Low Coolant Alarm and Engine Cut Out

[RRT]

After a day doing the wiring for the D2 and finding an output from the low coolant alarm which can be used for tooting the horn, a sounder etc. Just had the thought which in some ways seems reasonable, using this to connect to the fuel cut off switch (having used the fuel cut out switch 'bracket' to mount the catch can).

Have the LED outlet to mount in my pod on top of the dashboard where it should give a pretty early indication of the loss of coolant but as is well documented, losing coolant can so quickly damage the engine. Therefore is it better to go over the top and just stop the engine???

The LED will be in between the two gauges so pretty much in line of sight at all times (there is a beep in the control unit by the way but know that sometimes you keep motoring for a while trying to figure out what's that sound for lol)

174528

Good or bad?

[reefmagnet]

Bad, I think. Imagine it cutting out just as your halfway through overtaking that road train with another looming up rapidly from the opposite direction. Better to sacrifice your engine then yourself if the SHTF!

[onebob]

After a day doing the wiring for the D2 and finding an output from the low coolant alarm which can be used for tooting the horn, a sounder etc. Just had the thought which in some ways seems reasonable, using this to connect to the fuel cut off switch (having used the fuel cut out switch 'bracket' to mount the catch can).

Have the LED outlet to mount in my pod on top of the dashboard where it should give a pretty early indication of the loss of coolant but as is well documented, losing coolant can so quickly damage the engine. Therefore is it better to go over the top and just stop the engine???

The LED will be in between the two gauges so pretty much in line of sight at all times (there is a beep in the control unit by the way but know that sometimes you keep motoring for a while trying to figure out what's that sound for lol)

174528

Good or bad?

Install the coolant sensor in the reservoir tank and that will give you advance warning of coolant loss and you will have enough time to react whilst there is still coolant circulating in the engine.

[RRT]

Bad, I think. Imagine it cutting out just as your halfway through overtaking that road train with another looming up rapidly from the opposite direction. Better to sacrifice your engine then yourself if the SHTF!


Install the coolant sensor in the reservoir tank and that will give you advance warning of coolant loss and you will have enough time to react whilst there is still coolant circulating in the engine.


Sure, just see it as an interesting conundrum in respect of what ifs, as to on the opposite side of the road, how long do you have till the engine seizes or a split top hose etc.?? As much as you blokes are right, do see some circumstances where it would be a good idea.


The funny thing is, with an EWP it will keep going and empty it all out when the engine shuts down anyway - too late to take it out now lol.

[Slunnie]

Sure, just see it as an interesting conundrum in respect of what ifs, as to on the opposite side of the road, how long do you have till the engine seizes or a split top hose etc.?? As much as you blokes are right, do see some circumstances where it would be a good idea.


The funny thing is, with an EWP it will keep going and empty it all out when the engine shuts down anyway - too late to take it out now lol.

I think you'd have a bit of time to sort yourself out and pull over, it's not like if the oil runs out where the motor will be doing damage straight away.

I've also put the sensor in the water bottle as thats the first place whcih will see the coolant level is dropping.

[roverfj1200]

Install the coolant sensor in the reservoir tank and that will give you advance warning of coolant loss and you will have enough time to react whilst there is still coolant circulating in the engine.


This is where mine is but if the head gasket is leaking the pressure can hold coolant up in the tank and the sensor will not sound.. I know this because it happened to me.

[BradC]

This is where mine is but if the head gasket is leaking the pressure can hold coolant up in the tank and the sensor will not sound.. I know this because it happened to me.

The D3 comes from the factory with one and there are plenty of stories of cooked motors with no low coolant alarm. Pretty much all either a split hose or broken coolant outlet.

[AK83]

I dunno about the TD5, but from experience the v8 can tolerate 60 klms and/or 1 hr of no coolant(let alone low coolant).

I wouldn't do the engine cut off system ... maybe louder alarms ... if you are so inclined.

[shack]

I dunno about the TD5, but from experience the v8 can tolerate 60 klms and/or 1 hr of no coolant(let alone low coolant).

I wouldn't do the engine cut off system ... maybe louder alarms ... if you are so inclined.Td5 won't like that!

The discovery 3 tdv6 came equipped with sensor as stated, but most of them are factory disabled.

If you want to know why, re enable it and you'll work it out.

The one I have in my d2 works really well, in fact we got to listen to it sing for about 40 minutes a couple years ago on a dash to hospital, it was annoying (and costly) but we still got to the hospital, which was preferable to being stopped on the side of the road.

[steveG]

IMO the only time an an engine cutout is appropriate is an unattended engine on a generator etc. Cut the engine and you lose your power steering, and brake boost (apart from some residual vacuum). To me that’s just made a low coolant issue into a potentially fatal one.
I personally don’t bother with low coolant alarms, I just run engine watchdog head temp monitors. No false positives and they tell alert me to engine temp higher than normal - regardless of the reason.

Steve

[reefmagnet]

IMO the only time an an engine cutout is appropriate is an unattended engine on a generator etc. Cut the engine and you lose your power steering, and brake boost (apart from some residual vacuum). To me that’s just made a low coolant issue into a potentially fatal one.
I personally don’t bother with low coolant alarms, I just run engine watchdog head temp monitors. No false positives and they tell alert me to engine temp higher than normal - regardless of the reason.

Steve

That's good to know. I thought I was buying a head mounted temperature gauge with low coolant alarm the other week but ended up with a head mounted temperature gauge and no oil alarm [wink11]

This thread did entice me to by a cheap capacitive proximity sensor of Ebay to play with on the coolant tank after a bit of googling on this site.