How Often Should I Replace Motorcycle Coolant?

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by StephenMotoFun, Aug 25, 2025.

  1. StephenMotoFun

    StephenMotoFun New Member

    Aug 23, 2024
    14
    3
    Los Angeles
    Hey riders,
    I’ve got a 2018 Yamaha MT-07 that I use mainly for commuting and weekend rides.
    Recently, I noticed the temperature gauge creeping a bit higher than usual when stuck in traffic, though it cools down once I get moving. I realized I haven’t changed the coolant since I bought the bike two years ago.

    The manual mentions replacement, but I’m not sure how strict I should be with it. How often do you guys usually replace your motorcycle coolant, and is overdue coolant really a big deal?
     
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  2. Williams_Triumph

    Williams_Triumph New Member

    Oct 11, 2024
    10
    3
    Phoenix, Arizona
    Generally, you should replace motorcycle coolant every two years or 24,000 miles. If you’re using long-life coolant, it can last up to five years or 50,000 miles.
    The exact interval depends on your bike’s manual, since different manufacturers and coolant types (green ethylene glycol, orange/pink OAT, or hybrid blends) have different lifespans.
    Riding conditions also play a role—hard riding or hot weather may require more frequent changes.
    If your coolant looks brown or cloudy, smells bad, levels keep dropping, or your bike runs hotter than normal, it’s time for a change, regardless of mileage.

    This article: How Often Should You Replace Motorcycle Coolant? should be helpful to you.
     
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  3. joe mc donald

    Subscriber

    Dec 26, 2014
    15,559
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    @StephenMotoFun Yes about every two years. Same as Brake fluid. @William_Triumph has supplied you with an invaluable schedule.
     
  4. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,783
    800
    Yorkshire
    I change every 3-4 years running the long life OAT stuff.
    If the coolant looks brown it’s down to corrosion in the cooling system and bad smelling coolant can be indicative of head gasket problems. Even in a healthy cooling system, the anti-corrosion and freezing/cooling properties of the coolant will deteriorate over time.
    I buy the concentrate and dilute with tap water. Hard water can be a problem in building pipe work and storage tanks etc but the amount of impurities in the water in a vehicle cooling system is negligible IMO so I’ve never bothered buying distilled water.
     
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