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JayNewbieRV's avatar
JayNewbieRV
Nomad
Sep 25, 2024
Solved

Near engine overheating gauge

I have a 2007 Winnebago View 23J, mini motor home (Class C) with a Mercedes-Benz 2.7-liter, five-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine. My overheat gauge is anywhere from 200 to 250, it doesn’t hit the red ...
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Sep 26, 2024

    If it’s working fine at lower temperatures and holding the proper engine temp (do you know what that is supposed to be?) then presumably you’re correct and the system is working relatively well. 
    Aside from a coolant flush, if it’s original coolant it is very likely done for and may have a lower boiling point. Is it puking coolant at all?  Have you had to add coolant? Do you know what the right coolant is? Has it been mixed with the wrong stuff?  
    if you don’t know any of these answers and suspect it being 10 years or older, it needs a coolant flush anyways. 
    Thermoatat radiator and water pump have to be fine if it holds proper temp under but cooler conditions. 
    is the rad stack full of bugs or ____ and needs cleaned/washed?

    How do you know the fan(s) are working properly? Can you hear it/them kick in or get louder when the temp goes up?  
    If electric fans and if similar to my old mid 2000s Diamler car, the fans have several stages. And you wouldn’t know if they were working properly without testing their operation. 
    Lots of things to consider. Dirty rad stack is free and easy. Coolant flush is needed anyway. Electric fan(s) malfunction is likely the issue. 

  • JayNewbieRV's avatar
    JayNewbieRV
    Sep 27, 2024

    I’m looking at that as one possibility 

    thank you 

Grit_dog's avatar
Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 26, 2024

If it’s working fine at lower temperatures and holding the proper engine temp (do you know what that is supposed to be?) then presumably you’re correct and the system is working relatively well. 
Aside from a coolant flush, if it’s original coolant it is very likely done for and may have a lower boiling point. Is it puking coolant at all?  Have you had to add coolant? Do you know what the right coolant is? Has it been mixed with the wrong stuff?  
if you don’t know any of these answers and suspect it being 10 years or older, it needs a coolant flush anyways. 
Thermoatat radiator and water pump have to be fine if it holds proper temp under but cooler conditions. 
is the rad stack full of bugs or ____ and needs cleaned/washed?

How do you know the fan(s) are working properly? Can you hear it/them kick in or get louder when the temp goes up?  
If electric fans and if similar to my old mid 2000s Diamler car, the fans have several stages. And you wouldn’t know if they were working properly without testing their operation. 
Lots of things to consider. Dirty rad stack is free and easy. Coolant flush is needed anyway. Electric fan(s) malfunction is likely the issue. 

opnspaces's avatar
opnspaces
Navigator II
Sep 27, 2024

I usually don't disagree with you Grit, but on this one I do. I would say the fact that they radiator can hold up under cooler conditions doesn't necessarily rule out a problem with higher temperatures. It could be that the radiator is barely able to keep things cool and the added load of a hot day pushes it past that point.

But I definitely agree with you on investigating the electric fans and flushing the coolant before he goes anywhere near replacing components. 

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