| Engine Water Light [message #100687] |
Wed, 22 September 2010 15:45  |
Oldngray
Messages: 544
Registered: August 2009
Location: Punta Gorda Florida
Karma: 0
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Just finished rerouting my hot Water heater Hoses away from the Valve Covers and the two short ones into a bit longer from the Block to those heater hoses. I did drain a small amount of Coolant in the process but not a gallon. When I started the Engine to check for leaks, got it up to operating temp and the Tell Tale light came on. It is "Engine Water Light", added coolant to the overflow tank but the light stays on. The temp gauge reads normal 185-190.
Any suggestions?
Richard MacDonald
Punta Gorda, Florida
Sold our TZE April 2015
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| Re: Engine Water Light [message #100689 is a reply to message #100687] |
Wed, 22 September 2010 15:48  |
Ron
Messages: 250
Registered: February 2004
Location: Conifer, Colorado
Karma: 0
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Richard..
You may have filled the overflow bottle but not the radiator.. May take a couple of heat and cool cycles for the radiator to draw in enough coolant.. Keep an eye on the overflow level..
Ron
now a P.O.
Conifer, CO
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| Re: Engine Water Light [message #100695 is a reply to message #100687] |
Wed, 22 September 2010 16:56 |
Oldngray
Messages: 544
Registered: August 2009
Location: Punta Gorda Florida
Karma: 0
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The engine has cooled now and the overflow tank level has not changed, still at hot level.
Thanks for the input, ref the cap, Heck, I tried when it was cold and my hands are not strong enuf to move it.
Richard MacDonald
Punta Gorda, Florida
Sold our TZE April 2015
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| new cap [message #100733 is a reply to message #100695] |
Wed, 22 September 2010 23:09 |
bukzin
Messages: 840
Registered: April 2004
Location: North California
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At one of the rallies someone (Steve F. maybe) said
the radiator cap should be replaced every few years or so.
Never heard they may go bad so quick but an easy/cheap
thing to do.
Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
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| Re: Engine Water Light [message #100759 is a reply to message #100687] |
Thu, 23 September 2010 06:58 |
Oldngray
Messages: 544
Registered: August 2009
Location: Punta Gorda Florida
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The Coolant level in thee overflow tank is back to normal now. Started the engine and no light. Thanks for the help.
Richard MacDonald
Punta Gorda, Florida
Sold our TZE April 2015
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| Re: Engine Water Light [message #100773 is a reply to message #100759] |
Thu, 23 September 2010 09:32 |
MikeT
Messages: 225
Registered: November 2009
Location: Marine City, Michigan
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Richard,
What was the fix? Not seeing that in the responses.
Mike Thomas
Marine City, MI
77 ex Palm Beach
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| Re: Engine Water Light [message #100775 is a reply to message #100773] |
Thu, 23 September 2010 09:39 |
Oldngray
Messages: 544
Registered: August 2009
Location: Punta Gorda Florida
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| MikeT wrote on Thu, 23 September 2010 10:32 |
Richard,
What was the fix? Not seeing that in the responses.
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Just filled the overflow tank to the "Hot" line and then let it cool down overnight. The overflow tank was at the "Cold" mark this morning. When I started the engine and let it get to normal temp (185-190) the light did not come on. So the system fixed itself. I love this Coach.
Richard MacDonald
Punta Gorda, Florida
Sold our TZE April 2015
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| Re: Engine Water Light [message #100788 is a reply to message #100775] |
Thu, 23 September 2010 10:40 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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| Oldngray wrote on Thu, 23 September 2010 08:39 |
| MikeT wrote on Thu, 23 September 2010 10:32 |
Richard,
What was the fix? Not seeing that in the responses.
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Just filled the overflow tank to the "Hot" line and then let it cool down overnight. The overflow tank was at the "Cold" mark this morning. When I started the engine and let it get to normal temp (185-190) the light did not come on. So the system fixed itself. I love this Coach.
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It can take several hot/cold cycles to fully fill the radiator--you may need to put some more in after a few starts.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Engine Water Light [message #100802 is a reply to message #100773] |
Thu, 23 September 2010 12:27 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Mike, what happens is, when the coolant is heated by the engine, it expands
and pressure increases in the radiator to the point that it lifts the spring
loaded plunger in the radiator cap, and coolant can travel to the expansion
tank. After the engine is turned off, the coolant temperature lowers and the
excess coolant is returned back to the radiator by the combination of lower
pressure in the radiator and atmospheric pressure acting on the coolant in
the overflow tank, which has an atmospheric vent. After several heating and
cooling cycles, the radiator fill level stabilizes and the overflow varies
between the HOT and COLD lines on the expansion tank. At this point the
sending unit for the idiot light is covered at all times by the coolant in
the radiator, it again becomes an insulator and the light goes out. A simple
system when you know how it is supposed to work. If you are having to
constantly add coolant to the expansion tank, and there is no evidence of
coolant loss throughout the system, it is an indication that coolant is
escaping by entering the combustion chambers due to a blown head gasket,
cracked head, or cylinder block. White smoke out the tailpipe after the
engine is fully warmed up is a good indication also. Definitely not what
what you want to see.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 Royale 403
On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 7:32 AM, Thomas Mike <mthomas@wideopenwest.com>wrote:
>
>
> Richard,
>
> What was the fix? Not seeing that in the responses.
> --
> Mike Thomas
> Troy, MI
> 77 Brown Palm Beach, thought it was an Eleganza II
> and 77 Purple Palm Beach
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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| Re: [GMCnet] Engine Water Light [message #100949 is a reply to message #100802] |
Sat, 25 September 2010 09:06 |
bukzin
Messages: 840
Registered: April 2004
Location: North California
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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[quote title=James Hupy wrote on Thu, 23 September 2010 10:27]Mike, what happens is, when the coolant is heated by the engine, it expands
and pressure increases in the radiator to the point that it lifts the spring
loaded plunger in the radiator cap, and coolant can travel to the expansion
tank. After the engine is turned off, the coolant temperature lowers and the
excess coolant is returned back to the radiator by the combination of lower
pressure in the radiator and atmospheric pressure acting on the coolant in
the overflow tank, which has an atmospheric vent. After several heating and
cooling cycles, the radiator fill level stabilizes and the overflow varies
between the HOT and COLD lines on the expansion tank. At this point the
sending unit for the idiot light is covered at all times by the coolant in
the radiator, it again becomes an insulator and the light goes out. A simple
system when you know how it is supposed to work. If you are having to
constantly add coolant to the expansion tank, and there is no evidence of
coolant loss throughout the system, it is an indication that coolant is
escaping by entering the combustion chambers due to a blown head gasket,
cracked head, or cylinder block. White smoke out the tailpipe after the
engine is fully warmed up is a good indication also. Definitely not what
what you want to see.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 Royale 403
Jim, That was/is an excellent write up on how the system works.
VERY helpful for us non-gearheads. Thank you and keep them
coming.
Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
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