Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day (Read 853 times) previous topic - next topic

First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

We are heading up I44 to Illinois for Thanksgiving.

This is our first trip with the Silverleaf so I have been interested in all the new information. The engine temp has stayed in the 170's unless the turbo is working when it would come up some.  Going up a small incline I saw the coolant temp (and intake temp) climbing. The coolant temp continued to 220 and the stop engine light came on.

I pulled over but didn't kill the engine because the shoulder was very narrow. Sitting there the temp came back down and the engine didn't shut itself down.

We came on to the Missouri welcome center just a few miles away and the temp never got out of the 170's.

We are going to stay here for the night.

The coolant is full and no leaks. The diagnostics said high coolant temp 220.

Never had anything like this before even in very hot weather.

Thermostat sticking? 

Makes me nervous for the rest of the trip.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and got a Stop Engine message.

Reply #1 –
Yup, I would throw in a new thermostat.  Inexpensive and it IS a wear item.

Sure, it could be other (read more expensive) things, but start with the inexpensive and easy.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #2 –
Brett, the Cummins folks agreed with you but couldn't get to it before Monday in either Joplin or Springfield. I bought a thermostat and some coolant figuring in a worse case scenario I could change it by the side of the road.

As we continued it did it again.  This time thanks to the Silverleaf I realized the intake temp began climbing before the coolant temp began climbing making me think we had a fan problem.  I stopped again and realized the fans weren't turning as fast as they should be with the temp where it was.

A call to James T confirmed the diagnosis and he reminded me that I could unplug the fan controller and they would default to high speed.

We came another 350 miles with no incident. If it weren't for the Silverleaf I wouldn't have known the intake temperature and would have replaced a thermostat by the side of the road somewhere for naught. 

Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #3 –
Yes, the VMSpc with understanding is priceless,glad you were able to continue.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #4 –
What was the intake temp you are monitoring?
Also, where do you dissconnect the fan speed controller?
And, yes the Silverleaf is a great tool.
Rick & Deborah Webster
2002 3610 U320 #5964
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU- 'Copperhead'
Richland Chambers Lake, East Texas

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #5 –
Gotta get my Silverleaf hooked up !
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #6 –
On the 330 that is one of the default displays, intake air temp.

The fan controller is the small box on the passenger side down low in the engine bay. Has a wire pigtail and a couple of hydraulic hoses going to it. Easy to find. I will edit this and post a photo after it warms up a little today.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #7 –
Toyman, I got my new Voyager camera and monitor hooked up before this trip, as well as the Silverleaf.  I display them on a split screen on the new Voyager monitor.  Pressing the button changes between the split screen and full size image on either display. We are on our fourth Foretravel and this is the first time we've had a good camera. I like it so well I may add side cameras.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #8 –
Just because I am a little slow this morning ( we had a pre-Thanksgiving food preparation party last night) how did you come to your faulty thermostat conclusion? And how could the intake air temp get higher than the coolant temp.?
Am I missing something?
Rick & Deborah Webster
2002 3610 U320 #5964
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU- 'Copperhead'
Richland Chambers Lake, East Texas

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #9 –
I can't remember the actual intake temp numbers. They were normally well below the coolant temp in this 30 degree weather. When the fan quit intake climbed rapidly, the came the coolant temp right behind it.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Johnstons –
Toyman, I got my new Voyager camera and monitor hooked up before this trip, as well as the Silverleaf.  I display them on a split screen on the new Voyager monitor.  Pressing the button changes between the split screen and full size image on either display. We are on our fourth Foretravel and this is the first time we've had a good camera. I like it so well I may add side cameras.
Howdy Rick,  I'm wondering about your Voyager camera?  Is this the Wireless model?  http://www.rvcams.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RBCARVS&Product_Code=WVOS713&Category_Code=1
Thanks for your help, Good Luck with your overheating problem,  Dave A
Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #11 –
I didn't go wireless.  Didn't trust it. Was a bear feeding the new cable. Next time would take half as long. Hope there isn't a next time unless I'm helping a friend.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #12 –
I recently had a similar high temp incident on my 2003.  Driving along flat I5 in southern Ca. I noticed the inlet air temp starting to increase.  I pulled over and found the fans weren't running at all.  Unplugged the controller and the fans came on and I continued on.

Problem turned out to be a corroded connector where the fan speed computer plugs into the control solenoid.  Replaced it and things are fine.

See pics.
Jim McNeece
2003 U320 40'
2017 Chevy Colorado Tow

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #13 –
Jim, I couldn't get that plug to come loose so I disconnected another connector above it. Corrosion there may well me my trouble. 
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #14 –
That connector is held on with a screw.  It is a bit hidden as it is in a hole.  Kind of have to search for it.

I still have concern there may be corrosion inside the solenoid coil that will bite me in the future.  I tried to buy a new coil but they wanted over $200 for a new one.  You can buy the whole controller on ebay for about $150.  Maybe someday I will buy one.

At least I know I can always unplug the controller and all will work fine.
Jim McNeece
2003 U320 40'
2017 Chevy Colorado Tow

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #15 –
I didn't try very hard.  It was snowing and I had to unhook the trailer we were taking to the kids to get the engine door open.  I will diagnose more when we get home. Thanks for the update.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #16 –
Putting "check fan connector for corrosion" on our 2015 coach get-travel-ready list....  Thank you, guys, for posting about it.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320
 

Re: First trip with Silverleaf and it saved the day

Reply #17 –
Have any of you ever removed the thermostats and relied entirely on the fan for temperature control? How did that work out? I realize the engine takes longer to warm up in cold weather without the thermostats. I seldom drive short distances with my coach. My pneumatic fan clutch is set to maintain 190 degrees and my thermostats are set to maintain 180 degrees, so they're always wide open after the engine warms up. Some engines supposedly need a properly sized restrictor plate inserted in place of the thermostats to control the velocity of the coolant but I haven't researched that part yet. I was discussing the possibility of removing my thermostats with a diesel mechanic this summer. The 6V92TA has two thermostats, one in each cylinder head, and I thought it might be good to remove two points of possible failure from the system if I don't need them... but first I wanna talk to someone who has actually done this.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)