C280-16 Engine Caterpillar

• The engine overheats frequently.

• The coolant is foaming.

• Oil or fuel has entered the cooling system and the coolant is contaminated.

Note: Refer to this Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Fluid Recommendations" for the correct interval for changing the coolant.

Drain the Cooling System

1. Stop the engine and allow the engine to cool. Ensure that the engine will not start when the cooling system is drained.

2. Loosen the cooling system filler cap slowly in order to relieve any pressure. Remove the cooling system filler cap.
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   Illustration 1	g00130652
   Location of the cooling system drain valves or drain plugs on the water pumps (1) Jacket water pump (2) Aftercooler and oil cooler pump

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   Illustration 2	g00475850
   Location of the drain plugs (jacket water)

3. Open the cooling system drain valves (if equipped). Remove the cooling system drain plugs. Allow the coolant to drain.

For information regarding the disposal and the recycling of used coolant, consult your Cat dealer or consult Caterpillar Dealer Service Tools Group:

Clean the Cooling System

1. After the cooling system has been drained, flush the cooling system with clean water in order to remove any debris.

2. Close the cooling system drain valves (if equipped). Clean the cooling system drain plugs and install the cooling system drain plugs.
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   NOTICE
   Fill the cooling system no faster than 19 L (5 US gal) per minute to avoid air locks.

3. Fill the cooling system with a mixture of clean water and Cat Fast Acting Cooling System Cleaner. Add .5 L (1 pt) of cleaner per 15 L (4 US gal) of the cooling system capacity. Install the cooling system filler cap.

4. Start the engine. Operate the engine for a minimum of 30 minutes with a coolant temperature of at least 82 °C (180 °F).

5. Stop the engine and allow the engine to cool. Loosen the cooling system filler cap slowly in order to relieve any pressure. Remove the cooling system filler cap. Open the cooling system drain valves (if equipped). Remove the cooling system drain plugs. Allow the water to drain.
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   NOTICE
   Improper or incomplete rinsing of the cooling system can result in damage to copper and other metal components. To avoid damage to the cooling system, make sure to completely flush the cooling system with clear water. Continue to flush the system until all signs of the cleaning agent are gone.

6. Flush the cooling system with clean water until the water that drains is clean. Close the cooling system drain valves (if equipped). Clean the cooling system drain plugs and install the cooling system drain plugs.

Cleaning a Cooling System that has Heavy Deposits or Plugging

Note: For the following procedure to be effective, there must be an active flow through the cooling system components.

1. After the cooling system has been drained, flush the cooling system with clean water in order to remove any debris.

2. Close the cooling system drain valves (if equipped). Clean the cooling system drain plugs and install the cooling system drain plugs.

3. Fill the cooling system with a mixture of clean water and Cat Fast Acting Cooling System Cleaner. Add .5 L (1 pt) of cleaner per 3.8 to 7.6 L (1 to 2 US gal) of the cooling system capacity. Install the cooling system filler cap.

4. Start the engine. Operate the engine for a minimum of 90 minutes with a coolant temperature of at least 82 °C (180 °F).

5. Stop the engine and allow the engine to cool. Loosen the cooling system filler cap slowly in order to relieve any pressure. Remove the cooling system filler cap. Open the cooling system drain valves (if equipped). Remove the cooling system drain plugs. Allow the water to drain.
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   NOTICE
   Improper or incomplete rinsing of the cooling system can result in damage to copper and other metal components. To avoid damage to the cooling system, make sure to completely flush the cooling system with clear water. Continue to flush the system until all signs of the cleaning agent are gone.

6. Flush the cooling system with clean water until the water that drains is clean. Close the cooling system drain valves (if equipped). Clean the cooling system drain plugs and install the cooling system drain plugs.

Fill the Cooling System

Note: Refer to this Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Fluid Recommendations" for more information on cooling system specifications Refer to this Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Refill Capacities" for information about the capacity of the cooling system.

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Illustration 3	g00546449
(1) Plug

1. Fill the cooling system with coolant/antifreeze.

   The water lines for the turbochargers must be vented when the cooling system is filled. Remove plug (1). Press a small screwdriver into the check valve in order to vent the line.

   After filling the cooling system, do not install the cooling system filler cap.

2. Start the engine. Operate the engine in order to purge the air from the cavities of the engine block. Allow the coolant to warm and allow the coolant level to stabilize. Stop the engine.

3. Check the coolant level. Maintain the coolant to the proper level on the sight gauge (if equipped). If a sight gauge is not equipped, maintain the coolant to the level that is specified by the OEM of the cooling system.

4. Clean the cooling system filler cap. Inspect the gaskets of the cooling system filler cap. If the gaskets of the cooling system filler cap are damaged, discard the old cooling system filler cap. Install a new cooling system filler cap. If the gaskets of the cooling system filler cap are not damaged, use a 9S-8140 Pressurizing Pump to pressure test the filler cap. The correct pressure is stamped on the face of the cooling system filler cap. If the cooling system filler cap does not maintain the correct pressure, install a new cooling system filler cap.

5. Start the engine. Inspect the cooling system for leaks and for proper operating temperature.