Motorcycle Repair: How to Replace the Motorcycle Coolant on a 2009 Kawasaki KLR 650

Posted on by James Roberts

Motorcycle Repair: How to Replace the Motorcycle Coolant on a 2009 Kawasaki KLR 650
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**Always follow the instructions in your repair manual when doing repair or maintenance work on a motorcycle. Manuals can be found at the dealer and online.**

Engine coolant will lose its ability to protect the engine and cooling system over time, so changing the coolant should be part of every water cooled motorcycles maintenance. Kawasaki recommends changing the coolant on the 2009 KLR 650 every 24,000 miles or 3 years, which ever comes first. The coolant should be Ethylene Glycol based with anti-corrosion inhibitor and be approved for use in aluminum engines.

To replace the coolant on the 2009 Kawasaki KLR 650, place the bike on a level surface and do the replacement with the bike cold. Remove the right lower fairing, black panel in front of the coolant reservoir, and the skid plate. Removing the skid plate with provide access to the coolant drain plug. Remove the drain plug and radiator cap and allow all the coolant in the engine/radiator to drain out of the bike. Remove the 4 bolts, over flow hose and cap from the coolant reservoir. Tip the reservoir over to remove all the coolant. Now, get some fresh water and pour it into the reservoir and radiator and flush the coolant system. Allow the fresh water to drain out of the coolant system by tipping over the reservoir to remove the fresh water. Secure the coolant reservoir to the bike, and reinstall the over flow hose. Reinstall the drain plug and tighten to 78 in. lbs. Mix your Ethylene Glycol based coolant with water, so the final mixture is 50 percent water and 50 percent coolant. Fill the radiator with the 50/50 coolant mixture until the level of coolant is at the bottom of the radiator fill tube, and fill the reservoir to the full line. Reinstall the radiator cap and lean the bike over from side to side to purge any air that may be in the coolant system. Remove the radiator cap and check the coolant level, and add coolant if it is low. Reinstall the radiator cap and start the motorcycle and let it run for 30 seconds. Recheck the coolant level and add coolant if it is low. Check for any coolant leaks especially around the drain plug. Reinstall the skid plate, plastic cover for coolant reservoir, and lower right fairing.

Tools Used:
– 8mm socket, ratchet and extension
– Phillips Screwdriver
– Torque Wrench for Inch Pounds
– Plyers
– Straight Screwdriver

Thank You for Watching!

16 thoughts on “Motorcycle Repair: How to Replace the Motorcycle Coolant on a 2009 Kawasaki KLR 650”

  1. Coolant is toxic! Not using gloves and splashing it all over the place is crazy. Video fine. You must be strong to shake bike side to side without dropping it.

  2. Hello how are you great video.. I have the same KLR 650 but an ’07 will all this still be the same?? Also what if after you run the bike for awhile and the coolant plastic recovery bottle is low, will filling the actual radiator itself only replenish the plastic bottle too at the same time?? Thanks much

  4. Good video. Two observations though:
    – Am I right in saying that you are not flushing the engine block using your method? The flushing water is just going through radiator and then out the water pump drain. I generally run the engine for 30 secs with distilled water then drain again to flush the block.
    – I pour in the new coolant a lot lot slower than you. This allows the air locks to rise to the top of the radiator. The major downside though is that the sound of the liquid trickling in can make you wanna pee!

    PS not trying to poke at your video with the above comments.

  5. Thanks for the video, I have the same klr 2009 and is very helpful to change the coolant

  8. You could use cheap spring water from a supermarket for the 50/50 mix right ?       But I do think your right,         Pre mixed coolant is convenient,      B@Q are offering 2 litres for a fiver,     So unless your working in a garage changing coolant everyday,     There`s no saving in it

  9. As in all your videos, well explained.  Thanks for taking the time and effort.

    As good as any shop teacher ever explained to his/her students.

  10. wait you can use any car coolant 50/50 for a motorcycle???? i have a  magna 750

  12. I have a new to me 2005 KLR and tried removing that side panel part but mines a bit different. It has screws on the outer part but also it’s connected on the inside with plastic zip ties. Would you just cut those off and then replace them or what?

  14. Are you sure you can use this coolant? I noticed that motorcycle specific coolant is propylene glycol based and the Prestone is a different base since its designed for cars. I read that using an improper base can eat away at the seals and damage the engine. Thoughts?

  15. Just checked owner manual, you’re right, ethelyne glycol based with corrosion inhibitors. I just don’t understand why this Prestone wouldn’t advertise motorcycles too. It says for cars and light duty trucks. But it has all the things the owner manual says to have in it.

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