Overheating 3208 in a 90SP36

[Tom Warner]

Right Eric there sure are more ways to skin a cat
. I would strongly recommend an
evaluation of the cooling system on every coach
before you start adding misters. It is the first
thing I do. Take off the radiator cap and look
down into the radiator core and see if it is
clean or has scale. If its not clean remove it
and let a reputable radiator shop either clean it
or recore it. Check the thermostats and ensure
they are opening at the correct temperature. I
replaced them both, one was originally installed
backwards. My 3208 Cat had 190 degree stats which
were recommended for this system. .

I would not use the water spray on any coach that
I owned to combat over heating of the engine or
transmission, UNLESS getting everything up to
snuff did not correct the overheating
problem. Hayden makes water misters too if you
really need them.http://www.haydenauto.com/assets/RapidCoolFlyerlg.jpg

Anyone towing should have a transmission cooler
separate from the engine radiator,. The addition
of the transmission cooler to the radiator is the
number one culprit of overheating when towing.
The addition of the transmission cooler will have
an additional advantage of eliminating the long
transmission cooler lines to the radiator making
the swing radiator easier to use. Hayden makes
them specifically for the Allison transmissions
and recommends them highly. http://tinyurl.com/fkp3u

In addition I would use an additive called "water
wetter"
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/redtech3.htm ,
added to the 50% mixture of antifreeze it will
drop your temperatures approx 20-30 degrees.

Just a couple of ideas that work.

Tom Warner
Vernon Center,NY
1985 PT 40



At 11:31 PM 8/9/2006, you wrote:
>Hello Mike,
>I understand that radiator spray systems are
>nothing new. I've been aware of them for a
>number of years. Glad to hear you use one and that it gives you good results.
>
>I respect the fact that you have a lot of
>experience, however you are not the only person
>that has some knowledge to share on our
>website. None of us has the corner on
>everything there is to know about these
>coaches. Your experience and knowledge are
>valuable to all of us but some of what you think you know may be wrong.
>
>I hope all of us can continue to share the best
>of what we know but also be willing to listen
>to the views of others without being critical or abusive.
>
>I wish you many happy Blue Bird miles.
>Regards, Eric
>84FC35SBWL2
>
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein" <MHOHNSTEIN@...>
>wrote:
> >
> > Yo, Johnson, it's NOT an IDEA. It's on my
> vehicle and it actually works, per my oil pan
>temp gage and my water temp gage. Nothing new
>about, just because it seems to be
>unfamilar to you. Just returned from a 4000
>mile trip to Idaho and am going back next
>month so I get on down the road too. As far as
>temperature limits, that's experience, I've
>got a lot of it and it's OK if you want to
>ignore it my advice, it's your engine.
> > MH
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Eric Johnson
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 3:40 PM
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Overheating 3208 in a 90SP36
> >
> >
> > Hello Again Chuck,
> > Mike's idea about a spray bar will improve
> cooling capacity on a hot, dry, day, but not
>sure
> > where he gets the max numbers on coolant
> and oil. Important to remember the
> > thermostat doesn't fully open until 185ºF.
> Radiator cap pressure rating of 7 psig,
>altitude
> > and coolant composition set how hot you can
> run the radiator before you boil over.
> > Engine oil can safely operate at sustained
> temperatures of 220-240ºF and for shorter
> > periods as high as 300ºF with no problems given normal oil changes.
> > Regards, Eric
> > 84FC35SBWL2
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson" wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello Chuck,
> > > My 3208 is in the front rather than the
> back but your experiences were much like
>mine
> > > while climbing mountain passes in
> Colorado. Not sure you can expect any lower
> > > temperatures than what you're getting in
> hot summer weather. I found on my coach
> > that
> > > it helps some to gear down as your speed
> drops off to keep RPM's up so the fan
>cools
> > > better and the engine load is reduced.
> > > Regards, Eric
> > > 84FC35SBWL2
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Just came back from a long trip and noticed that at every extended
> > > > grade climb the temp gauge would start climbing toward 220.
> > > > It never reached 220 but the level increase alarms me. I have
> > > > cleaned the radiator and put new belts on all around. The oil temp
> > > > also climbs to about 230 (though I don't know what the danger level
> > > > is). The thermostat was replaced before my first trip this year
> > > > and I had no similar problems, but then
> the temperature was in the 70's
> > > > and on the last trip it was in the 90's.
> > > >
> > > > Chuck Harrison
> > > > Akron, Ohio
> > > > 90SP36
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>