I've got a '95 Ski-Doo Grand Touring 670 I've had for a year now. The temp gauge has gone up higher than I like (over 3/4 to the top, wish it had real numbers) so I thought I'd siphon the gross oily coolant out of the reservoir and put in some fresh.

The stuff I pulled out looked odd, its really thick and REALLY green, like straight coolant... I put the tester in it and if its normal coolant its plenty anti-freeze (like good to -40F)...

I put in some 50/50 Zerex G05 which is really good coolant I used in my Mercedes cars and is supposed to blend with all other coolant types. As a test I poured some of the green stuff into a cup with some of the G05, they didn't seem to react to each other so I'm not super worried. At some point I plan to pull all the coolant out and replace with fresh, I know that coolant loses its anti-corrosion properties over time.

What do you guys use and how often do you do it?

I usually have mine tested by a buddy who has a tester of some sort. I do change mine about every 4 years. i would put a new thermostat in it if you are worried. To check it find a heat temp gun and shoot it with that to see what it really is. Shoot right next to the sensor. That will eliminate wether it is a thermostat or a gauge problem. Usually those gauges are pretty accurate. I am not %100 positive but I believe that the thermostat is a bitch to change on that. If King is on here he will tell you exactly what you need to do.

My 96 F3 600 had an overheating problem. Turned out to be the head gaskets (O-rings). They looked perfect, but apparently there was an issue. Yours may be starting to go. I pounded my head against the wall for a few weeks trying everything known to man until I finally just bought the gasket set and swapped them out. Coolant is coolant as far as I'm concerned. Hell, I've used Gatorade/water to get by in a pinch, but it wasn't a sled. Believe it or not, Gatorade will keep water from freezing to a certain temp.

Good thinking I've got one of those infrared thermometers.

I don't think its actually overheating it just seems like its hotter than it ought to be but I don't really have any idea what it is since the stupid gauge isn't labeled. I'll play with it and see if I can get real numbers.

Is it super ghetto to write the real numbers on the gauge in sharpie?

Mine would boil over (literally) at about the 3/4 mark on the gauge. It was blowing exhaust gas into the cooling system.

That makes some sense, the system couldn't pressurize so it would boil... Mine isn't actually overheating that I can tell.

I think I may have a sticky thermostat but the new coolant seems to help. I rode for an hour tonight and after about 45 minutes the temp gauge started riding more in the middle of the range.
I should do a thermostat I guess.

Take it out completely on a test run. Let it warm up good and ride in good cooling conditions that will answer your question.

I think the new coolant has fixed it or at least a big improvement... My guess, and its only a guess, is that the guy who had the sled before me had used straight coolant with no water. From what I understand straight coolant doesn't freeze but also doesn't transport heat very well. Its also possible it was sticking in the termostat some as it was quite thick stuff... Adding some proper 50/50 coolant/water has thinned it out some.
In the spring I'll drain all the coolant out and put in a proper 50/50 mix.

I own two mod sleds. AKA, they are equipped with smaller cooler to be as light as possible. And a 1.75'' paddle track.

What I have done to make up the lack of cooling ability, is drain my entire sytem, and RUN ENGINE ICE. This stuff is absolutely incredible. For those that are worried about sled over heating, this IS the stuff to use! It honestly works and i have been using it for the last 3 seasons now. I installed a temp gauge, and the needle RARELY rises over the "C" ont he gauge. Pricey at 20 bucks for half gallon, but WELL WORTH IT!

ALSO,

I run RSI ice scratchers. When you encounter packed trail, or road with a hard crust and you have no other choice but to go dwon the road, deploy the ice scratchers and watch your temps drop! infact, witht he ENGINE ICE and ICe scratchers, I have been worried that my sled is "too" cool. However, thats not the case, its jsut that it runs WAY under the "avg" temp for the sleds. COOL SLED IS MORE POWER.

do you trail ride with these sleds ....and are they loud and the exhaust been mortified ...ya might want to reconsider riding in mass they now have a loud exhaust law and it is hefty..........plus as a club member just rember loud exhaust closes trails !!!!!!!!!!!!keep them for racing ...lol ........if ya still have stock never mind ...lol

Are you writing a book? DO NOT even BEGIN to bash or assume.



I also meant to say, coolant temps were dropped immediately by 25 degrees. For those that are mechanically inclined, a coolant temp drop by 25 is UNHEARD OF. A normal sled should run (depending on make) from 125-145, average.


Oh, did I mention my 1.75'' paddle track on my sled requires me to have a constant appointment with the orthopedic surgeon? Holding on when you smack the throttle is harddd!

