So a few weeks ago I was about 40 miles from the village and had my right front shock on my 2020 Skidoo Expedition LE bust through the S-plate and into the engine compartment... among other things, it severed the return and supply hoses from the engine to radiator. I bypassed the radiator, as I still had the heat exchanger to cool the engine, but now had no coolant. It was stinking cold out, with 30 mph wind, so I had to get some kind of liquid in the engine before the engine block got below freezing, and was out on the tundra with nothing but stunted green willows to burn and a little pint sized pot to boil snow in to make water, so that wasn't an option. That's when the coffee entered the equation: I had a gallon of black coffee in my thermoses, and since it didn't have cream or sugar, decided it was my best option. It got me the 40 miles home without overheating once (Did I mention it was stinking cold out!?), and I flushed the engine out twice with coolant as soon as I got home. My question to you snowmachine gurus is this, do you think the engine is alright for the long run? It's functioning fine driving around the yard, but I am leary about taking it too far from town. Your thoughts...

It has a 900 ace engine. It's name was Waltzing Matilda (Riding that wide track thing is what I imagine dancing with a 400 pound woman is like.), but have since renamed her Percolating Matilda.

Now THAT is resourceful! Good thinking.

Pete

I know one thing, I'm replacing every hose clamp that crimps on with reusable ones you can take on and off with a screwdriver by turning a screw: when it's 20 below with a 30 mph wind out on the tundra, and you're trying to bypass the radiator and using a Leatherman to crimp and uncrimp those stupid hose clamps BRP uses, it is a study in patience. Thing is, I had to get it done before the engine block got too cold, else the coffee might freeze. From here on out, every machine I get will be gone through in the summer, and the crimping hose clamps will be replaced, so as to make it much easier to work on in the middle of nowhere, in the dark, when it's cold, and time time is of the essence.

If you did a good coolant flush everything will be fine. I am curious about the shock breaking through like that. Was there previous damage? Any pics?

I agree those crimp hose clamps are a pain in the butt and useless in a situation like yours.

I travel a lot on the tundra with little to no snow, the machine had 4,000 miles on it, I am sure all of those bumps add up, came off of a four foot snowdrift onto a tussock, was going about 10 mph. The straw that broke the camel's back I guess. I'm sure it was already cracked. Will upload a picture when the internet is better.

I have filled the coolant systems of two different fourwheelers with coffee when I managed to rip a hose loose and dump the coolant. Never had an issue with either one, and put over ten thousand miles on both after doing so. As long as you didn't overheat it or let it set in there and freeze there shouldn't be any problem.

Thanks for the good information about your experience with the same situation, bearcat2. I was thinking it shouldn't hurt anything, just wanted other's opinions.

Dang that chassis failure is impressive. Not sure what could be done to strengthen that area up. Now you have me worried about my two expeditions. I sure dont take it easy on them but I think you might be a little harder on yours.

Yes, we drive with little to no snow a lot here on the tundra, if you are going to trap, look for antlers, or track wolves and wolverines, you have to.

Update on using black coffee as engine coolant: it doesn't harm your engine any. The insurance company had to take a few days before they got back with me, as they had never heard of coffee in the engine before... when they did call back, they totalled it, and gave me enough money to buy one just like it from a weekend warrior on the road system with only 200 miles on it. They then informed me that I could just drop it off at the nearest snowmachine salvage yard, whereupon I told them we live in a bush village over 400 miles by plane from the road system, there aren't any salvage yards out here, I could drop it off at the airport, and they could fly it back to the road system... three days later they call me and ask if I would give 500 for it, because they didn't want the hassle of shipping it back to the road system of Alaska, not knowing if the engine was good or not. I bought it, put a new s plate (Fancy name for the front chassis.) and hoses on it, runs like a top. Over 500 miles on it since then. Black coffee will work in a pinch. It was refreshing to find there is still wonder and unknown in the world: I couldn't find anything online after several days of research about using coffee as coolant, and to my knowledge, this post is the first on the internet about it... kind of sad to my inner 8 year old boy always looking for new and fresh things, but it is knowledge worth sharing to other trappers. The new machine's name is Whoa Nelly (What I holler out when these big heavy widetracks are doing something I don't like, such as threatening to tip over. My 12 year old son recommended that name, as he hears my say it frequently as a passenger along for my rides. I guess I picked it up from my Grampa hollering at mules.), she already has 3,300 miles in her.

Great to hear things with the insurance company worked out in your favor and you now have a backup sled. Interesting that coffee as coolant has not been mentioned anywhere on the internet in all these years. I know beer and urine have been used before with no negative outcome.

How was the coffee after you heated it up?

As a long time water well repair man I'd like to make a suggestion on which clamps to use as replacements , I've used Ideal brand for many years of all sizes off hand I can't remember the amount of torque to tighten then to but I rarely ever have one go bad .
I'm glad you made it home safe and sound and have a backup sled now !

Thanks for the info on the clamps, Allan. I wasn't hard pressed enough to drink that coffee, Mike!