Coolant level high?

[ravekiss]

I noticed yesterday after getting back to the dock from about 3 hours on the very rough water, that the coolant level in the bottle was all the way at the top, almost full. Before we went out it was between the lines as it should be (closer to max however). Any reason why this happened? Any ideas?

 

[Dr Honda]

Either, the engine got very hot... or you have a head gasket leak.

After the engine cooled, did it go back down? If it didn't... open the cap, and give it a sniff. If you can smell fuel/oil in it... you have a engine leak.

 

[ravekiss]

Update:
The coolant level never went back down even after the engine was completely cooled. I opened it and sniffed but no fuel/oil scent and no other signs of them. We went out on the boat last Sunday, no problems but the coolant never went back down.

Any other ideas?

 

[Dr Honda]

Nope... it could have been a fluke thing, but even if it got hot... it should have drawn the coolant back in.


After it cools down completely, I would open the bleed screws, to make sure there isn't any trapped air, and then top off the engine.

I've had it happen on dirt bikes with tiny little radiators... but I haven't heard of that happening on a SeaDoo with lot's of cool water under it.