Please Help Cooling Problem

JaYPeEyoOeSsAy · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:01 PM

Ok I need some help diagnosing an issue that is new and have never had before. First off I want to make everyone aware that the only change to the cooling system was the installation of an in line T for the water temp sending unit.

After the installation of the of the gauge I added coolant and bled the system both by the head and the water pump. It did this by running the motor and waiting for a constant steed stream of fluid. After that I topped off the coolant and was ready for my first time out. So my first trip was to Dumont the weekend before Halloween. After about 30 minutes of riding the rhino was sitting at about 200 and in the dunes was creeping on 210 so I had to keep stopping and letting her cool down. What sucked is that every time it would get real hot the reservoir would fill up and shoot coolant everywhere and all over the floor board.

So after this happened I pulled the skid plate off thinking that the slots in the skid plate were not allowing enough air through. I refilled the coolant, re bled the system and tried again. I got the same exact results; consistently running at about 200-210 so I just topped off re bled again and took it real easy the whole trip watching it closely. At this point I just figured that it was because my jetting was too rich (according to my A/F gauge about 10.3) and the car was struggling because of it.

So last weekend, I put the skid plate back on cause I didn’t think that was causing the problem. I installed a 45mm carb and got the jetting closer and re bled the system again. Fist day out no problems but only did some short rides. Second day also did short rides but started to notice that it was running a little hotter. By the third day it was hitting 210 again and spewed water all over out of the reservoir. So once again I topped off the system, bled it and just let it run in park. At this time I notice for the first time that there were air bubbles coming into the reservoir at a steady pace and when I would rev it they would speed up. so I thought that sucks maybe the head gasket it blown, so I checked the oil, no water there and then check for odor from the exhaust and nothing there. So then I changed the cap from another rhino thinking that maybe I have a bad cap and the air is getting in through there… nope, same prob.

So my last resort before I replace a head gasket is to do a pressure test on the system to see if it holds. But I don’t get where the air is coming from unless it was already there from the T installation and I’m not getting it all out, or the head gasket is blown. Sorry for the long story but I need some help to figure out what’s wrong because getting to my head is not going to be fun and want to make sure it’s my last resort.

Thanks!

**Biggjim** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:32 PM

Sounds like a blown head gasket to me....and not to burst your bubble but those inline temp senders are not worth the aluminum they are made of. Need to put a sender in the head to really know what shes doing

JaYPeEyoOeSsAy · #3 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:35 PM

well concidering it prolly need to come off now, i just may do that along with some port work and a cam.... this really sucks! do those inline sending units restrict flow real bad?

**Biggjim** · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JaYPeEyoOeSsAy

well concidering it prolly need to come off now, i just may do that along with some port work and a cam.... this really sucks! do those inline sending units restrict flow real bad?

I wouldnt be to concerend with the flow....more concerned about what the actual temp is at the head. You could have a vapor lock and not know it with it in line

JaYPeEyoOeSsAy · #5 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:46 PM

the water flow from the bottom up? i have the sender right as the water leaves the head if it flows that direction which i think it does...

**Biggjim** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JaYPeEyoOeSsAy

the water flow from the bottom up? i have the sender right as the water leaves the head if it flows that direction which i think it does...

Ya thats the return side.........but I dont trust those inline senders

JaYPeEyoOeSsAy · #7 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:53 PM

can you explan why not. it the normal sender that comes with the gauge just tapped into the inlo the inline deal. i would like to understand what you think is no good about them.

i just thought if there was no flow issues and i kept it as close as possible to the head it would work fine?

**Biggjim** · #8 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JaYPeEyoOeSsAy

can you explan why not. it the normal sender that comes with the gauge just tapped into the inlo the inline deal. i would like to understand what you think is no good about them.

i just thought if there was no flow issues and i kept it as close as possible to the head it would work fine?

I have seen on 2 different ocassions where 2 different rhino were using inline sendors. Both took bad readings, and both ended up with blown head gaskets. Its just an observation I have made and wouldnt use one. Also your water is going to be at its hotest at the head where the dummy light trigger is

JaYPeEyoOeSsAy · #9 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:15 PM

cool, ill l,ook into tthis also and see what i can do to make it better. thanks Jim!

**Biggjim** · #10 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JaYPeEyoOeSsAy

cool, ill l,ook into tthis also and see what i can do to make it better. thanks Jim!

No worries............We had the exact same thing happen last weekend to another car

JaYPeEyoOeSsAy · #11 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:23 PM

it just sucks cause i did everything right to avoid a situation like that and instead prolly caused it...

**Dirtysidedown** · #12 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:23 PM

There is not a huge difference (a few degrees) as long as the engine is full of coolant, but having the sender in the head would be more accurate. If the temp light came on it certainly got too hot. They might as well call the temp light a ''time to replace the head gasket indicator''

JaYPeEyoOeSsAy · #13 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:26 PM

never saw a temp light...

**Biggjim** · #14 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dirtysidedown

There is not a huge difference (a few degrees) as long as the engine is full of coolant, but having the sender in the head would be more accurate. If the temp light came on it certainly got too hot. They might as well call the temp light a ''time to replace the head gasket indicator''

The temp light thing aint no BS......However I belive the temp light comes on at over 210......with the light on I have seen temps on a inline unit at 160