Losing coolant - Printable Version

> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 12:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant
>
>
> I took my 13 lb cap to an Autozone 30 miles away today (rain, rain,
>rain, nothing better to do!) and had it tested. Appeared to work OK; there
>was a slight bleed down, but the guy thought it was his tester.
>
> I planned to get a new cap regardless, and ended up getting a 7 lb.
>Choices were 7, 13, 16, 18, and 20. The new 7 showed about the same slow
>bleed down, so he was probably right about his tester.
>
> Went to a nearby NAPA next because I needed more coolant and Autozone
>didn't have any heavy-duty stuff. While I was there I asked if they had a
>9 lb, and was told, no, 7 and 13 but no 9.
>
> Tomorrow will be the test.

Losing coolant - Joyce and Richard Hayden - 10-25-2008 14:32

Don,

Are you running the fan on manual? If so, why? Glad to hear about the SCA's, I knew you knew.

Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA - Just N. of Oildale, CA - tranny working good.

----- Original Message -----

From: "bluethunder@arcatapet.com"

To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"

Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 2:18 PM

Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant

I only use "real" heavy truck antifreeze, with SCAs already in it. The brand this particular NAPA had was "Fleet Charge"

We traveled 127 miles today, majority at 65MPH on I-95. Had the fan override on most of the time, but a couple of times off letting the temp rise to 197.

Almost three hours since we arrived, and the sight glass still shows full, but the engine is still hot to the touch so I won't know until tomorrow if I lost any.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Posting today by Air Card from Jekyll Island, Georgia
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 10/24/2008 at 9:18 PM Joyce and Richard Hayden wrote:

>Don, I'm sure you know but say it anyway, don't forget to add the
>appropriate SCA's. It's important if the HD antifreeze does not already
>have it added.
>
>Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Don Bradner
> To:
>"WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 12:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant
>
>
> I took my 13 lb cap to an Autozone 30 miles away today (rain, rain,
>rain, nothing better to do!) and had it tested. Appeared to work OK; there
>was a slight bleed down, but the guy thought it was his tester.
>
> I planned to get a new cap regardless, and ended up getting a 7 lb.
>Choices were 7, 13, 16, 18, and 20. The new 7 showed about the same slow
>bleed down, so he was probably right about his tester.
>
> Went to a nearby NAPA next because I needed more coolant and Autozone
>didn't have any heavy-duty stuff. While I was there I asked if they had a
>9 lb, and was told, no, 7 and 13 but no 9.
>
> Tomorrow will be the test.

Losing coolant - Don Bradner - 10-25-2008 14:55

I don't normally run the fan on manual, but have on the last two travel
segments, most of the time. Why? Because I've been worried about the coolant
loss, and wanting to keep things as cool as possible.

On this trip, which started mid-August, the air conditioning was on the vast
majority of the time until just a couple of weeks ago. That meant the fan was
on. As we've hit cooler weather, the A/C was off a lot.

With fan override on (manual or A/C), out here in the east where there's no real
mountains the coolant runs between 181 and 184.

Witn fan override is off, no matter where I am, it cycles between 189 and 197.
Only exception is pulling heavy hills in heat, when probably the sky is the
limit but I hold it at max 200 by gearing down/going slower as needed.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Posting today by Air Card from Jekyll Island, Georgia
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 10/25/2008 at 7:32 PM Joyce and Richard Hayden wrote:

>Don,
>Are you running the fan on manual? If so, why? Glad to hear about the
>SCA's, I knew you knew.
>
>Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA - Just N. of Oildale, CA -
>tranny working good.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Don Bradner
> To:
>WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 2:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant
>
>
> I only use "real" heavy truck antifreeze, with SCAs already in it. The
>brand this particular NAPA had was "Fleet Charge"
>
> We traveled 127 miles today, majority at 65MPH on I-95. Had the fan
>override on most of the time, but a couple of times off letting the temp
>rise to 197.
>
> Almost three hours since we arrived, and the sight glass still shows
>full, but the engine is still hot to the touch so I won't know until
>tomorrow if I lost any.

Losing coolant - Rob Robinson - 10-25-2008 15:01

My rig performs the same. Your temps are what I see under the same circumstances. In the past I've noticed coolant levels changing (down) a couple of times after changing out my coolant. My guess is that the system had a bit of air in it and needed to burp.

2008/10/25 Don Bradner <"bluethunder@arcatapet.com">

I don't normally run the fan on manual, but have on the last two travel segments, most of the time. Why? Because I've been worried about the coolant loss, and wanting to keep things as cool as possible.

