PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-584
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 584
JULY 2001
PS 584
JUL 01
2
ill
n-sized
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e cause
leaking
ay seem
or these
No doubt about it—your engine's
cooling system's got a man-sized job.
The close tolerances of your engine
should be held within three degrees of
operating temperature for best results.
In the liquid-cooled engine, the
thermostat controls the heat’s lower
limit while the upper limit depends on
its radiator, oil and water pumps.
Depending on the engine, those water
pumps must circulate from 4,000 to
10,000 gallons of coolant an hour—
enough to fill an average-size swim-
ming pool in just a couple of hours.
Anything that’ll interrupt the flow
of coolant can make the engine over-
heat. If that happens for only a little
while, you’re headed for trouble. And
one cause for overheating is a bad
radiator or heater hose. Just one partly
clogged or leadkng hose can slow
down or stop the coolant’s flow.
This shouldn't happen to you. Check the hoses closely, 'cause often it may
seem OK, but is actually rotting away on the inside or is about to crack. Look
for these trouble signs:
If it feels real soft, it’s probably rotting out. This can fill the cooling system
with small particles of rubber which can blog and overheat the engine.
•
If the hose is worn or frayed on the outer layer, it can rupture at any time.
•
Don't forget the bottom radiator hose. It takes more of a beating from rocks
and bushes than the other hoses and it's often the first one to go bad.
Eyeball it
when the engine's running. If it's collapsing, it's too weak to do the job.
•
Keep the hoses clean. Oil eats rubber, so a dirty, oily hose is in trouble. The
best way to clean hoses is to scrub them good with detergent and water. NSN
7930-00-282-9699 gets a gallon of detergent for lifting off oil.
Never clean hoses with dry cleaning solvent or petroleum-based cleaners.
The solvent is flammable and the petroleum-based cleaners eat hoses, too.
Cracks on outside
Feels real hard when squeezed between
fingers, it’s probably brittle and vibration
may either crackk hose or damage
radiator connection
Check hose while
engine’s running.
(Stay clear of fan
blades.) If hose
collapses because
of vacuum created
by weater pumps
running at high
speed, it could be
rotted and weak
Moisture around connections when
clamps are on right. It’s rotted inside
and the water’s coming through
Puffs out at ends. Hose has been around
a long time and its lining’s rotting away
And change
clamps when
necessary.
Bent ones
leave room
for leaks
when
pump’s
at high speed
Hold The Dikes On That…
Now I
feel
really
clean!
584. 02-03
6/7/01
8:22 PM
Page 1
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