GregH Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 We've got a new fleet of shuttle vans in town, doing public transit stuff. They are running 5 E-450 cutaways on 4 routes - one is a spare. They rack up about 130 miles a day. Since the beginning, the fleet manager has been complaining about having to add coolant to one of the vans. Ranges from a pint to a quart every 200 miles. This van has just over 7000 miles on it now. 2000 miles ago, I went over the truck with a fine tooth comb. No coolant leaks present, system holds pressure. No coolant residue around the cap. System does not build excessive pressure under load. At the time, I took a WAG and threw an EGR cooler at it. A few hundred miles later the fleet manager calls me back and tells me the concern is still present. I finally got him to allow me to drive the van that far to replicate the concern. I've been driving it home the past couple of nights (60 miles one way) and so far I haven't gotten it to lose coolant yet. Anyone have some insight into this problem? I've worked the F-series 6.0's forever, but I've got precious little experience with this motor in an E-series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Less than a litre in 200 miles? Or less than a litre in two days? I guess the question with that set of statements is "Does it leak cold, warm, running, at rest?". Seeing as it is a shuttle bus (a cutaway with coachwork, you say?) I'd be looking hard at the auxillary heat (especially if it has one of those diesel fired heaters in line). Rather than trying to pressure test it, see if you can pull a vacuum with your airlift and have it hold. If it can't hold a vacuum, load the sucker up with die and start a healthy set of road test/cold soaks to try and establish where the "pecker tracks" are. If worst comes to worst, there is always <GASP> Motorcraft VC-6 - this would be similar to the stuff they put in at the factory.... not my cup of tea, but.... Speaking of what they put in at the factory... I have yet to see any truck/bus/ambulance outfitters that use gold as antifreeze fill on these vehicles when they add coachwork and/or work bodies. I even doubt that the addition of green antifreeze gets any VC-8 to help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanik Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Have you pressure tested the cooling system overnight, with the truck parked outside in the cold? I have been suprised how many coolant leaks show up after sittiting overnight in the cold. Take a really close look at the EGR cooler hose before you start it up. Those things can leak really bad when cold, and then stop leaking completley after they warm up just a little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Sounds about right. I've got "Window Licker One" shortbus in right now for an EGR cooler (that's been replaced before by another facility, which said the oil cooler with a 54 degree spread today was functioning correctly at that time.) Still had the orange EGR cooler hose on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregH Posted July 12, 2009 Author Share Posted July 12, 2009 Well, this bus came back in last week, with the driver stating that the truck loses power at times. Checked it out, coolant smells like butt and there is a huge ECT/EOT deviation - like 50 degrees or more in the stall. They have a rocker box leaking on the driver's side, too.. So, out with the motor and onto our specially designed 6.0/6.4 engine stand (a pallet with four 2x4's in a rectangle. I wish I were joking). Off with it's heads, and the problem becomes clear. The left side head gasket no longer has any blue around the cylinders, and there is significant carbon accumulation in the coolant passages in the driver's side head. The passenger side looks good. So, I guess that was the problem all along - blown head gasket that eventually caused the oil cooler to pack up with shit and make the engine go into derate. The fleet manager and all his little flunkies came to the shop to flock around their bus all stripped down. - "Gooh Lee! How you gonna put dat back together?!" "Have no fear, gentle consumer, I am a professional!" The service manager joked with me about how bad it would be if I packed my tools and left with this bus still scattered. And then a while later, she joked with me about it again... Heh, I think she may really be worried! I might can finagle a raise outa this! Or at least get her to kiss my ass a little.... Anyway, just thought I would update.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Bedford Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 I would needle her into buying a proper engine stand. I mean, really, how professional can you look to the customer when they come in and see this complex engine sitting on a pallet? Go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Or at least get her to kiss my ass a little... Is she cute? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I'm not saying that you would forget....but don't forget to check those heads over for cracks in the valve areas and make sure all the pistons come out of the deck evenly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregH Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Noted, Brad. Thanks for the reminder. Originally Posted By: GregH Or at least get her to kiss my ass a little... Is she cute? Well, I wouldn't kick her outa bed for eating crackers, but I wouldn't put her on the top shelf, either. She is thin - rail thin. I mean anorexic, Ethiopian thin. In fact, she's earned the nickname "Buckethead Wendy" from a cartoon that comes on at night on the Cartoon Network. Here's a picture: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 That's funny right there, I don't care who you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I'm thinkin' if she looks like that, I might have to kick er out of the bed/house. I mean we're not on a desert island, so I could probably be somewhat selective on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 A picky man is a lonely man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 That's why I got married before my hair fell out and my gut rounded out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Wait...are you saying I'm in trouble? Gut is rounded...and hair is on it's way LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.