coolant level

[cmills]

When checking the coolant level by the min and max lines on the coolant reservoir on a 2014 6.7 Cummins, should the engine be cold or at operating temperature? I suppose the engine should not be running, correct? I did look in the manual (CD), but could not find anything about when to check it. Thanks!

 

[Kirwin]

I checked it cold and filled it about one inch above the max line right after I got my truck. It slowly decreased back down to the full line and I added a little more to keep it there when cold. All told I added about 1.5 quarts of the "special coolant" to maintain level as the air pockets left over from the initial fill at the factory were filled over time. I discovered this in the 03, as it took several heatup/cooldown cycles to burp all the air out of the cooling system over the first few weeks of use.

 

[AH64ID]

Disregard....

 

[Kirwin]

Well I'd agree with you, except, that the max fill line is at the bottom of the filler neck made into the overflow tank on the 2013's anyway. This results in a rather large change in level for small changes in temperature. Now the minimum level is down about 1 inch from the top of the tank so I'm sure that the level change would be less there. I know the coolant is described as purple but it appears dark brown through the plastic bottle. The tank is in the upper left corner of this picture. The tank is part of the pressurized system and is made of heavier plastic than in the past as the system is a 21 PSIG system. I know from picture is tough to tell, but this is the tank with the filler portion. The round plastic nipple hanging off the bottom is the overflow from the tank after coolant bleeds past the radiator cap on top of the tall portion of the filler neck. The hard plastic ring (which is just below my coolant level in the picture) is the max fill line. The max and min levels are moulded into the sides of the tank and does not have any colored markings on the max or minimum fill lines. This makes it more difficult. The overflow passageway also hides the coolant level on the front of the tank and prevents your seeing the level from the only readily viewable angle in the truck. Ken Irwin

 

[AH64ID]

I edited my post, I didn't realize the 2013+ trucks have the overflow pressurized.

 

[Kirwin]

I did not understand how it worked either when I got it, but after my experience with my 2003 I kept a close eye on it from the get go. I actually took these pictures as I was trying to figure out how to change the oil filter without making mess and thats when I figured out where the actual max and min coolant levels really were. I took the 03 back to the dealer 3 times for them to top off the coolant before I finally bought a gallon of the then "special coolant". I decided right away to avoid that hassle with the 2013 and just bought a gallon a couple of days after I got the truck. I also discovered that my Aisin was low on fluid when I checked it prior to our first RV trip with the new truck, and that the dealer I usually buy parts from didn't stock it. It was low out of the cross hatched area but only took about 2 cups to bring it to within 1/8 inch of max full.

I edited my post, I didn't realize the 2013+ trucks have the overflow pressurized.