Help...engine went hot and eng prot light on

[belsy88]

We've been traveling in 100 degree weather for almost 4 hours and we started a stereo incline and noticed the engine was getting hot and the eng prot light came on. We pulled over and the engine seems to be cooling down fine and we checked the fluids and the oil and coolant seem to be at normal levels. The eng prot light also has went off. In the bedroom the bed lifts up to the engine. We realized there seems to be some sort of vent comin out of the side of the bed to the engine. This has been blocked by a duffle bag the whole time because we did t even realize this was there. Should we continue onward and stop at the next travel center or shod we do anything else? The do not shift light is on but I think we were told that is normal. Any ideas??

[barnaclebill]

Sounds as if you did NOT keep the RPM's up enough to keep the engine cool on the grade. You must downshift the transmission to a lower gear (or 2 gears lower) slow down (45-55 mph) and not "lug" the engine on long steep grades. Keep the RPM's up around 2000 or so as others have stated. I hope this helps, Bill

[wolfe10]

ASSUME your DP is a REAR RADIATOR.

Access the top of the engine (bedroom or closet). Shine a strong flashlight inside the fan shroud/between fan blades. You are looking at the front of the CAC (Charge Air Cooler). It "filters" the dirt thrown at the cooling package by the fan and needs to be cleaned FROM THE FRONT at least once a year.

Confirm that the perimeter, particularly lower perimeter is as clean as the center (the blades sling the dirt to the perimeter).

[wallynm]

Suggest you down shift and keep the rpms up around 1800 or so that the coolant flowing better. maybe even higher fan speed for air flow across the radiator.

belsy88 wrote:
It's a '98 holiday rambler endeavor. It has a cummins turbo diesel. We sat for over an hour and just let it cool down and the eng prot light went off and all seemed ok after that. I really think it was just a combo of heat and drive time then the steep incline.

[Mr_Mark1]

belsy88 wrote:
It's a '98 holiday rambler endeavor. It has a cummins turbo diesel. We sat for over an hour and just let it cool down and the eng prot light went off and all seemed ok after that. I really think it was just a combo of heat and drive time then the steep incline.

You still didn't mention if you have a side or rear radiator. As the EXPERTS say, shine a flashlight through the fins to see if there is any heavy dirt that has accumulated. Spray with Simple Green, let sit, rinse with a medium force hose nozzle (don't bend the fins).... repeat if necessary.

Good luck,
MM.

[obgraham]

Yup -- clogged radiator is the first thing to consider.

[belsy88]

It's a '98 holiday rambler endeavor. It has a cummins turbo diesel. We sat for over an hour and just let it cool down and the eng prot light went off and all seemed ok after that. I really think it was just a combo of heat and drive time then the steep incline.

[tropical36]

belsy88 wrote:
We've been traveling in 100 degree weather for almost 4 hours and we started a stereo incline and noticed the engine was getting hot and the eng prot light came on. We pulled over and the engine seems to be cooling down fine and we checked the fluids and the oil and coolant seem to be at normal levels. The eng prot light also has went off. In the bedroom the bed lifts up to the engine. We realized there seems to be some sort of vent comin out of the side of the bed to the engine. This has been blocked by a duffle bag the whole time because we did t even realize this was there. Should we continue onward and stop at the next travel center or shod we do anything else? The do not shift light is on but I think we were told that is normal. Any ideas??

Not much of a clue as to what you have, except that it's most likely a DP, but I would first disconnect the chassis battery for a few minutes and see if these lights go out. Otherwise the fault might have to be cleared by some other method. If all seems well after that, just be careful of the temp. before it gets too hot, until you can have the cooling system checked.
Do you have anything in tow that might be too heavy and outside the realm of the rig's GCVW?

[ArchHoagland]

What kind of rig do you have, year and make, etc?

[Mr_Mark1]

Belsy88, what kind of coach do you have and which engine? Year of coach? It could be that your radiator fins need to be cleaned (side or rear radiator?).

MM.