Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Anti-Freeze bad?

[aholgate]

Hey all,



I have 37K on my 01' Cummins and I took it to the dealer because I wanted to make sure I wasn't hurting the engine with old stuff. I am pulling with it now delivering campers so I wanted to make sure it was ready to go. Anyway I had them flush and fill with coolant and now when I pull my temp goes from just a little below 190 to half way to the next mark. Not the 240 mark but the one above 190. You say that's OK? Wait there's more... When it gets to this half way point it overheats and coolant goes all over my passenger fender (or the right side fender). My concern is if it does this at this temp what is it going to do when it gets to the next line? Is there a temp sensor that isn't reading correct?



I have heard talk of some pre-mix coolant from Cummins that is better (best used) rather than the Dodge coolant. Is there any truth to this? What could be happening to me?



Ashley Holgate

 

[Pit Bull]

Take it back and have them do it again, for free. I would do this before I would spend anymore of my own money.

 

[BV]

Air in the block

Sounds like you might also have some air left in the system and it heats up faster and expands more causing the overflow.

 

[Dave MacArthur]

Ashley-



BV is right. There is a specific procedure for burping the air out of the cooling system with the Diesel. Also, when this was happening did you hear a loud roaring sound from the engine fan? It's fairly common for the fan clutch to quit working and then the fan will not come on. When the fan comes on it is very loud and you would definitely notice it. At that temperature the fan should have come on. I am having the same problem due to my fan clutch but I have never heard of anyone loosing coolant at those temps.



Dave.

 

[aholgate]

Originally posted by Dave MacArthur

Ashley-



BV is right. There is a specific procedure for burping the air out of the cooling system with the Diesel. Also, when this was happening did you hear a loud roaring sound from the engine fan? It's fairly common for the fan clutch to quit working and then the fan will not come on. When the fan comes on it is very loud and you would definitely notice it. At that temperature the fan should have come on. I am having the same problem due to my fan clutch but I have never heard of anyone loosing coolant at those temps.



Dave.

Dave,



Yea, the fan has been and still is coming on and off when at 190 and above. Fan come on and off but haven't had an over heat again since the first one. My question is I never had this issue before the change of fluid. I stopped by a local truck shop and told them about it and they said you had or have air in the block and if you don't get it out it will cause cavitation. Is any part of this true? The dealer didn't FLUSH the radiator like I wanted they just drained and replaced the fluid. When it did over heat it was from my top hose connecting to the thermostat and not from the overflow bottle or the overflow on the rad. Could there still be air in the system after a couple of weeks? Fan is my indicator now.



Thanks