CX500 GL500 650 Global

There are people who have run these bikes with standard car coolant for years and never had to replace a Mechanical seal.The Advanced coolant is better but how much it will preserve the Mechanical seal is open to conjecture.The most common cause of the Mech seal failure is age and lack of use.
Many people,myself included,get these bikes/engines after they have been stored,abandoned for long lengths of time and all O-rings/Seals start to decay if the the coolant/oil is stagnant.
It used to be a concern because of the old way of repairing a Mechanical seal was so involved but with my system
http://www.sheppola.karoo.net/MechSeal/mechseal.html

it can be done in situ in around 45 mins once you have done it once so now it's not an issue IMHO.

There are quite a few things/myths that I have debunked.The most common one is,"The CX" starts on one cylinder and loads of explanations have been put forward over the years about the position of the Cylinders,Drying out carbs etc etc.
Both my CX start on both cylinders because the carburettors have been completely and properly serviced.Any bike if,left for a long period of time may,have initial firing trouble especially if left on the side stand but that is not specific the the CX/GLs.In this instance a quick squirt into the Air box with the filter out with some WD40 or Carb Brake cleaner usually gets the bikes fired enough to pull some half decent fuel through but fresh fuel should be added ASAP.

A lot of people,"Winterize" their bikes and when they come to start them they have trouble.This is to be expected as Gasoline degrades if not used.However there's a ,"Catch 22" here because leaving a bike with a full fuel tank prevents the insides corroding.I've never used it as my bikes get used or at least fired up all year round but a,"Fuel Stabilizer" should be added if this is the case.

ill second that motion

oldgeezR wrote:Thanx Shep...I will follow your advice,not only because you know more about the CX's than I do, but your a pretty smart guy too. So I'm putting my trust in you my online mechanic com padre. And I think thats very cool that you made a webpage for us all to use pertaining to maintenance of our bikes, that shows your a real stand-up fellow,and I commend you for that.Have one on me...Cheers!

I'm flattered but I wouldn't put too much store in any one source including myself and of course personal experience is the best teacher but also cruel as it usually gives us the lesson just after we need

Think about this.This is not the only motorcycle that uses this or similar seals and I highly doubt most riders who get a bike 2nd hand(Which is the vast majority of us) even know about Advanced coolant.If I can get it for a price close to standard coolant I would use it all the time but around here's it's price has jumped to about 1 and a half times what I can get car coolant for so like oil and my Sheppism,"Cheaper and often better than expensive and forgotten".

There' s an older guy over here who has clocked nearly a 100,000 miles on his Fireblade and he uses 15w40 made for diesel engine oil and stock car coolant and the bike is still solid and mechanically sound but he buys his oil in 25 ltr Drums at discount and changes every 2,000 miles.His bike is quiet and great.

Shep Wrote>"I'm flattered but I wouldn't put too much store in any one source including myself "

Oh no worry on that aspect...I'm such a stubborn SOB that you know who has the last opinion....Yup! Me. Ha!