adding coolant..

[paulspbe]

I recently purchased a used 2015 21ec with 30 hrs on meter.. just getting to know all the systems on board.. Ive
put about 14 hrs on motor and have added about a pint to a quart of coolant.. Is this normal..?

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Welcome aboard with your R21. If adding coolant was a one time thing it may be ok but on a regular basis I'd think you could have a small leak somewhere. Not being familiar with the R21 systems if this were to happen on our R27 I'd look at the hot water heater hose connections as well as a cabin heater hose connections powered by the engine to see if you have a leak there.

Let us know the outcome.

Jim F

 

[Captain Nice]

Any "green" in the bilge?

CN

 

[paulspbe]

Welcome aboard with your R21. If adding coolant was a one time thing it may be ok but on a regular basis I'd think you could have a small leak somewhere. Not being familiar with the R21 systems if this were to happen on our R27 I'd look at the hot water heater hose connections as well as a cabin heater hose connections powered by the engine to see if you have a leak there.

Let us know the outcome.

Jim F

I don't see any leaks or smell any antifreeze ..... The rear storage compartment had a open gallon of Volvo coolant with a small amount used out of it ..I'll keep an eye on it and continue to enjoy

 

[paulspbe]

Any "green" in the bilge?

CN

Bilge is clean..

 

[knotflying]

With only 30 hours it could be just air that was trapped and worked its way up. However, keep an eye on it. You shouldn't have to keep adding coolant.

 

[SGIDAVE]

With only 30 hours it could be just air that was trapped and worked its way up. However, keep an eye on it. You shouldn't have to keep adding coolant.

Hello Paul,

Air in the lines is a good thought.

As Jim Favors said in his post above, you should also check the coolant lines where they connect to your heater in the pilot house. That is a common source of coolant loss. Tightening or re-securring the hose clamps is the usual fix.

dave

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

While reading what Mike suggested about air pockets working there way out made me think of how we add coolant to the Yanmar engine, my guess is other engines would be the same. When changing or adding coolant the manual states to add coolant to the heat exchanger (cap on top of our Yanmar) and not the into the semi transparent reservoir tank. This is done so air pockets are not created. It could be, if you find no leaks, that an air pocket Mike brought up may have been created by adding coolant into the reservoir.

Jim F