[quote name='ctakacs' date='Sep 20 2010, 06:00 PM' post='16622']
Are you writing a book? DO NOT even BEGIN to bash or assume.



I also meant to say, coolant temps were dropped immediately by 25 degrees. For those that are mechanically inclined, a coolant temp drop by 25 is UNHEARD OF. A normal sled should run (depending on make) from 125-145, average.


Oh, did I mention my 1.75'' paddle track on my sled requires me to have a constant appointment with the orthopedic surgeon? Holding on when you smack the throttle is harddd!
[/quoty

I WAS F--N ASKING
ya know i wasn't bashing ..i was giving you some info ........and if you think you have the baddest sled in town we will have to hook up there is a lot of bashing and JUST REMEMBER US CATS RULE....LOL

First, you would most certainly bash if I said my sled has twin pipes and tuna cans.
Second, the info you provided is info I as well as 100% of all sledders have heard for years. BROKEN RECORD.
Third, WHERE in my post do I hint my sled is the baddest in town? Just said with the paddle track, its hard to hold on thats all
FOurth, THINK SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK BIG FELLA ....JUST ANOTHER DOOO RIDER ...LOL



YA GONA FIT IN REAL GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL! We need snow!!! I just want to wake up one morning(SOOON!) and see white gold covering the ground!


Just for some background, my first sled is a 2010 skidoo race chassis, with a 880cc big bore kit(Dave Trygstad built, he build all the skidoo race engines), on a 80hp shot of BOSS NOSS, SPI big bore pipe and dynamoe joe clutching, bee-tee-dub. 270hp. And runs on pump fuel. My other sled, also runs on pump fuel...and comes in at 187.9 hp (dyno) on pump fuel, no NOSS. Both weigh under 412 pounds. I am addicted to power. ALSO< both are UNDER the decibal limit too!!!!!!

I have heard great things about the cats, however. My buddy rides one. Love the look of those buggies! Especially the snowpro editions (2008+)! Heard they could use a bigger lug track though from the factory to get that power to the ground.

Though, by the current published HP numbers coming from Polaris, we do not need to worry. only 144hp out of thier 800 hundy. Skidoo's 8 hundy makes 164 stock. I bleed yellow, but have a soft spot for cat. My buddy has an f-7 and on the lake its a blast.

8 hundy????? You really didn't say hundy did you........Sounds like you got the fastest sled around, now you just need to show up to a radar run.

So the grammar I use constitutes me or should I say labels me the wrong way? HAHAH oh man guys!!! You have a bad week at work? lol No tail recently? Either way, snow is on the horizon and the mostt tail int he world wont make up for a 3 foot dump, blue jay sky the next say, and glass trails. I keep thinking about the 56'' that dumped in FLorida last season. Talk about awesome!!!!!!! 4mpg that day! Breaking trail is awesome!!!!

Take care guys!!! GO sniff some more 2 stroke!!! (or 4)

This isn't HCS everyone here is freinds and rides together. No need to get your pantys uptight and no matter how fast you think you are theres allways someone faster.

Oh boy all these cat boys will be pissin their pants. Another Doo shows up and wallops them again. Well DJ you asked for it, I believe you said we needed new blood. Don't worry CTACAKS these cat boys have been getting it handed to them for so long they are a little cranky. Been a little 600 Doo pretty much dominating and when he doesn't his brother on his Mach Z is spanking them like a red headed step child. They keep coming and coming we keep spanking and spanking so they get frustrated. Even when they show up with Cats latest and greatest they get sent home packing. But we are all good sports about it and there are WAY more Cat riders on here and in the club Polaris and Cat are almost equal, Cat 33% and Polaris 32%. Doo 24% and Yamaha 11% this is Coldbrook.

But in their defense they are the ones who do all of the work on the trails around this kneck of the woods. So they are just a little leary when they hear a post like that. It takes a lot of work to get done what is done and as was mentioned one or two sleds can revert a lot of hard work. No one was intentionally bashing at ya these are all good guys on here, plus most of us are old farts (Over 30 or 40) But we work hard and play hard too. Sledding for most of us here starts way before snow and in some cases never stops with the grass and water dragging. So jump on in and feel the ride, we are all in this together and we all need to stick together to succeed.

PS. this is not a no bashing board as long as we stay clean we are all set. With that said Cats suck!!!

