Coolant depleted without any visible leaks

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by DAX_, Jul 15, 2021.

  1. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

    3,778
    9,860
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    OP is a Lease op.
     
    Judge and Rideandrepair Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. DAX_

    DAX_ Medium Load Member

    603
    502
    Sep 4, 2017
    0
    No
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  4. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    17,348
    56,288
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    The Shop probably just pumped some air in it, and checked for external leaks. If the Trucks your responsibility, go to Oreillys or Autozone, borrow a pressure test kit. Do it yourself. Put air to system, 15 lbs and wait, see if it holds pressure. Look for external leaks everywhere. If it doesn’t hold pressure, and no external leaks, it’s an internal leak.After that part of the test. Then put just a few lbs. and crank it up, let it run. See if pressure goes over 15lbs, or whatever the cap rating is. If it’s a head gasket or pinhole in cylinder, it will build pressure real quick and just Keep going up, way up high. You can also check the cap with the kit.
     
    No Exit Thanks this.
  5. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    17,348
    56,288
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    Good reason to go to an Independant Shop.
     
  6. DAX_

    DAX_ Medium Load Member

    603
    502
    Sep 4, 2017
    0
    Update: so I did my first trip since getting it out of the shop.

    Drove from Dallas to Memphis and let the truck idle all night. When I did my pre trip this morning the truck hasn't loss any coolant at all since Dallas.
     
    Rideandrepair, No Exit and kemosabi49 Thank this.
  7. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    17,348
    56,288
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    Never know. Once overheated, thermostats often act goofy, or after running low, and adding coolant, trapped air causes havoc. Especially on the newer closed systems. My car overheated one summer, must have topped it 3 or 4 times. Before it got back to normal. Thought for sure a head gasket was leaking. It’s such a big problem on new aluminum head and block engines, there’s some specific procedures for filling a radiator to avoid air pockets and hot spots ruining the newer engines.
     
  8. Xcis

    Xcis Medium Load Member

    498
    270
    Jul 9, 2008
    Bridgeport, Pa
    0
    Here is an additional test to try. Take one square of toilet paper. When you check the oil level on a cold engine, put one drop of oil on the middle of the piece of toilet paper. Let toilet paper dry completely. The oil dot should be one solid color. If there is an outer ring around the center dot, that indicates oil contamination.
     
    Rideandrepair and Speed_Drums Thank this.
  9. shopccarlsoncompanies

    shopccarlsoncompanies Bobtail Member

    3
    4
    Jul 23, 2021
    0
    We have had 5 t800's with cummins isx15 do this. As a test after not finding the prob for months(new; tank,caps,had shop check for head and inj prob and found nothing . The coolant level would drop to set off alarms.We would not add coolant and the level never dropped any further so we left it for a month(we had a very tollerant driver).The bell would go on till the truck got up to temp then go off and it stayed that way. no more coolant loss.It seemed that the truck wanted to run there. So I modified the sensor so it would ride lower in the tank. Prob solved coolant level stayed there ever since no bell, no light. so I did this to the rest of the trucks and only have one stubborn one that is very occasional and have to add coolant very rarely. Worked for us. It seems the level that sets the alarms off is extremely close to the level the truck wants to run
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  10. ncmickey

    ncmickey Road Train Member

    3,833
    7,152
    Jun 21, 2013
    Durham NC
    0
    I drove a 2015 579 with a Paccar motor and I had the same issue. Took a month or two but it would start chiming at me the level was low. I would fill it up and it would be fine for a month or two…. I talked with the shop about it (at Magnum) and they said it was a recurring problem with many of their Paccar Pete’s. I just always kept a couple gallons of coolant handy. I drove that truck 3+ years and it never got worse… or better.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  11. ncmickey

    ncmickey Road Train Member

    3,833
    7,152
    Jun 21, 2013
    Durham NC
    0
    Do you have an APU?
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.