[C320-list] Perkins Engine Leak - little help needed

[Warren Updike]

We are back from a 6-day cruise and had no coolant leak after adjusting attachments on the coolant overflow hose. 
A couple of other owners reported coolant leak after refilling both engine and overflow bottle, but not thereafter. I don't understand that; but, it didn't happen to me. Maybe the cap on the heat exchanger was a scooch not fully closed.
Thanks for all the ideas,

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)

-----Original Message-----
From: sholdr at aol.com [mailto:sholdr at aol.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2018 12:05 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Perkins Engine Leak - little help needed

Unless you have a high pressure leak somewhere in the engine circulation the engine should "never" need to be topped up -- only the reservoir. It may be a leak at one of the hose connections  that when the engine is hot it leaks before the pressure builds enough to bypass the cap into the reservoir but as the engine cools it "sucks" the hose tighter so coolant can flow from the reservoir into the engine but does not suck enough to fully fill the engine so have a lower level in engine when checked....  -----Original Message-----
From: Christian <ccaper at gmail.com>
To: C320-List <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 16, 2018 9:31 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Perkins Engine Leak - little help needed

I too had this happen at the start of the season when I filled both the
tank and the reservoir.  Next time out, found about a quart in the engine
sump, and reservoir empty.  Puzzled, topped off the reservoir, no more
leaked.  We'd had a big temp swing in the time period (can't remember if it
was hot to cold or cold to hot), so I just chalked it up to that.  I'm with
a M30 too.

Christian Caperton
1994 C320 "Canuck" #138
Chicago, IL, Monroe Harbor

On Thu, Aug 16, 2018 at 9:24 AM Scott Lagerquist <lgrqst at aol.com> wrote:

> Warren,
>
> Assuming you have the Perkins M30 as I do in hull no. 39 I get the same
> things when I fill the coolant in the engine and the reservoir.  The leak
> only occurs after running the engine.  Might not be the most acceptable
> answer however, once that quart leaks out it doesn’t leak anymore unless I
> refill the reservoir and engine coolant again.  I stopped refilling and it
> doesn’t leak anymore.  I check the coolant often and it stays just below
> full but an acceptable level.  Especially considering there is coolant in
> the reservoir if the engine needs it.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> Nice article on electronics upgrades in the Main Sheet!  I did a very
> similar upgrade this past winter and am very happy with the new system.
>
> Cheers and good luck with the coolant.  If you find a better solution than
> mine please post.
>
> Scott Lagerquist
> Cat 320, #39
> Sea Esta
> Sand Diego CA
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Aug 16, 2018, at 7:01 AM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Now, is my turn. Doing some light maintenance and noticed some fluid,
> maybe pint, collected in engine sump. It's light color, but has oily feel
> on fingers; and, has some dirt mixed in like it came from overflow bottle.
> Maybe coolant? I check heat-ex and it is full. Cap is new so don't suspect
> that. Check coolant overflow bottle and it is empty (always at "cool" line
> when cold.) Took bottle home and filled w/water left overnight...no leak.
> Hose connection from heat-ex seems tight with small screw clamp. No obvious
> coolant leaking on the engine or around the heat-ex.
> > How could coolant leak to sump with no obvious source?
> >
> > Warren and Pattie Updike
> > 1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
> > Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)
> >
> >
>
>