Byproduct of overheating - What to check first?

[Seangie]

We drove up into Yosemite last week and it was 106 degrees in Fresno as we left.  Once we got to the hills the bus started to get a bit warm. Keep in mind we are pulling a 4 ton van behind us.

My temp gauge works but is really just a guessing game. I know when the needle is dead on the 180 mark its running at about 185-190 and when it gets a hair above the 180 mark its at about 195.  The next mark on the gauge up from 180 is 210.  So halfway between 180 and 210 should be 195 although there is no mark on the gauge for that. I always figured with the 10 degree difference that halfway between 180 and 210 on my gauge would realistically be about 205-210 and time to pull over.

So as we started to pull some of the hills on 140 I was watching the gauge start to climb ...consciously keeping the bus in the lowest gear...and as soon as it climbed up over the 180 mark I looked for a place to pull over and cool off.

By the time I pulled over the needle was halfway between 180 and 210...the highest it's ever been.  I pulled to the side and put the bus in park and flipped the high idle switch.  Grabbed my temp gun and took a reading off the thermostat block and the blocks were reading 222 on the drivers side and 218 on the passengers side.

So we dumped the van and left the engine door open the rest of the way and that seemed to solve the issues.

We didn't run hot for more than 5 minutes or so but my question is ....what should I check or be on the lookout for to see if there was any damage from the heat?  Next time I'm in the garage is there something specific I should have them put eyes on?

By the way we have since left Yosemite and the bus seems to be running fine at this point.

Thanks guys.

-Sean

Fulltiming somewhere in the USA
1984 Eagle 10S
www.herdofturtles.org

[luvrbus]

Just watch the air box drains if you see antifreeze on the ground then you have problems it will show there 1st, the shutdown must not be working either that is past the shutdown setting on 92 series fwiw

good luck

[Ed Hackenbruch]

If you still have the bus heat you can always turn it on to help dump heat from the engine......may make you sweat but better than burning up the engine.

[Audiomaker]

If you don't mind me asking, what is "hot* for your motor?

My CAT's fan used to come on at 220 degrees, and really tugging would reach 230.  I think the yellow started about 230.

Not sure how it is on these busses.... curious.

[sparkplug188]

This is the motor guard circuit on my '79 Eagle.  Wire 82 and 78 are supplied battery positive when the key is in the on position.  If the water temperature exceeds 204F the over temp light on the dash lights.  If the temperature continues to rise to 210F the the skinner valve circuit is opened and the fuel stops flowing.  If needed, the engine can be restarted in first gear to move the coach to a safe parking spot.