URGENT Technomadia - Overheated and stranded in SE Montana LOCKED DOWN 4 REVIEW!

[technomadia]

Hey All --

Here's what happened:

Climbing a pass on highway 212 in SE Montana, heading west from Broadus.

The engine performed great, as it has on this whole trip across country. I kept the RPM's up, and the temperature gauge barely started to move by the time we reached the top.

But as we started heading downhill - to my alarm the temperature gauge kept going up!  Within a minute, even though we were coasting, it was up to 205, and I put the engine in neutral to take all load off of it, and I started braking to pull off onto the shoulder.

As I was slowing down, the overheat light came on - and the engine died right as I got off the road.

I got out, and the coolant overflow was gushing coolant on the ground. No hoses appear burst.

We waited a while until the engine was cool, and eventually added 12 gallons of water to get the coolant level back up.  We were able to restart the engine, and move a few feet further off the road - but the engine had very little power.

We are stopped in a place 20 minutes from the nearest cell signal, so at the moment we are in the town of Broadus using the Internet to figure out what to do next.

Help, advice and connections appreciated.

We have Coachnet, and they can come tow us in the AM - but we need to know where to get them to tow us to.

Any bus nuts in Montana?

Any good mechanics in Billings, or anywhere else?

Any ideas what might have happened?  Overheating on a a downhill is new to me.

What is the right type of tow truck we should insist on to tow a 4106?

Feel free to call me at 408-667-9022 if you have any leads within the next hour (we will be heading back no cell of coverage).

Thanks in advance!!!

  - Chris (and Cherie) // www.technomadia.com

[luvrbus]

Bad deal when a GM does that you probably cracked the upper head or at the least blew a seal gasket between the head and block when a GM is low of water the top head is dry and will crack 

I can send you a head if needed but am not coming to Montana as well as I like both of you Check with the oil patch guys you will find a 2 stroke guy and if you need a head let me know 


I am real sorry to hear this any water coming from the drain tubes or exhaust manifold? 

[technomadia]

Thanks for the reply, Luvrbus!

Once the coolant stopped boiling out the overflow, nothing else seemed to leak or drip once we refilled it.

The oil is reading low, but I think a large portion of that is from the bus tilting to the right from being inn the shoulder.

The oil doesn't look cloudy or watery.

Cheers,

  - Chris (and Cherie)

[wg4t50]

Im with luvrbus, also guess maybe thermostat closed, at top of mtn, and not able to cool it going down.  Sad event, I have never had that happen, so Im guessing. Why the low power ?
Good luck
Dave M

[challenger440]

Sorry to hear of your troubles.  I'm 300 hundred miles from you so not much help.  The better news is that Billings is a good sized city.  Quite a bit of heavy industry.  If memory serves me there are several heavy equipment dealers between Billings and Laurel.  Cat dealers and such. Laurel has a large oil  refinery so I'm quessing someone in the area knows how to work on a DD.  I've used Grizzly Diesel here in Helena, maybe they can advise for Billings or even someone in Broadus (farmers).  406-449-1269 in Helena.  Also R & R Diesel might have some ideas. 406-442-2662 in Helena.  Best of luck. John M.

[OneLapper]

Was there any smoke from the exhaust after you restarted the engine?

[Jriddle]

Eagle Andy is or was in Miles City North of you. He may know of Mechanic in his (your) area. I sure he has some connection to the OIL Patch and may know someone for you.

Good Luck John

[wg4t50]

Google "Detroit Diesel Dealers MT"  I found a few all over the state, good Luck
Dave M

[technomadia]

Was there any smoke from the exhaust after you restarted the engine?

Cherie noticed some black smoke when I started the engine and moved the bus.  We normally don't have any black smoke at all.

We only left the engine on long enough to get fully off the road.

  - Chris

[luvrbus]

Andy lives in Billings now his shop guy may know of someone,Chris you fry the GM engines and most of the time water will not show up in the oil fwiw Mike's aka Red Ryder 8v71 was well done I talking crispy here not a drop of water in the oil check the drain tubes if they are clear with no water you are a lucky dude

[technomadia]

Any contact info for Andy?

I think Billings will be the ideal place to get Coachnet to tow us - the question is where.

Oh - and any tips for towing a 4106 with minimal risk of damage?

Thanks all!

  - Chris

[luvrbus]

I PM you Andy's numbers his wife name is Eillen if one of the numbers is hers, tell coachnet to send a drop deck since you have a 730 transmission

good luck

[technomadia]

Thanks all - we have made contact with Andy.



Thanks you all for your help and feedback / it is so comforting to know we are not completely alone on the side of the road.

[technomadia]

Andy is doing some research into options in Billings, and we have made contact with his garage in Miles City who says they will coach us through doing the repairs ourselves if needed (they have too much work in house right now).

We are heading back to the bus, will be out of touch. Will check back in at 9a MST when we return to town for a coordination call with Coachnet to figure out where we have them take us. They assure us our tech on call knows the type of equipment we need.

If anyone has ideas, leads on places to have the bus towed, etc - please post them. 

Thank you so much!

[Seangie]

That's a heartbreaker and stressful as well.  Praying for you both.

-Sean

www.herdofturtles.org
1984 Eagle Model 10S