Did overheating Damage my 330 Cat Engine

[p00ches]

2003 Journey DL, 36GD, 330 Cat, 73,000 miles

My serpentine belt broke 3 miles from home (fortunately). By the time I got stopped and shut the engine down, about 3 minutes had, elapsed after the overheat alarm sounded.

I started it up about 20 minutes later, with the temp guage showing normal, and drove home not knowing what had happened, By the time I got home the alarm was back on again about 1 minute. Looking back, I should have stopped half way home to let it cool off again.

It's all fixed now (new alternator, belt, & fan), but I'm thinking there may be unseen engine damage from running overheated so long. Should I change the oil? How about the coolant, which was replaced 2000 miles back? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, ....Doug

[squeak]

all you can do is take it for a drive and watch the temp. how hot did it get?

[Mr_D]

Hard to say if you did permanent damage or not. I do know that some engines are easily damaged by overheating. I overheated our 2000 DSDP with 3126 once when the fan control module went out. Freightliner had me change a couple wires and bypass the module. The fan then ran a full speed all the time till I got it in and they replaced it. No damage, but we had the side radiator with hyd fan, not a rear rad. with belt driven fan.

[bluepill]

I doubt coolant that new would have suffered much from what you describe. I would change the oil and filter - it's cheap insurance.

Keep a close eye on fluid levels for awhile. Always check them in the same place (so that any off-level in the site is the same) and after sitting overnight. Look for any milkiness in motor and trans fluid, as this can indicate coolant contamination.

If the levels stay the same and the fluids stay clear for 1000 miles, you are *probably* OK.

[RVhauler]

overheating damage usually falls in two items. One-head gasket is leaking (sometimes due to warped/cracked head) causing coolant to leak into oil (milky look) or two-burning oil (damaged piston rings)

[MaverickBBD]

I had work done in May and they did a download and found I went into a de-rate mode at 1201 hours of operation. I wasn't even aware of it at the time. You should have a computer check done and see just what temperature you reached. That will give you a lot of information to base further decisions upon.

[p00ches]

Thanks, I will keep an eye on the the fluid levels, and look for milkiness in the oil. My next outing in August, will only put 50 miles on her. That won't tell me much. Our 1200 mile trip to Myrtle Beach in October will, but I like to feel better before that trip. I'm new to Motor Homes and have a lot to learn. I traded a big 5th wheel and an F350 Diesel Pick Up for this beast.

Maverick, Where do I get one of those computer checks done? Freightliner, Caterpillar, or a Winnebago dealer? Or maybe the local (private) big truck shop, that replaced my belt, fan, and alternator, be able to do that.

Thanks for the help. ..........Doug

[Norm4015]

I doubt you did any damage to the engine. There are different level of alarms and you got a warning the coolant was getting too hot. If it got hot enough to cause damage it would have shut down the engine and it never got that hot. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Automobilist]

Agree with the post above. Why not just go out and drive it an hour or so and see how it does?

[Don G]

It sounds like you never boiled over. If thats the case you always had coolant protecting the engine, it was just very hot. Should be fine.