Hi Eng Temperature on Silverleaf 230 Deg at Idle

[Larry Dedrick]

     Today running on the highway ( 70mph, outside temp 80 deg relatively flat with a few hills in South Dakota) eng temp steady at 195 degrees. Engine temp was varying between 188 to 198 degrees in response to thermostat. Most of the time temp stayed pretty steady at 192 to 194. there was a stretch where the temp peaked at 203 degrees and went back to 188 several times when the thermostat would open, but 203 degrees is unusual for this engine in my experience with it. This occurred several times and then never repeated this cycle to 203 degrees. We pulled off for fuel twice and refueled with engine idling and never noted the temp above 195 degrees.
     We pulled into camp for the night and while I waited for Laura to process us in, about 10 minutes, the time from the interstate to the Rv park was about three minutes with a speed of 35 mph. After we pulled into our spot and with engine idling the Silverleaf gave me a Diagnostic indication " Hi Eng Temperature 230 Degrees" and also "Check Eng Coolant". We also noticed two annunciators, "Check Engine and Engine Warning". I shut the engine down.
     I took my thermo gun and checked Engine head at 198 degrees, lower block at 210 deg, 2 inch coolant base from the upper block at 198 deg and radiator at 118 deg that may be erroneous for not getting the laser on target due to shooting thru some metal fins on the body.
     Will check fluid level in the morning along with eng oil. There is no indication of any leaks.
    OK, Any ideas

               Thanks in Advance.           Larry D

[Steve Huber]

Larry,
High temp at idle/slow speeds only sure sounds like poor air flow through the radiator.
Steve

[Joel Ashley]

#1 check radiator fins for dirt and debris.
#2 verify that the fan is coming on and ventilating the radiators as designed.

Joel

[Larry Dedrick]

Joel and Steve:
          I plan on hosing out any dirt or debris from the radiator in the morning, I may have sucked up a lot of grass a few days ago in my sons driveway, so I will see what a back wash will do, and check fluid level.

            Thanks for the advice.                      Larry D

[Edward Buker]

Larry,

That temp sounds like you might have been hitting the intercooler fins with the laser, they cover the entire outside of the radiator opening. The radiator lies behind that.

Later Ed

[Larry Dedrick]

Thanks Ed, that makes sense. I will let my wife take a crack at it.

                                        Larry D

[Steve Huber]

Larry,
High temp at idle/slow speed is also a symptom of low fluid level. At low RPMs, the water pump can't move the remaining fluid fast enough to/through eh radiator to cool it.
Steve

[Larry Dedrick]

Steve,
I checked coolant this morning and only added 20 ounces.  Temp started rising again today when we pulled into a rest stop for a pit stop.  Rose to 203 at idle when Larry accelerated a bit to bring RPMs up it went down to 199 then back to 201 and we quickly pulled back out onto the interstate and temp went down again.  Called a CAT dealer and they are thinking thermostat and will check fan switch as well.  Can't get into one now so will try to get an appointment when we get to Billings.

[Larry Dedrick]

Ok had some issues again this morning and this afternoon while fueling up.  Doesn't it seem logical to simply shut the engine off while fueling?  This is the only time we have high temp problems is when idling.
Thanks,
Laura

[Steve Huber]

Laura,
I'd add the water pump to the list of possible "suspects".
Steve

[Larry Dedrick]

Steve,
Seems to be a coolant leak.  It wasn't very low this morning but we had another overheat while fueling so shut down for an hour started her back up planning to drive the six miles to our campsite but she overheated quickly so got off at the next exit and shut her down.  While I went to get the new thermostat Larry checked the coolant again and it was almost empty.  Repairman is here now found the leak so will repair it and check the thermostat.

Thanks
Laura

[Steve Huber]

Glad you found it. Good Luck!
Steve

[Larry Dedrick]

Ok the saga continues.  Fixed the leak went to drive the ten miles to the campground and overheating again!  Repairman comes out again and says the fan that was working before now is not!  Need to take it to a CAT Dealer and they can't look at it until Wednesday at which time we are supposed to be in Billings!

[Steve Huber]

Larry,
When the repairman looked at the fan was the engine at temperature? The fan is thermostatically controlled and will not run if the engine isn't at operating temp.
Steve

[Tom and Pam Brown]

Larry, there is a brass junction that the hydraulics run into near the radiator.  Tap with a hammer and see if that loosens the valve.  On occasion mone has stuck open and a tap assisted.