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Topic: engine overheating (Read 1752 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: engine overheating

Reply #20 –
Quote from: graybill1 –
Retarder was on and probably was being used since there's a stop sign at bottom of hill.
That's where the temperature gain came from. Sounds like your cooling system is working. Just an issue with the fan controller.

Re: engine overheating

Reply #21 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Our U300 Detroit looks ahead and if there is a hill, it starts to head to 200 degrees. Fortunately only in summer. So, I just pull the fan plug off in June and leave it off until the leaves are coming off the trees in Fall. I still have to turn the heater on before I get to Donner Summit. I never let it go above 200 degrees. If you have wet sleeves, this is a good maximum temp.

Even at 600 RPM idle speed, the two fans immediately go to high speed no matter if the engine is cold or up to temp as soon as the plug is pulled.

We live in the mountains where there is little flat road, only grades to go up or down and with that and the high temps we get, the Foretravel cooling system design shows it's faults.

Pierce

Hi Pierce, where is this plug you mention? Thanks!

Re: engine overheating

Reply #22 –
Thanks for all the help....it is appreciated. Unfortunately the questions will probably continue.

Plan to take a roadtrip next week with the fan controller unplugged to see if the overheating issue can be "controlled.

Ron

Re: engine overheating

Reply #23 –
If you are going anywhere near Atlanta, you can stop by my place and I'll look at it for you.

Re: engine overheating

Reply #25 –
The next thing you need  is a products of combustion test kit. This will rule out any leaking head gasket. They are very inexpensive and easy to use. I bought a kit with a pint of of testing fluid but eash test only uses a ounce or so. The only other part they come with is a glass tube. You then go to the hardware store and buy a rubber plug/cork and drill a hole in it so the glass tube will go through it. You put a little fluid in the glass tube, start the coach and watch for bubbles. If the blue fluid turns yellow, the head gasket is leaking. $25 will do it: Head Gasket Test Kit for sale | eBay

I've used it on several vehicles and it works great and can't make a mistake. No mistaking the color change. Just take the radiator cap off and put the rubber plug in place.

Pierce

Re: engine overheating

Reply #26 –
Another option for a combustion test kit is harbor freight. They have one ready to go as well. This is a YouTube link to how it works.  https://youtu.be/4KDcRkiliuQ?si=E5RcCWITF0Xyfs3G

Thank you Pierce for suggesting that as a check. Gives me another tool to want :)

Re: engine overheating

Reply #27 –
The combustion test was one of my first test's on my issue and showed negative. Jim.

Re: engine overheating

Reply #28 –
I may be wrong but diesel doesn't produce carbon monoxide which the tester is looking for. When I was a mechanic with the Operating Engineers we worked in tunnels with heavy equipment running through the tunnels. The only thing on the exhaust of the equipment was a scrubber which was a water tank that the exhaust ran through to remove the particulates. We did need oxygen masks.
 

Re: engine overheating

Reply #29 –
Quote from: craneman –
I may be wrong but diesel doesn't produce carbon monoxide which the tester is looking for. When I was a mechanic with the Operating Engineers we worked in tunnels with heavy equipment running through the tunnels. The only thing on the exhaust of the equipment was a scrubber which was a water tank that the exhaust ran through to remove the particulates. We did need oxygen masks.
Pretty close on that one. Yes, diesel produces much less CO so it's harder to kill yourself with the exhaust but diesel exhaust does produce almost 300 compounds that are products of combustion. Another good reason for turning off your engine while fueling. Some of these compounds are carcinogenic, one of the reasons there are laws for shutting the engine down while fueling.  Fun watching English crime series where the diesel exhaust kills the guy in the back of the van. :D

Here is just a partial list of the compounds found in diesel exhaust: https://www.osha.gov/diesel-exhaust/chemical

 The tester does work on diesel engines but the fluid turns green instead of yellow:  560000 | Uview Combustion Leak Tester Kit (Gas/ Diesel Detector)

Nice if our diesel generators had turbos as they really knock down the particulates and the nasty smell up at altitude.

Anyone remember what a Greyhound station used to smell like? Totally different for the 2 cycles compared to 4 cycles.

Pierce