Coolant going "Missing"

rbelak

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HI All,

First Post, short story.

Machine: 2015 Summit XM T3 163 with 2300 km.

I just got a sled 1 year ago and have been enjoying my new favourite sport. It's been a long time since I had a sport in which I couldn't sleep the night before I go out. It's also nice to enjoy winter again - I live in western Canada.

I'm becoming much more familiar with the machine now, and have been watching the coolant. I've had to add about 100 ml of coolant this season (~400 km so far). No overheats whatsoever.

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe I see an extremely tiny leak around the base gasket on the cylinder close to the PTO. It's so small that I'm not sure it is coolant or just water in the engine bay. Even if it is leaking, its not enough to account for the missing coolant.

My concern is that the seal may be compromised and a small amount is getting into combustion chamber. There is no visible smoke. Machine runs 100%.

Any thoughts? Is this amount of coolant loss to be ignored, or could it be an indication of problems to come?

Thanks again to the community for all the information I've gotten so far, and I look forward to contributing more as my knowledge grows.
 

bayman

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i have 2015 as well. on top of the motor behind the coolant fill bottle, close to the jack shaft, tgere was a piece of hose that a piece of electrical loom had worn a pin hole in. took me several rides to find it....needed to pressure test to find it. worth a look
 

Stg2Suby

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Also don't be alarmed when you top up the overflow bottle it will push excess volume out the vent tube over the next ride or 2
 

Lund

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HI All,

First Post, short story.

Machine: 2015 Summit XM T3 163 with 2300 km.

I just got a sled 1 year ago and have been enjoying my new favourite sport. It's been a long time since I had a sport in which I couldn't sleep the night before I go out. It's also nice to enjoy winter again - I live in western Canada.

I'm becoming much more familiar with the machine now, and have been watching the coolant. I've had to add about 100 ml of coolant this season (~400 km so far). No overheats whatsoever.

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe I see an extremely tiny leak around the base gasket on the cylinder close to the PTO. It's so small that I'm not sure it is coolant or just water in the engine bay. Even if it is leaking, its not enough to account for the missing coolant.

My concern is that the seal may be compromised and a small amount is getting into combustion chamber. There is no visible smoke. Machine runs 100%.

Any thoughts? Is this amount of coolant loss to be ignored, or could it be an indication of problems to come?

Thanks again to the community for all the information I've gotten so far, and I look forward to contributing more as my knowledge grows.

Looking for things like this some times is like looking for a ghost and honestly unless its obvious doing anything else is a waste of time.
The best way to check your cooling system for a leak is to pressurize it to specification and see if it leaks or holds pressure.
You can do that by either buying your self a cooling system pressure tester with adapter to the reservoir or maybe borrowing or renting.
You pressurize it to spec's. and if all is good it will hold till eternity, any leaks will show by lost of pressure. You can now visually look around to make a visual.
At the shop every motor builds or modifications involving a cooling system is pressurized to ensure reliability.

FYI also, it is common for folks to over fill. When your coolant is heated it will expand into the expansion chamber(overflow bottle/clear coolant bottle) and as it cools off overnight the coolant will contract. Depending on the coolant bottle size, sometimes the bottle from the oem are actually too small to give a visual of coolant when it is cold(contracted) with the proper visual when hot.
In these cases i recommend only put enough coolant to barely cover the bottom of your reservoir and then doing a visual check when the motor is HOT.
 

rbelak

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Thanks for the tips guys. This is all very much appreciated.

I always check the level after it has cooled and I remove the cap to allow the coolant to fill the reservoir. I'm pretty sure that some of the coolant is going missing at this point, but I will keep an eye on it. My bigger concern is the possibility of the base gasket going if it is indeed slightly compromised. I'm getting the impression just ride it, and monitor. I don't want it to blow when I'm in the backcountry, but I guess that is the game.

I appreciate all your input!

Roy
 

snopro

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Go to a dealer and get it pressure tested cold outside and again after running it. This will rule out a leak through a poor clamp on a hose or leaking internally or externally through the engine. No leaks showing up on the snow on the coolers? maybe you have a puncture?
 

rbelak

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Go to a dealer and get it pressure tested cold outside and again after running it. This will rule out a leak through a poor clamp on a hose or leaking internally or externally through the engine. No leaks showing up on the snow on the coolers? maybe you have a puncture?


No visible coolant anywhere whatsoever - excluding the base gasket I'm suspicious of (all i see there is dampness, and maybe a drop or two). 100 ml is a very small amount of fluid over 400 km (IMO).

RB
 

RGM

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15's yes, 16-17 not so much

I have never seen a 15 that didn't overheat on the trails, even with extra scratchers. Another BRP brain fart taking the front exchange out.
 

AkNomad

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I hope it's not your base gasket, mine went out 2 weeks ago and I had to have my motor thoroughly cleaned and rebuilt, new cylinder and pistons. Good luck to you!
 
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