On this trip, which started mid-August, the air conditioning was on the vast majority of the time until just a couple of weeks ago. That meant the fan was on. As we've hit cooler weather, the A/C was off a lot.

With fan override on (manual or A/C), out here in the east where there's no real mountains the coolant runs between 181 and 184.

Witn fan override is off, no matter where I am, it cycles between 189 and 197. Only exception is pulling heavy hills in heat, when probably the sky is the limit but I hold it at max 200 by gearing down/going slower as needed.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Posting today by Air Card from Jekyll Island, Georgia
My location: www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 10/25/2008 at 7:32 PM Joyce and Richard Hayden wrote:

>Don,
>Are you running the fan on manual? If so, why? Glad to hear about the
>SCA's, I knew you knew.
>
>Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA - Just N. of Oildale, CA -

>tranny working good.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Don Bradner
> To:
>"WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 2:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant
>
>
> I only use "real" heavy truck antifreeze, with SCAs already in it. The
>brand this particular NAPA had was "Fleet Charge"

>
> We traveled 127 miles today, majority at 65MPH on I-95. Had the fan
>override on most of the time, but a couple of times off letting the temp
>rise to 197.
>
> Almost three hours since we arrived, and the sight glass still shows

>full, but the engine is still hot to the touch so I won't know until
>tomorrow if I lost any.

--
Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson

94 WLWB

Losing coolant - David Brady - 10-25-2008 17:04

I'm surprised that your bus cycles the fan even on the flats. I can

go mile after mile on flat highway, regardless of outside temps, with

the fan off and the engine running cool, and engine temperatures

steady and below 190 deg F. Maybe this accounts for some of

fuel economy differences between the 2-strokers and the S-60.

David Brady

'02 LXi, NC

Don Bradner wrote:

I don't normally run the fan on manual, but have on the last two
travel segments, most of the time. Why? Because I've been worried about
the coolant loss, and wanting to keep things as cool as possible.

On this trip, which started mid-August, the air conditioning was on the
vast majority of the time until just a couple of weeks ago. That meant
the fan was on. As we've hit cooler weather, the A/C was off a lot.

With fan override on (manual or A/C), out here in the east where
there's no real mountains the coolant runs between 181 and
184.

Witn fan override is off, no matter where I am, it cycles between 189
and 197. Only exception is pulling heavy hills in heat, when probably
the sky is the limit but I hold it at max 200 by gearing down/going
slower as needed.

Don Bradner

90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"

Posting today by Air Card from Jekyll Island, Georgia

My location: www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 10/25/2008 at 7:32 PM Joyce and Richard Hayden wrote:

>Don,

>Are you running the fan on manual? If so, why? Glad to hear about
the

>SCA's, I knew you knew.

>

>Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA - Just N. of Oildale, CA
-

>tranny working good.

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Don Bradner

> To:

>"WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 2:18 PM

> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant

>

>

> I only use "real" heavy truck antifreeze, with SCAs already in it.
The

>brand this particular NAPA had was "Fleet Charge"

>

> We traveled 127 miles today, majority at 65MPH on I-95. Had the fan

>override on most of the time, but a couple of times off letting the
temp

>rise to 197.

>

> Almost three hours since we arrived, and the sight glass still
shows

>full, but the engine is still hot to the touch so I won't know until

>tomorrow if I lost any.
Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.

Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.405 / Virus Database: 270.8.0/1715 - Release Date: 10/9/2008 12:00 AM

Losing coolant - Don Bradner - 10-26-2008 03:56

Coolant not visible in the sight glass again this morning. Took 1 quart to bring
it to the top. So far that's rather consistent, about 1 quart per 100 miles
traveled.

Next step is to rent a pressurizer and see if I can spot any leaks. I think we
will run up to the Bird's Nest on Tuesday, and there's an Autozone in Fort
Valley.

On 10/25/2008 at 8:01 PM Rob Robinson wrote:

