coolant loss

D

dhdmorrison

Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2017
Messages
6
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Cutwater 30CB
Vessel Name
Luna
Is it common for these boats to require replenishment of engine coolant on a regular basis? I purchased a Cutwater 30CB 7 months ago and have had to add a half quart of Volvo coolant to the engine every month. The engine alarm notifies me that the coolant level is low.
My dealer reassures me that this is normal. I can't imagine that it is normal - and given the other problems that I have had with this boat I an skeptical about this reassurance. This is a closed cooling system - If I had to add coolant to my car engine every month I would be looking for the leak.
 
I have never needed to top off the engine coolant in the 2 years I've had my C30.
 
This is not normal and needs to be looked into. Time to reach out to the dealer again and push them to find the source of the problem. If they do not play ball it may be time to escalate to the factory.
 
dhdmorrison":3v286p06 said:
...snip...
My dealer reassures me that this is normal. - ...snip...
Click to expand...

Absolute rubbish. You should contact Ranger Tugs (RT) and report this dealership's response to them so that RT can give them a good serious talking to.

If there are air pockets in the coolant system it can cause this 'top up' scenario for a short period of time. However, since you've been 'topping up' each month for 7 months in a row then I'd say there's an issue that needs some serious attention.
 
I had a a continual problem with coolant loss on a 6by. Initially it was not loss but an under filled system - probably an air lock in the HWH and heater hoses. Then there were leaks at the HWH and at the overflow hose at the pressure cap. Likely your losses are a result of external leaks. It would be most unusual to have an internal leak on these low hour engines.
 
We had a recurring Low Coolant Warning issue on our C30CB as well. It's definitely not normal and can be fixed. Felt great when we finally got the issue resolved and stopped getting the warning every time we got on board to use the boat! =)

In our case, the issue was twofold. First, we had a leak at the water heater connection (IIRC, whatever it was, something wasn't secured properly and was leaking coolant). When we continued to get the Low Coolant warning even after all connections had been checked and no signs of leakage, I believe a Volvo tech conducted a pressure test of the coolant system and found that we had a faulty coolant cap which was allowing coolant to escape and was replaced. No issues since!
 
The low coolant alarm is very sensitive. You may want to check all you coolant hose clamp connections to ensure that there are no leaks. Usually a new engine will have some air trapped in the lines and it will burp out and require coolant replenishment, but after this long I suspect some loose clamp at a connection.
 
I have added a pint of coolant 4-5 times in a year and a half. Every time alarm says low I can see and feel, but it wants to be at top. No leaks found. D4 with about 200 hr.
 
Thanks for the replies!
I checked the alarm history on the Garmin MFD. Turns out that the first time the low coolant level alarm showed up was 8 months before I bought the boat! It the occurred every month or so until I purchased it - and yet it was not addressed by the dealer before they turned the boat over to me!??
I will check the hose connections to the water heater myself.

And now a new problem - there is a buzzing vibration coming from the steering hub at the helm station at engine speeds above around 2000rpm. It is loud and very ominous. I have had a series of problems with a failed autopilot pump and then ongoing problems due to a lack of proper bleeding of the steering system after the pump was changed. All of this work was done by Garmin techs payed by the company. This new problem is centered in the steering system but the steering itself seems OK and the autopilot seems to work - to be honest, given the other problems I have had, I didn't stay out on the water very long to test it out - went right back to the dock.
Anyone ever hear of such a thing?
I emailed the dealer and the company. The dealer is sending the salesman out to look at the boat. Sigh.
 
I had an overheat alarm on my Yanmar 4by180 this past winter in the Bahamas. Low coolant, about a gallon and a half. Where did it go and why? Lots of detective work. I found a telltale pink stain on a rope in the starboard locker near the expansion tank overflow. but why? Then remembered that I had checked the coolant level before leaving the anchorage and mentally replayed how I had replaced the cap and realized that I had not given it that little extra twist the fully lock in it place. Soooooo the high temperature forced the water into the expansion tank and out the overflow. Now I twist it extra tight and no further issue. 😳
 
The Volvo engines are installed without a coolant recovery tank. When you run the engine hard and hot coolant expands and is forced out a hose at the top of the heat exchanger tank near the fill cap. The hot coolant spurts out a clear hose into the bulge. Just installed small recovery tank for $20. Hot coolant goes into tank when engine is running hot, reverses action as engine cools. No more coolant loss.
 
Bill & Donna Sibbers":3gddtwx2 said:
The Volvo engines are installed without a coolant recovery tank. When you run the engine hard and hot coolant expands and is forced out a hose at the top of the heat exchanger tank near the fill cap. The hot coolant spurts out a clear hose into the bulge. Just installed small recovery tank for $20. Hot coolant goes into tank when engine is running hot, reverses action as engine cools. No more coolant loss.
Click to expand...

That seems like an environmental issue, having the antifreeze dumping into the bilge. Seems like an installation oversight not having an expansion recovery tank.
 
Bill & Donna Sibbers wrote:
The Volvo engines are installed without a coolant recovery tank. When you run the engine hard and hot coolant expands and is forced out a hose at the top of the heat exchanger tank near the fill cap. The hot coolant spurts out a clear hose into the bulge. Just installed small recovery tank for $20. Hot coolant goes into tank when engine is running hot, reverses action as engine cools. No more coolant loss.
Click to expand...

The Volvo engines do have a coolant expansion tank..... you must be referring to an extra expansion tank kit.
http://www.volvopentastore.com/Heat-Exc ... id.1229744
http://www.volvopentastore.com/Extra-Ex ... id.1229754
 
Can you do quick test for me, Shut off the 2 valves on the front side of the engine, This will close the loop to the cabin heater and water heater. Run the boat and see if you still loose coolant. If no coolant is lost I would start looking at the hose clamp connections on the cabin heater and water heater as these are the only connections that the coolant would leak thru.
 
Ronnie - Good process of elimination step and I did do just that. The overwhelming clue was the coolant that was clearly visible in the bilge directly under the clear hose leading from the expansion tank. The coolant recovery tank works great!
 
Bill & Donna Sibbers":22n65mqb said:
I saw the price through Volvo. How about $18 through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016V ... UTF8&psc=1

Dorman 54002 Engine Coolant Recovery Kit. High quality and easy install.

I would post photo but have been unable to find the way on this cumbersome site.
Click to expand...

Getting a User Photo Album for your Ranger Tug is easy but it requires submitting a request from within the site structure.

1. Sign on to the site, if you aren't already.

2. Select the User Control Panel link from the upper left corner of any page. Note: On the home page, this link is in your user menu in the upper right.

3. Click the Usergroups tab, then select the radio button next to the User Albums group.
Scroll down, choose "Join selected" in the drop-down menu, and click the Submit button.

Once you do this, an email is automatically sent to the administrator (me). That message will trigger my ability to approve your request, and you'll receive an email indicating your membership in the User Albums group has been activated.

I'll watch for the message, and look forward to seeing your pictures.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
I have had small coolant losses since new. Ranger Tug checked, tightened and or replaced fittings from engine to heater. Coastal Marine Engines checked, tightened and or replaced fittings from engine to heater. Coolant loss became excessive this year. Lost up to 2 gallons of coolant, without any overheating. I shut off valves to heater cores. Seems to have stopped the coolant loss. So it appears I have a leaking heater core or more likely a leaking fitting at the heater core.
 
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