I thought I'd check my coolant flow and once the thermostat opened up there was a slight up and down pulsing of water in the radiator neck but nothing spectacular..

I've read here that the water pump doesn't pump a lot of water

What should I be seeing? Anything more than the pulsing?

 

Yeah, it's not whitewater rapids in there for sure. It's a small water pump...not a lot of velocity but still quite effective.

 

Well I just ordered a new thermostat since it take 1-2 mos to get here.

So there's no coolant current really visible then, just a little diaphragm-like pulsing?

 

Hmm looks like the KLR650 thermostat is the same piece, and there's a few of them in town including a guy who uses them on guided tours.

He may know where to get one, just so I can have the piece of mind. I can use the ordered one as a backup anyway

 

Not sure I'm understanding you. If the system is full of fluid, you should see fluid through the opening at the cap...and yes, it's usually just a kind of pulsing or small "ruffling" of the fluid visible in the cap neck.

 

Guess my use of 'diaphragm' was midleading, sorry. The system is full.

The pulses look more like liquid that's being pumped by a diaphragm rather than flow created by a spinning pump. Though I know of course it is a spinning pump doing the work.

Ok then, I guess the slight up and down pulsing I am seeing is normal. Not much going on in there visually, but had to ask just in case


Thanks!

 

I want a life where I can remove the radiator cap and ponder the intricacies of coolant flow ... NIRVANA!

 

Me three!