YOu might be an old fart, but me, weighing in at 38 years old, I am still the young one.....LOL And CATS rule this club, dont you forget it.

ctakacs welcome to the fun of the keyboard jocky club. Do you back country ride those pocket rockets of yours? and I don't mean the challenging backcountry of western mass!
How do you like the 1.75 on the trails? I'm seriously contemplating puting one on my sled after I jack up the boost on it.

Coldbrook: I can remember a zr 600 puting the smack down on a couple of doo's at the radar run. Yes I didn't mph as high as the big boy but I was having a cold beer by the time he crossed the line....lol Grasshead remembers this. Do I need to dust off whiteknuckles when the pond freezes to put some healthy naturally aspirated numbers? I think my interest is awaking again with drag racing. I think it may be time to start a new project

Been running paddle tracks since 99 now. Smallest one being 1.5'', largest one being 1.75. Had the 1.75'' on all my sleds (well, they come like that from the factory anyhow) and I absolutely LOVE IT! For the 5mph you lose on top end, the low end grunt is unbelieveable! Breaking trail is never an issue and the slop from a warm day on the trail and 1,000 sleds going over it is nothing. It just shovels the crap outta the way. Of course, you need to drop a tooth or two on top, maybe more if your coming from a 1'' track, however I highly reccomend it. The first time to wack the happy lever youll NEVER EVER ride a stock track again.

As long as your skid has some extra wheels, you do not need to worry about melting high fax. Unless you are a road queen, you do not have to worry about it. I have ice scratchers equipped on my sleds for those REALLLLLY hard packed days just to throw some more snow on the skid. They come in handy during the early and late season when the slop freezes at night you want to hit the trails early...

Take care!!!

I added a 1.5 to my old xfire and regeared it and it was incredable. I've got a 2010 ext turbo now that has a 1.25 on it that absolutely sux!!! However the power of the engine makes up for the lack of padle below if you know how to use it. My biggest problem with the sled is I can't get it to hook. That 1.75 should solve my issues in snow conditions. Ever seen a 4stroke hold the ski's in the air???? It is possible just ask grasshead lol....

You do need a new project something big. So when do we start. I should have the zrt dailed in this year the motor is going back up to Hooper next week for a few dyno runs

You raced a full mod 600 against stock 600's I would hope you win. That sled goes good. But apples for apples even you have to admit PJ's sled boogies.

Yes PJ's sled is setup good, but Pickles 600 beat the Mach-Z in 1000ft not PJ's 600.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. Let's talk consistency one time out of 50 runs is not beating the sled. Looks like pickle has got to bring that old girl back out to play. But if all goes well and Huey has his way there will be an oldie but a goodie out there this year tearing it up on the ice.

So if that is the case than my 600 Renegade went faster than Ninja Plumbers sled. Even though he went 129 one run he let off and went 65 Man he is slow.... LOL

You should know in side by side it's not MPH is ET the first one accross wins. Theres a BIG difference between a fast sled and a quick sled. Most people can't except that a sled or car can run faster mph and still lose. Should be a fun winter

I'll smoke ya all with my new sled and NO STUDS...LOL
Just let it snow, all we need is 10 inches early on and some cold days.

i am sick of all this key board racing. show me dont tell me . pickle if you want us set up for draggin we will . but then you take that 600 and go for a20 mile trail ride . come on i know your smarter than your letting me see. you know if i build a full mod 600 skidoo that 600 cat would be sucking hind tit. just show me if you guys beat us apples for apples i will give you your due. until then accept the reality the sleds i run with go very good.

I think pickle and the king should race for "pinks"
I'll be the cheering section.

First off I beat the z multiple times. The balchunias' alzhiemers is kicking in cause they were starting us that day at the radar runs. I did lose to russ when he was running the 711? mod firekitty.
King you are the biggest keyboard hero so don't point fingers at me. I have yet to see something that you put together go faster than a moped.
My days of building race sleds are behind me know. My new career and kids are taking away my interests for building japanese horsepower. However that's not stopping me from riding like bat out of hell up north.

pickle i hope your just joking with me . if your busting me thats one thing. but if you mean it were going to have issues .huey.

Always breaking balls there old timer!

I don't understand this, do you mean your sled runs under 100F? Why is that desirable? The engine will make the best power, use the least fuel and wear the least when its good and warm but the coolant doesn't boil. Thats why we use a pressure cap and anti-freeze also raises the boiling point of the coolant. In race cars this is also why a lot of people run water-less coolant. What is the advantage in running really cool other than giving you a big buffer against overheating?

I take exception to the (over 30 - 40) crack, what about NTLB being over 50 something and close to being in a home, LOL