$10,000: fix or sell?

[Don Bradner]

Right. In this particular case, Greg knew his wasn't cycling properly and would
have had it overridden if he remembered.

I'm thinking, though, about all those who know theirs does cycle correctly - are
they likely to notice quickly the one time it doesn't?

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 9/8/2010 at 6:13 PM mbulriss wrote:

>Don,
>
>+1 on the constant override! I feel much more comfortable with that temp
>gauge sitting on 180, than cycling up to 195 and then back down. 195
>doesn't leave much wiggle room for a heating problem.
>
>Mike Bulriss
>1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
>San Antonio, TX
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
>wrote:
>>
>> There are various reasons for overheating. In this case it was a failure
>somewhere in the alarmstat process to start the fan up at its upper temp,
>and the solution was known, which was to use the override.
>>
>> Over on WOG we've been having a long discussion about Coolant temps in
>the PTs. Tom Warner has been taking the position that you are better off
>letting the alarmstat do its thing, and I've been arguing for constant
>override. Greg's terrible situation improves my argument.
>>
>> On 9/8/2010 at 7:18 AM Dan Williams wrote:
>>
>> >Greg, There should be a way to prevent these engines from overheating.Â
>> >They are
>> >just too expensive to repair. One thing I have read is if you blow a
>> >coolant
>> >line and it starts to overheat you can pump in a gallon of oil from the
>> >bulk oil
>> >fill tank and possibly save the engine. But this oveheating needs to
>be
>> >addressed. Who can afford 20Kplus to rebuild?
>> >
>> >Dan
>> >88PT38
>> >Jackson, MS
>>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
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>

[magnus caeruleus avis]

Theres always folk who can call the game perfectly on Monday after its played on
Saturday. I am certainly sympathetic to someone who loses an engine.

My experience and techno-challenged opinion - on the way to Corpus Christi
winter before last, I noticed my tranny warning light come on and to my dismay
the tranny temp was approaching 250. I called Allison road service and it was
determined my fan was not working properly on auto. The Allison tech checked my
engine and tranny and advised to run the fan on manual all the time. I did and
no more problems on that trip - tranny temps stayed between 190-200, maybe 210.
Come to find out I had an alarmstat go south - one of the least expensive parts
on our birds. Got it replaced, but I still run my fan on manual all the time. I
know there are some nay-sayers, but I feel comfortable with it - seems to make
everything cooler - engine, tranny, water, etc.

Using that strategy I drove this past month 5500 miles through some of the
hottest OAT's I have ever seen (100-110 S. Texas, NM, Arizona and between Las
Vegas and Needles 114. Temps were constant 180 to 190 on water, ever once in
awhile tranny would hit 220 - 230 but usually stayed right at 200-210. I'm happy
and I think my engine and transmission were happy.

On long grades if I saw a trend in climbing temps, I would pull over, shut
everything down except the genny and roof a/c's sit for 30-40 minutes and let
'er cool down.

Of course I find out I've been using the wrong oil for the last 40,000 miles
(Dello 400 instad of 100) Thanks Tom Warner for your comment and warning. I hope
I haven't screwed up too bad.........

[ronmarabito2002]

The alarmstat is supposed to fail in the on position. My old 83 did. Noticed
it was running all the time. Changed the alarmstat and it began cycling.

If the coach overheats, check the radiator cap. Mine was running a little warm
lately and it wasn't holding pressure. Changed the cap and got good results.
This was running in the mountains at elevations above 8500 feet. Sometimes
above 10000 feet.

If the engine can be saved at $10K you are lucky, but don't leave it open ended.
It could still cost you up to $20K.

Ron

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner" wrote:
>
> There are various reasons for overheating. In this case it was a failure
somewhere in the alarmstat process to start the fan up at its upper temp, and
the solution was known, which was to use the override.
>
> Over on WOG we've been having a long discussion about Coolant temps in the
PTs. Tom Warner has been taking the position that you are better off letting the
alarmstat do its thing, and I've been arguing for constant override. Greg's
terrible situation improves my argument.
>
> On 9/8/2010 at 7:18 AM Dan Williams wrote:
>
> >Greg, There should be a way to prevent these engines from overheating.Â
> >They are
> >just too expensive to repair. One thing I have read is if you blow a
> >coolant
> >line and it starts to overheat you can pump in a gallon of oil from the
> >bulk oil
> >fill tank and possibly save the engine. But this oveheating needs to be
> >addressed. Who can afford 20Kplus to rebuild?
> >
> >Dan
> >88PT38
> >Jackson, MS
>