Fluctuating Radiator Fluid

[trvlngnrs]

My 8v92 was cold yesterday, and I noticed the radiator fluid level was
half way up the sight glass. I had just recently filled it.

I drove about for 20 minutes, and the sight glass was empty. There is
no water in the trans fluid or oil. No noticable leaks.

This morning it was still empty. I turned the block heater on, to
preheat it, and about 2-3 hours later the sight glass was full of
green fluid.

I drove it back to the storage yard, and it was still full.

Any idea what is going on? I thought that it was empty because the
thermostat had opened and drained the fluid into the engine, but I
don't understand why it would raise back up with the block heater on.

Should I top it off again?

Steve Harrie
St. George, UT
'86 PT38 Leaving for Quartzsite Monday.

[Curt Sprenger]

Steve,
A couple things...

No leaks, no coolant in oil, etc...seems to me colder climate vs warmer
climate is taking place. The bus is in colder climate now than earlier
this year, or last year at this time. Cold = shrink, warn = expand. I
believe you are correct in that the thermostat opened and did it's
thing, and so did the block heater. As you describe, the process seems
normal. Top it off and keep an eye on it. And anything in between plays
on our minds. Unless there are leaks you should be good to go.

The second thing...I will not be at our AZ home as you pass through.
That is my loss. We'll keep trying to connect. Don't forget about the SW
Bird Rally.

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.


trvlngnrs wrote:

> My 8v92 was cold yesterday, and I noticed the radiator fluid level was
> half way up the sight glass. I had just recently filled it.
>
> I drove about for 20 minutes, and the sight glass was empty. There is
> no water in the trans fluid or oil. No noticable leaks.
>
> This morning it was still empty. I turned the block heater on, to
> preheat it, and about 2-3 hours later the sight glass was full of
> green fluid.
>
> I drove it back to the storage yard, and it was still full.
>
> Any idea what is going on? I thought that it was empty because the
> thermostat had opened and drained the fluid into the engine, but I
> don't understand why it would raise back up with the block heater on.
>
> Should I top it off again?
>
> Steve Harrie
> St. George, UT
> '86 PT38 Leaving for Quartzsite Monday.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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[Stephen Birtles]

when using a sight glass to measure fluids you will find that there is
a cold high level low level and a hot high low level in the sight glass .
Stephen 77fc35 no sight glass



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>
> Steve,
> A couple things...
>
> No leaks, no coolant in oil, etc...seems to me colder climate vs warmer
> climate is taking place. The bus is in colder climate now than earlier
> this year, or last year at this time. Cold = shrink, warn = expand. I
> believe you are correct in that the thermostat opened and did it's
> thing, and so did the block heater. As you describe, the process seems
> normal. Top it off and keep an eye on it. And anything in between
plays
> on our minds. Unless there are leaks you should be good to go.
>
> The second thing...I will not be at our AZ home as you pass through.
> That is my loss. We'll keep trying to connect. Don't forget about
the SW
> Bird Rally.
>
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>
>
> trvlngnrs wrote:
>
> > My 8v92 was cold yesterday, and I noticed the radiator fluid level was
> > half way up the sight glass. I had just recently filled it.
> >
> > I drove about for 20 minutes, and the sight glass was empty. There is
> > no water in the trans fluid or oil. No noticable leaks.
> >
> > This morning it was still empty. I turned the block heater on, to
> > preheat it, and about 2-3 hours later the sight glass was full of
> > green fluid.
> >
> > I drove it back to the storage yard, and it was still full.
> >
> > Any idea what is going on? I thought that it was empty because the
> > thermostat had opened and drained the fluid into the engine, but I
> > don't understand why it would raise back up with the block heater on.
> >
> > Should I top it off again?
> >
> > Steve Harrie
> > St. George, UT
> > '86 PT38 Leaving for Quartzsite Monday.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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[trvlngnrs]

> when using a sight glass to measure fluids you will find that there
is a cold high level low level and a hot high low level in the sight
glass .

Thanks Stephen and Curt. I'll add a little more fluid and keep my eye
on it.

Curt, I'm pretty sure I wont be able to attend the rally unless
something changes at work. On the 36 bed Cardiovascular unit we need
10 RN's/dayshift, and we only have 6 on staff. Pretty typical of
hospitals all over the country.

Steve Harrie

[George Lowry]

BB advises that the sight glass for the radiator is for a cold reading
only. It should be half way up the glass when cold. When warm, the
glass should be completely filled.

I was having the same kind of problem and could not find it for a long
time, It was the wife that finally found a slight seepage from one of
the hoses. Tightening the clamp cured it. When you are running and the
engine is warm, and the cooling system is under pressure, the leakage
will occur but the water will evaporate making locating difficult. I
have found using toilet paper to be very helpful in locating a small
seepage type leak.

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD. Winding up the WMHA Rally at Indio. Ya shoulda been here!


Stephen Birtles wrote:

>when using a sight glass to measure fluids you will find that there is
>a cold high level low level and a hot high low level in the sight glass .
>Stephen 77fc35 no sight glass
>
>
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
> wrote:
>
>
>>Steve,
>>A couple things...
>>
>>No leaks, no coolant in oil, etc...seems to me colder climate vs warmer
>>climate is taking place. The bus is in colder climate now than earlier
>>this year, or last year at this time. Cold = shrink, warn = expand. I
>>believe you are correct in that the thermostat opened and did it's
>>thing, and so did the block heater. As you describe, the process seems
>>normal. Top it off and keep an eye on it. And anything in between
>>
>>
>plays
>
>
>>on our minds. Unless there are leaks you should be good to go.
>>
>>The second thing...I will not be at our AZ home as you pass through.
>>That is my loss. We'll keep trying to connect. Don't forget about
>>
>>
>the SW
>
>
>>Bird Rally.
>>
>>Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>>
>>
>>trvlngnrs wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>My 8v92 was cold yesterday, and I noticed the radiator fluid level was
>>>half way up the sight glass. I had just recently filled it.
>>>
>>>I drove about for 20 minutes, and the sight glass was empty. There is
>>>no water in the trans fluid or oil. No noticable leaks.
>>>
>>>This morning it was still empty. I turned the block heater on, to
>>>preheat it, and about 2-3 hours later the sight glass was full of
>>>green fluid.
>>>
>>>I drove it back to the storage yard, and it was still full.
>>>
>>>Any idea what is going on? I thought that it was empty because the
>>>thermostat had opened and drained the fluid into the engine, but I
>>>don't understand why it would raise back up with the block heater on.
>>>
>>>Should I top it off again?
>>>
>>>Steve Harrie
>>>St. George, UT
>>>'86 PT38 Leaving for Quartzsite Monday.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>>>YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>>>
>>> * Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum
>>> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum>" on the web.
>>>
>>> * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>>> WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>>>
>>> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
>>> Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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