Rapid coolant loss

mvc · **Joined:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:28 pm **Posts:** 8

Long time lurker here. Been riding the CRD since 2010. Two days ago I was entering interstate traffic with full on power. Low coolant light came on very shortly after. I pulled over and the reservoir was empty. I carry a gallon of mixed coolant and emptied into reservoir. Drove shortly to a better pull-off and temperature rose sharply and I immediately shut down. Once towed back to a garage there was coolant in the intake and oil. Before shutting down the engine still ran smoothly with no knocking or rapping. I've had head gaskets go before on several vehicles but never had such a rapid loss of coolant. It might be awhile before I get this back to my garage for a teardown to determine extent of damage. Curious what others opinions might be the outcome. Incidentally, I hit a deer very hard 2 months previously with extensive front end body damage and had a coolant odor which we couldn't positively locate. The entire front end was repaired and they replaced the radiator but I still could smell some coolant. Not sure if there is a connection between the deer impact and current situation though.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2016 3:13 pm

Coolant in the intake?
Like, where in the intake? At the turbo inlet or the drivers side intercooler hose?

The most common problems would be head gasket, EGR cooler, or cracked head.
But rapid loss such as yours sounds like it could be a combination of things or something catastrophic.

edit: a blown oil cooler is another possibility

mvc · **Joined:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:28 pm **Posts:** 8

Flash,
There is no EGR cooler. Coolant was on the turbo inlet side after we pressurized the system to see where the coolant was going that we placed in the reservoir. I never cracked a cylinder head before but that is what I was thinking or less likely a cracked cylinder wall. This head was machined previously when I repaired a leaking head gasket and unfortunately there is no more material remaining for additional machining. Additional concern is the coolant wiping the bearing surfaces before shut down. My first time experience with coolant in the oil.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2016 3:55 pm

Well, there are no coolant lines anywhere near the turbo inlet.
There are only two possibilities for water to be in the turbo inlet.
A. It got sucked in through the air filter. In which case it would just be water and not coolant.
B. Water in the crankcase turned to vapor and condensed in the CCV hose, then dripped into the turbo inlet.

I would remove the exhaust manifold and look for evidence of water in the turbo and exhaust ports. Then reconnect all coolant hoses, top off with water, and pressure test the cooling system. If water drips out the exhaust ports, you likely have a cracked head.

Also, the liners in this block are wet. A cracked liner or bad liner seal will dump coolant into the crankcase.

mvc · **Joined:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:28 pm **Posts:** 8

The crankcase was full of coolant. Any thoughts on bearing damage from the coolant.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:28 pm

I guess it depends on how long it ran like that and how much water.
I think they will be okay but cant be sure.

If its a problem with one of the liners, you will have to pull the motor and then you can check the crank and rod bearings.

But I would test for a cracked head first.

LMWatBullRun · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:29 pm

mvc wrote:

The crankcase was full of coolant. Any thoughts on bearing damage from the coolant.

Oil and HOAT coolant do not mix well, and HOAT is not a lubricant.

How long did the engine run with coolant in the oil pan?

mvc · **Joined:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:28 pm **Posts:** 8

I shut the engine down as soon as I could get out of traffic and noticed temperature going up rapidly which was about one mile. I was in the mindset that I had possibly popped a coolant line. I was surprised that there was coolant in the crankcase. It's going to be a little while before I can do an autopsy. Until I get it apart, it's essentially academic gakery like flash eluded to. In the interim, I may keep an eye out for a motor or alternatively someone looking for a CRD sans motor. I'm in the low confidence category of this engine making it.

jws84_02 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2016 7:53 pm

A little off topic her and I don't know your location but there is a wrecked jeep on the Lexington,KY craigslist with 109k miles. The ad says it runs good

dh100m · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2016 8:15 pm

had that exact problem glow plug ceramic tip broke off and somehow split the liner check them

mvc · **Joined:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:28 pm **Posts:** 8

jws84_02 wrote:

A little off topic her and I don't know your location but there is a wrecked jeep on the Lexington,KY craigslist with 109k miles. The ad says it runs good

Thanks jws for the info. I will keep that in mind depending on what is found upon dismantling. By the way, I'm in the western Maryland / southwest PA region.

mvc · **Joined:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:28 pm **Posts:** 8

dh100m wrote:

had that exact problem glow plug ceramic tip broke off and somehow split the liner check them

Fortunately, I switched to the steel glow plugs a couple years back.

mvc · **Joined:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:28 pm **Posts:** 8

Just an update. I was speaking with Keith at GDE on a separate topic and asked his opinion of the rapid loss of coolant into the crankcase. He felt it was a busted block that most likely occurred near the number 4 cylinder. Won't know for sure until we get the engine apart. Currently looking for an engine or possibly someone who wants a CRD with a defunct lower end in the engine.

Rapid coolant loss

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