Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Unfortunately my schedule precludes me from doing some of the maintenance on my 01 myself, so I took it into a Firestone store run by a long time trusted friend. He assigns it to a competent mechanic, yet the mechanic has limited experience dealing with CTDs. Part of the job involves hoses and t-stat replacement. I furnish all the necessary Zerex coolant and two bottles of Royal Purple Purple Ice surfactent. He tops off the radiator, yet fails to use all the coolant provided (about 5 quarts leftover). I failed to check coolant level before departure. Ambient temperature is mid-80s.
So I get about three miles down the road traveling at about 40 MPH and I notice the temp. gauge up to 200* and while I'm looking for a spot to pull over the gauge rapidly pegs at 240*. The moment I noticed it going past the hash mark to the right of the straight up 190* mark (the 215* hash mark?) I began to coast in order to unload the engine so as to minimize heat buildup. Shortly after pulling over the temp gauge came back down to midway between the 215* hash mark and the 240* mark. I turn on the heater and get cool air, so I immediately open the radiator cap and there is absolutely no pressure built-up. I slowly pour in the remaining 5 quarts of Zerex and the temp comes down to its normal range, but I am still short of coolant. I pick up a bottle of good water at the store and finish topping it off. It turns out the system was a total of 7 quarts short.
The total time the temp gauge was pegged was about a minute or less with no load to speak of. The 'CHECK GAGES' light did not come on until a couple of minutes into the episode and about one minute after the temp gauge came out of the red mark at 240*.
I am wondering if I incurred any damage to the engine, 'cause naturally if I did I want Firestone to cover it. The truck runs like it normally has and there are no indications from the oil and temp gauges of anything amiss. Oil and water appear as they should w/o contamination, at least so far after having driven a little over 50 miles after the incident.
The question is, what do I look for (other than water in the oil or oil in the water) to determine if there has been damage to this engine?
TIA
So I get about three miles down the road traveling at about 40 MPH and I notice the temp. gauge up to 200* and while I'm looking for a spot to pull over the gauge rapidly pegs at 240*. The moment I noticed it going past the hash mark to the right of the straight up 190* mark (the 215* hash mark?) I began to coast in order to unload the engine so as to minimize heat buildup. Shortly after pulling over the temp gauge came back down to midway between the 215* hash mark and the 240* mark. I turn on the heater and get cool air, so I immediately open the radiator cap and there is absolutely no pressure built-up. I slowly pour in the remaining 5 quarts of Zerex and the temp comes down to its normal range, but I am still short of coolant. I pick up a bottle of good water at the store and finish topping it off. It turns out the system was a total of 7 quarts short.
The total time the temp gauge was pegged was about a minute or less with no load to speak of. The 'CHECK GAGES' light did not come on until a couple of minutes into the episode and about one minute after the temp gauge came out of the red mark at 240*.
I am wondering if I incurred any damage to the engine, 'cause naturally if I did I want Firestone to cover it. The truck runs like it normally has and there are no indications from the oil and temp gauges of anything amiss. Oil and water appear as they should w/o contamination, at least so far after having driven a little over 50 miles after the incident.
The question is, what do I look for (other than water in the oil or oil in the water) to determine if there has been damage to this engine?
TIA
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