On 5/19/05, Christopher Bell <[Email address removed]> wrote:
s (for whatever reason) that problems arise. So wouldn't it be better and easier to add temperature sensors to places where lack of cooling will show up first (cylinder head, turbo, top of radiator, ...)??
a drop in level, or failing that the top coolant hose - although how you would do this I simply don't know. I've read about both optical and ultrasonic gauges for aeroplane fuel tanks, but they cost a fortune.
ce overheating won't draw fluid in from there, and the level only drops when the engine cools down again.
ine did a year ago, it seems to run quite happily without overheating despite having the coolant circuit at atmospheric pressure. Mind you I kept it well topped up until I had radiator re-cored.
by the standard fan, as mine always returns significantly better economy in the summer. Probably good conservative Toyota design at work there, but it must also give some extra reserve against overheating.)
Christopher,
to do this (for whatever reason) that problems arise
Agreed, except that:
- a rise in temperature is not always fatal for the engine, while a
loss of coolant usually is
- the loss of coolant always precedes a rise in temperature, it's
hardly the other way round
- a rise in temperature due to lack of coolant often happens too
quickly to be adequately registeredd by the dashbaord gauge.
to places where lack of cooling will show up first (cylinder head,
turbo, top of radiator, ...)??
Agreed, except that (as above) temperature is the effect while loss
of coolant is the cause. A delay between regstering the two things can
be disastrous.
test for a drop in level
Agreed, except that there's precious little space at the top of the
radiator to plumb a sender
late, since overheating won't draw fluid in from there, and the level
only drops when the engine cools down again.
Agreed without exceptions
Monitoring coolant level is popular with many engine makers, like
Volvo, Ford or VW. I remember there's an aftermarket gizmo sold in OZ
that switches off the engine in case of loss of coolant. Tha't perhaps
too radical for me, but at least I'd like to know. Finally,
considering the lenght of rubber piping in 1HD-T and the number of
hosepclips, I guess it would be nice if Toyota had thought of it.
--
Rgds,
Roman (London, UK)
'92 HDJ80