Temp issues with 15 Viper

[Mooney 2]

Right but if you have a small leak above the bottle height it might not have the right vacuum to put it back in the system and you would only see a small leak while its running.

I see what you mean. I need to get a pressure tester. They seem to be harder to find find that small cap. I guess if I have a leak in the thermostat housing or upper hose etc it might just be enough to loose the vacum. Still not sure why it would push it out to the bottle in the first place.

 

[viper strike]

I see what you mean. I need to get a pressure tester. They seem to be harder to find find that small cap. I guess if I have a leak in the thermostat housing or upper hose etc it might just be enough to loose the vacum. Still not sure why it would push it out to the bottle in the first place.

If its a new sled go thru and tighten all hose clamps.
I had two small leaks only while it was running when mine was new.
Right in front of thermostat cap which didn't leak when the sled was off. And one below the engine under the secondary
I also noticed variable coolant levels in the overflow tank. When i fixed the small leaks the reservoir bottle level was more consistent. I have my bottle marked with a sharpie sometimes its a 1/8 above my mark sometimes its a 1/8 below my mark? I would recommend a pressure test or take it back to the dealer if its under warranty and explain the issue in detail
so they dont write you off like most of them do. I once had a salesman shrug me off and say it wouldn't be covered under warranty. That was until i spoke with the actual technician who put the (i think i know the answer) salesperson in his place.

 

[Mooney 2]

If its a new sled go thru and tighten all hose clamps.
I had two small leaks only while it was running when mine was new.
Right in front of thermostat cap which didn't leak when the sled was off. And one below the engine under the secondary
I also noticed variable coolant levels in the overflow tank. When i fixed the small leaks the reservoir bottle level was more consistent. I have my bottle marked with a sharpie sometimes its a 1/8 above my mark sometimes its a 1/8 below my mark?

We'e you able to see or hear the leaks with a tester or did just tightening everythng eliminate your issue?

 

[viper strike]

We'e you able to see or hear the leaks with a tester or did just tightening everythng eliminate your issue?

I was able to see my leaks and didn't need to pressure test the system. I'm have ocd and dont like issues on the trail. So i figured I'd tighten all of them.
Most clamps needed a turn or two to be tight enough.

 

[viper strike]

I see what you mean. I need to get a pressure tester. They seem to be harder to find find that small cap. I guess if I have a leak in the thermostat housing or upper hose etc it might just be enough to loose the vacum. Still not sure why it would push it out to the bottle in the first place.

It can really only be a few things.
Loose clamps that bleed air when the coolant cools (contracts) sucking air into the system. These may only dribble while running And it would have to be above the resi bottle height.
Bad temp sensor.
Water pump.
Bad thermostats.
Sometimes they look like nothing is wrong with them and just don't function properly.
Kinked hose
Stupid ? Your radiator isn't packed with cotton wood fuzz bits or weeds and debris.
Is the coolant clean of debris?

 

[viper strike]

That really sounds like a faulty coolant cap. Coolant under pressure from heat should overcome the spring in the cap and go into the recovery tank. When the engine cools a check valve should open allowing the coolant to flow easily back into the main cooling system. It sounds like the check valve isn't releasing allowing coolant to flow freely back into the cooling system which actually comes under a slight vacuum as the system cools.

Yes this is it i believe all symptoms point to the check valve I totally forgot about that.

 

[Wannaviper]

Have you looked for bubbles or oil when running with Rad cap removed? Was this sled previously a turbo?

Cannondale, if the sled was previously a turbo, would that make them more prone to overheating? My buddy bought a 2016 LTX LE that was the dealer's "personal sled." The dealer had a turbo on it, but removed it prior to the sale. My buddy has had overheating issues ever since he got the sled. Is there something that needs to be done to get it back to normal?

 

[Mooney 2]

Yes this is it i believe all symptoms point to the check valve I totally forgot about that.

So this morning I took rad cap off and heard what seemed like some vacuum in the system. All hose clamps were tight. Return line from tank is not pinched and flows freely when held lower than the tank. Taking valve on top of tank and rad cap to dealer to test them . This is driving me nuts!

 

[Yamasledder]

So this morning I took rad cap off and heard what seemed like some vacuum in the system. All hose clamps were tight. Return line from tank is not pinched and flows freely when held lower than the tank. Taking valve on top of tank and rad cap to dealer to test them . This is driving me nuts!

I know you said that you already replaced the coolant cap but that vacuum releasing when you open the cap cold points right at an issue with the cap.

 

[Mooney 2]

Rad cap and valve on top of tank check fine. At this point I believe it just may have been over full . Now system is just below rad cap when warm . Overflow bottle below cold line as per dealer. Gonna go for a ride and see what it does now.

 

[cannondale27]

I checked that. And checked the part that the tube goes to in the top of the tank. Seems to flow air through no problem. I' not sure how that valve in the top of the tank is supposed to do but it seems to allow air to flow through either direction when blowing into either side.

Cannondale, if the sled was previously a turbo, would that make them more prone to overheating? My buddy bought a 2016 LTX LE that was the dealer's "personal sled." The dealer had a turbo on it, but removed it prior to the sale. My buddy has had overheating issues ever since he got the sled. Is there something that needs to be done to get it back to normal?

turbo = much higher risk of bad head gasket or worse.

 

[Wannaviper]

turbo = much higher risk of bad head gasket or worse.

Thanks Cannondale, would there be any other likely symptoms if it is something like the head gasket?

 

[cannondale27]

Thanks Cannondale, would there be any other likely symptoms if it is something like the head gasket?

May see it on spark plugs. All three should be same. If one is real clean well then you know to look further. A pressure test for a few hrs usually shows it also.

 

[scalise71]

I had a head gasket go bad after overheat (stud through heat exchanger)on my Nytro. I would be able to ride 100miles before it had pushed enough coolant into the overflow, that the temp light would come on. There were really no other symptoms. It must have been minor since it happened so slowly. Ended up bringing the sled to Grizztracks, and he had the head milled for flatness, and replaced the gasket, never had another issue. I hope this isn’t your problem but it seems to be pointing that way.

 

[Mooney 2]

So I haven' been able to ride until today. Got 15 miles from home and here we go again. Long story short I limped it home and did some testing around home. I'm 99% sure it's a head gasket. At 50 mph averag you get a couple hundred miles before it fills the overflow and over heats , wide open it only takes about 15 miles. What a shitty situation. I sold my 10 year old Doo cause I didn' want to have to redo the motor or gamble and ride it another year and now I get to start motor work on this one right in prime time.