>My rig performs the same. Your temps are what I see under the same
>circumstances. In the past I've noticed coolant levels changing (down) a
>couple of times after changing out my coolant. My guess is that the system
>had a bit of air in it and needed to burp.
>
>2008/10/25 Don Bradner
>
>> I don't normally run the fan on manual, but have on the last two travel
>> segments, most of the time. Why? Because I've been worried about the
>coolant
>> loss, and wanting to keep things as cool as possible.
>>
>> On this trip, which started mid-August, the air conditioning was on the
>> vast majority of the time until just a couple of weeks ago. That meant
>the
>> fan was on. As we've hit cooler weather, the A/C was off a lot.
>>
>> With fan override on (manual or A/C), out here in the east where there's
>no
>> real mountains the coolant runs between 181 and 184.
>>
>> Witn fan override is off, no matter where I am, it cycles between 189 and
>> 197. Only exception is pulling heavy hills in heat, when probably the
>sky is
>> the limit but I hold it at max 200 by gearing down/going slower as
>needed.
>>
>> Don Bradner
>> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
>> Posting today by Air Card from Jekyll Island, Georgia
>> My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1
>>
>> On 10/25/2008 at 7:32 PM Joyce and Richard Hayden wrote:
>>
>> >Don,
>> >Are you running the fan on manual? If so, why? Glad to hear about the
>> >SCA's, I knew you knew.
>> >
>> >Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA - Just N. of Oildale, CA -
>> >tranny working good.
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Don
>Bradner>
>>
>> > To:
>> >WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>>
>>
>>
>> > Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 2:18 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant
>> >
>> >
>> > I only use "real" heavy truck antifreeze, with SCAs already in it. The
>> >brand this particular NAPA had was "Fleet Charge"
>> >
>> > We traveled 127 miles today, majority at 65MPH on I-95. Had the fan
>> >override on most of the time, but a couple of times off letting the temp
>> >rise to 197.
>> >
>> > Almost three hours since we arrived, and the sight glass still shows
>> >full, but the engine is still hot to the touch so I won't know until
>> >tomorrow if I lost any.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>--
>Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
>94 WLWB

Losing coolant - Leroy Eckert - 10-26-2008 04:23

Don, look behind the water pump and there is a weep hole. I had a water leak in the shaft and it would drop the water level down at about the same rate. It is difficult to see and the water would run down behind the large hose and drop straight down to the ground with little evidence of leakage. It did not static leak.
Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
Dahlonega, GA
Royale Conversion

--- On Sun, 10/26/08, Don Bradner wrote:

From: Don Bradner
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008, 10:56 AM

Coolant not visible in the sight glass again this morning. Took 1 quart to bring it to the top. So far that's rather consistent, about 1 quart per 100 miles traveled.

Next step is to rent a pressurizer and see if I can spot any leaks. I think we will run up to the Bird's Nest on Tuesday, and there's an Autozone in Fort Valley.

On 10/25/2008 at 8:01 PM Rob Robinson wrote:

>My rig performs the same. Your temps are what I see under the same

>circumstances. In the past I've noticed coolant levels changing (down) a

>couple of times after changing out my coolant. My guess is that the system

>had a bit of air in it and needed to burp.

>

>2008/10/25 Don Bradner <"bluethunder%40arcatapet.com">

>

>> I don't normally run the fan on manual, but have on the last two travel

>> segments, most of the time. Why? Because I've been worried about the

>coolant

>> loss, and wanting to keep things as cool as possible.

>>

>> On this trip, which started mid-August, the air conditioning was on the

>> vast majority of the time until just a couple of weeks ago. That meant

>the

>> fan was on. As we've hit cooler weather, the A/C was off a lot.

>>

>> With fan override on (manual or A/C), out here in the east where there's

>no

>> real mountains the coolant runs between 181 and 184.

>>

>> Witn fan override is off, no matter where I am, it cycles between 189 and

>> 197. Only exception is pulling heavy hills in heat, when probably the

>sky is

>> the limit but I hold it at max 200 by gearing down/going slower as

>needed.

>>

>> Don Bradner

>> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"

>> Posting today by Air Card from Jekyll Island, Georgia

>> My location: http://www.bbirdmaps. com/user2. cfm?user= 1

>>

>> On 10/25/2008 at 7:32 PM Joyce and Richard Hayden wrote:

>>

>> >Don,

>> >Are you running the fan on manual? If so, why? Glad to hear about the

>> >SCA's, I knew you knew.

>> >

>> >Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA - Just N. of Oildale, CA -

>> >tranny working good.

>> >

>> > ----- Original Message -----

>> > From: Don

>Bradner>

>>

>> > To:

>> >"WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

>>

>>

>>

>> > Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 2:18 PM

>> > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant

>> >

>> >

>> > I only use "real" heavy truck antifreeze, with SCAs already in it. The

>> >brand this particular NAPA had was "Fleet Charge"

>> >

>> > We traveled 127 miles today, majority at 65MPH on I-95. Had the fan

>> >override on most of the time, but a couple of times off letting the temp

>> >rise to 197.

>> >

>> > Almost three hours since we arrived, and the sight glass still shows

>> >full, but the engine is still hot to the touch so I won't know until

>> >tomorrow if I lost any.

