Another Question About Coolant Level
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Another Question About Coolant Level
I live in Las Vegas which range from 1,000 ft to 2,000 ft above sea level (I'll check on this to make sure later). After changing my EGR/Oil cooler summer 2012, filled the coolant to the minimum mark on the Degas bottle. Drove over 10,000 miles, the level never went too high or too low off the minimum mark.
Just drove to Death Valley the last few days, 100 ft below sea level, and some town nearby. The Degas level was below the minimum mark more than an inch. I thought of losing coolant, this level stay at least 2 days while I drive around Death Valley. Yesterday drove to southern CA, the coolant level got back to minimum mark, drove around, level went to a little less than 1/4 higher than the min. mark.
Is this something to do with the elevation and coolant level?
The level is at minimum mark now that I am back home in Las Vegas, should I fill it another 1/4" to 1/2" above the minimum mark?
Just drove to Death Valley the last few days, 100 ft below sea level, and some town nearby. The Degas level was below the minimum mark more than an inch. I thought of losing coolant, this level stay at least 2 days while I drive around Death Valley. Yesterday drove to southern CA, the coolant level got back to minimum mark, drove around, level went to a little less than 1/4 higher than the min. mark.
Is this something to do with the elevation and coolant level?
The level is at minimum mark now that I am back home in Las Vegas, should I fill it another 1/4" to 1/2" above the minimum mark?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 139
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From: Henderson, Nevada
I have noticed the same with mine. No coolant loss, just the level would be off. I don't have a scientific explanation regarding pressure and or elevations changes, but I have noticed it mainly with the operating temperatures of the truck. Perhaps when the thermostat opens more coolant is allowed to circulate and less goes into the degas bottle when it is cooler?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 27,307
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From: Spanaway
You have an air pocket in the cooling system somewhere.
Air will expend and contract as you change altitude. It the bubble/air pocket
was created at a higher altitude and you check at a lower later the pocket will be smaller and the coolant will drop lower to fill the space.
One place that it is easy to form a pocket is the top radiator hose at it's
high point. The way you avoid this problem is by using a vacuum
filling system. The way it works is to place the cooling system at a
vacuum and then switch to fill from a supply bottle and reapply
the vacuum till you no longer get a level change.
So to solve this problem stop at someplace that loans tools and
see if they have a vacuum fill system for cooling systems.
Here is a Youtube of one in action. Some use compressed air to create a vacuum.
Sean
Air will expend and contract as you change altitude. It the bubble/air pocket
was created at a higher altitude and you check at a lower later the pocket will be smaller and the coolant will drop lower to fill the space.
One place that it is easy to form a pocket is the top radiator hose at it's
high point. The way you avoid this problem is by using a vacuum
filling system. The way it works is to place the cooling system at a
vacuum and then switch to fill from a supply bottle and reapply
the vacuum till you no longer get a level change.
So to solve this problem stop at someplace that loans tools and
see if they have a vacuum fill system for cooling systems.
Here is a Youtube of one in action. Some use compressed air to create a vacuum.
Sean
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