SEAL GP 1010700 - Caterpillar

Visual Inspection of the Cooling System
Cooling systems that are not regularly inspected are the cause for increased engine temperatures. Make a visual inspection of the cooling system before any tests are performed.
At operating temperature, the engine coolant is hot and under pressure.Steam can cause personal injury.Check the coolant level only after the engine has been stopped and the filler cap is cool enough to touch with the bare hand.Remove the filler cap slowly to relieve pressure.Cooling system conditioner contains alkali. Avoid contact with skin and eyes to prevent personal injury.
Check the coolant level in the cooling system. Refer to Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Cooling System Coolant Level - Check".
Look for leaks in the system.Note: A small amount of coolant leakage across the surface of the water pump seals is normal. This leakage is required in order to provide lubrication for this type of seal. A hole is provided in the water pump housing in order to allow this coolant/seal lubricant to drain from the pump housing. Intermittent leakage of small amounts of coolant from this hole is not an indication of water pump seal failure.
Look for leaks or restrictions in the expansion tank. Look for leaks or restrictions in the raw water heat exchanger.
Inspect the drive belts for the fan.
Check for damage to the fan blades.
Look for air or combustion gas in the cooling system.
Inspect the filler cap, and check the surface that seals the filler cap. This surface must be clean.Testing the Cooling System
Illustration 1 g00286266
Boiling point of waterRemember that temperature and pressure work together. When a diagnosis is made of a cooling system problem, temperature and pressure must be checked. Cooling system pressure will have an effect on the cooling system temperature. For an example, refer to Illustration 1. This will show the effect of pressure on the boiling point (steam) of water. This will also show the effect of height above sea level.
Personal injury can result from hot coolant, steam and alkali.At operating temperature, engine coolant is hot and under pressure. The radiator and all lines to heaters or the engine contain hot coolant or steam. Any contact can cause severe burns.Remove filler cap slowly to relieve pressure only when engine is stopped and radiator cap is cool enough to touch with your bare hand.Cooling System Conditioner contains alkali. Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
The coolant level must be to the correct level in order to check the coolant system. The engine must be cold and the engine must not be running. After the engine is cool, loosen the pressure cap in order to relieve the pressure out of the cooling system. Then remove the pressure cap.The level of the coolant should not be more than 13 mm (0.5 inch) from the bottom of the filler pipe. If the cooling system is equipped with a sight glass, the coolant should be to the proper level in the sight glass.Test Tools for Cooling System
Table 1
Tools Needed    
Part Number     Part Name     Quantity