water guage

christopher · May 29, 2006, 06:17:42 PM

i installed a clear tube to see the level of my water tank. its about 2 ft from the tank inline to the water pump. how come the tube filled up and is not the same level as the tank?
thanx
chris
mci5c

NJT5047 · May 29, 2006, 06:25:33 PM

Does your sight tube re-enter the top of the surge tank? If you've added a tube that is attached at the bottom of the surge tank, and the top of the tube is open to atmosphere (or some other point in the cooling system), a pressure differential is pushing water up the tube. A sight tube is OK, and should work, as long as both ends terminate in the surge tank. Lower end of sight tube where water enters below water level, and the top should end in the upper level of the surge tank, above the usual level of water.
Post a pix of what you've done and I guaruntee someone will sort it out!
Cheers, JR

jjrbus · May 30, 2006, 06:32:39 PM

Hi Chris, I've got a 79 MCI5C with the 6V71/644 Auto, Saudi model. I have never been able to keep the coolant level up to the sight glass in the surge tank. I replaced the green silicon hose with a clear to view the level of the coolant. The clear hose needs to be cleaned or replaced as it clouds/fogs? up.
HTH Jim

ChuckMC8 · May 30, 2006, 06:42:58 PM

I think Chris is reffering to his fresh water tank, not the bus cooling system.

NJT5047 · May 30, 2006, 07:03:18 PM

Quote from: ChuckMC8 on May 30, 2006, 06:42:58 PM
I think Chris is reffering to his fresh water tank, not the bus cooling system.

OOPs! I think you are right. Hmmmm...same principal though...attach the top of the hose to the top of the water tank and not to other plumbing components. May be that the tank vent is kinked..? Is the tank vented? Has to have a dedicated vent.
Post a pix of what you are working on.
Cheers, JR

FloridaCliff · May 31, 2006, 04:51:21 AM

Chris,

If this clear line your looking at goes straight to the pump, the reason it is not equal to the water level is caused by the trapped air between the top of the water you are seeing and the pump.

To use the pipe as a water level it either needs to vent back into the top of the tank or atmoshpere.

Cliff

gumpy · May 31, 2006, 04:58:26 AM

yep, the top needs to be open to atmosphere, or attached back into the top of the water tank or vent line.

I wouldn't recommend having it attached to the suction line of the pump, either, as when the pump turns on, it will suck the water out of the tube, and pull air into the suction line.

craig