If you are going down to the southwest, mix the coolant with 60% water for the best cooling.  I would do a good flush with radiator flush and a couple gallons of distilled water.  I also cleaned the insects out of the radiator fins by removing it and soaking in a pan of vinegar overnight. Rinse from the back to the front.  I got enough protein out of my fins to open a stall at the Wuhan meat market.

None of my bikes has ever had a cooling issue after doing this stuff.

Also, if you want to not worry about the cooling system then you might consider getting a new cap - part 17111464720 - as those do get old and fail.  Only $28 and includes new rubber washers.

Yamaguzzi, did you see the recent post re the very economical Volvo radiator hose being a suitable replacement for the K-bike hose that passes through the crank cover?

brickrider2 wrote:Yamaguzzi, did you see the recent post re the very economical Volvo radiator hose being a suitable replacement for the K-bike hose that passes through the crank cover?

No I didn't see that.That is something I am going to search out now just so I know what else I can use in a pinch.

Ebay has complete sets in various colors:

Black: 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-For-BMW-K100-K-100-1983-1992-84-85-86-Silicone-Radiator-Hose-Coolant-Pipe/133343056609?hash=item1f0bdd92e1:g:7mAAAOSwsmdeU359

Getting the front hose through the crank case cover more easily with zip ties:

duck wrote:Ebay has complete sets in various colors:
Black: 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-For-BMW-K100-K-100-1983-1992-84-85-86-Silicone-Radiator-Hose-Coolant-Pipe/133343056609?hash=item1f0bdd92e1:g:7mAAAOSwsmdeU359

I went to Taiwan (Taipei) once. I wandered round in a few different areas of the city, from glistening high tech glass and chrome buildings to modest rough-built shacks, looking at the variety of food stalls, scooter and car repair shops, and mini-factories all jumbled together making everything and anything in the dirty streets and behind the patchy fences. There might even have been a silicone hose factory next to that soup joint I ate at down that back alley.

With long distance touring I have a mate that has heaps of parts and knows where may spares are. If I have a breakdown I can ring him and get anything I'm not carrying sent. I do carry a roll of self sealing silicone tape. For some reason OEM coolant in OZ is just as cheap as the non OEM. You do have to mix it with distilled water but I prefer to mix my own.
Regards Martin.

duck wrote:Getting the front hose through the crank case cover more easily with zip ties:

I like this ! Thanks . Always looking for easier ways to do things .When my clutch cable broke last spring I learned the wire trick.It also worked great !

duck wrote:Getting the front hose through the crank case cover more easily with zip ties:

Little KY slips right in

I like this waterless coolant:
Evans PowerSports R

I've used it in Jap bikes and it seems to live up to its claims. Well regarded amongst my classic car friends too.

The main attraction for me is corrosion proofing in bikes that do low mileage and are often parked up for many months. But from what I read about the K100's cooling system, the other benefits might be significant too. More expensive than regular anti-freeze but it does last a long time so should even out.

Will be putting in my K once I'm sure it's good to go.