>>

>>

>>

>

>

>

>--

>Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson

>94 WLWB

Losing coolant - jvredden@... - 10-26-2008 04:27

Don
I have 91 PT with 8V-92 run same numbers as you. I chg thermostats from 190 to180 noticed no chg in gauge reading. Installed fan in engine comptartment again no chg. DD told me the temps were normal. Still yet,efforts to keep engine cooler are not wasted. Tough to quantify but increases my comfort level.

John redden
91-PT40

Sent from my BlackBerryÃÂ® smartphone with SprintSpeed

From: "Don Bradner"
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 10:56:23 -0400
To:
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant

Coolant not visible in the sight glass again this morning. Took 1 quart to bring it to the top. So far that's rather consistent, about 1 quart per 100 miles traveled.

Next step is to rent a pressurizer and see if I can spot any leaks. I think we will run up to the Bird's Nest on Tuesday, and there's an Autozone in Fort Valley.

On 10/25/2008 at 8:01 PM Rob Robinson wrote:

>My rig performs the same. Your temps are what I see under the same
>circumstances. In the past I've noticed coolant levels changing (down) a
>couple of times after changing out my coolant. My guess is that the system
>had a bit of air in it and needed to burp.
>
>2008/10/25 Don Bradner <"bluethunder%40arcatapet.com">
>
>> I don't normally run the fan on manual, but have on the last two travel
>> segments, most of the time. Why? Because I've been worried about the
>coolant
>> loss, and wanting to keep things as cool as possible.
>>
>> On this trip, which started mid-August, the air conditioning was on the
>> vast majority of the time until just a couple of weeks ago. That meant
>the
>> fan was on. As we've hit cooler weather, the A/C was off a lot.
>>
>> With fan override on (manual or A/C), out here in the east where there's
>no
>> real mountains the coolant runs between 181 and 184.
>>
>> Witn fan override is off, no matter where I am, it cycles between 189 and
>> 197. Only exception is pulling heavy hills in heat, when probably the
>sky is
>> the limit but I hold it at max 200 by gearing down/going slower as
>needed.
>>
>> Don Bradner
>> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
>> Posting today by Air Card from Jekyll Island, Georgia
>> My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1
>>
>> On 10/25/2008 at 7:32 PM Joyce and Richard Hayden wrote:
>>
>> >Don,
>> >Are you running the fan on manual? If so, why? Glad to hear about the
>> >SCA's, I knew you knew.
>> >
>> >Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA - Just N. of Oildale, CA -
>> >tranny working good.
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Don
>Bradner40arcatapet.com>>
>>
>> > To:
>> >"WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com" 40yahoogroups.com>
>>
>40yahoogroups.com>>
>>
>> > Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 2:18 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant
>> >
>> >
>> > I only use "real" heavy truck antifreeze, with SCAs already in it. The
>> >brand this particular NAPA had was "Fleet Charge"
>> >
>> > We traveled 127 miles today, majority at 65MPH on I-95. Had the fan
>> >override on most of the time, but a couple of times off letting the temp
>> >rise to 197.
>> >
>> > Almost three hours since we arrived, and the sight glass still shows
>> >full, but the engine is still hot to the touch so I won't know until
>> >tomorrow if I lost any.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>--
>Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
>94 WLWB

Losing coolant - Don Bradner - 10-26-2008 09:25

Did you have to have the water pump rebuilt to fix it?

On 10/26/2008 at 8:23 AM Leroy Eckert wrote:

>Don, look behind the water pump and there is a weep hole. I had a water
>leak in the shaft and it would drop the water level down at about the same
>rate. It is difficult to see and the water would run down behind the large
>hose and drop straight down to the ground with little evidence of leakage.
>It did not static leak.
>Leroy Eckert
>1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
>Dahlonega, GA
>Royale Conversion

Losing coolant - Leroy Eckert - 10-26-2008 10:08

The shop found a rebuilt pump. I cannot find the invoice at this moment but I seem to remember it was around $600 for the part, labor, coolant and R&R.
Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
Dahlonega, GA
Royale Conversion

--- On Sun, 10/26/08, Don Bradner wrote:

From: Don Bradner
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Losing coolant
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008, 4:25 PM

Did you have to have the water pump rebuilt to fix it?

On 10/26/2008 at 8:23 AM Leroy Eckert wrote:

>Don, look behind the water pump and there is a weep hole. I had a water

>leak in the shaft and it would drop the water level down at about the same

>rate. It is difficult to see and the water would run down behind the large

>hose and drop straight down to the ground with little evidence of leakage.

>It did not static leak.

>Leroy Eckert

>1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors

>Dahlonega, GA

>Royale Conversion