Notes on Proper Draining of Cooling Water for Diesel Generators

When winter approaches or the unit needs long-term storage, draining the cooling water of diesel generators is a critical maintenance task. Improper draining will lead to residual water freezing, cracking of cylinder blocks and other severe equipment damage. Here are the key precautions:

• Open the radiator cap before draining water If you drain water without opening the radiator cap, only part of the coolant can flow out. As the water level drops, a vacuum forms inside the sealed radiator, slowing down or stopping the water flow. Residual water left inside may freeze and damage components in cold weather.
• Do not drain water immediately when the engine is at high temperature If the engine runs at high temperature, avoid shutting down and draining water right away. Remove the load first and let the engine idle. Wait until the water temperature drops to 40–50°C before draining. Sudden draining causes the outer surface of cylinder block, cylinder head and water jacket to cool and shrink rapidly, while the internal part remains hot and barely shrinks. The huge temperature difference will easily create cracks on the cylinder block and cylinder head.
• Run the engine idle for a short time after draining water in cold weather After draining all cooling water in cold environments, start the engine and let it idle for several minutes. Some water may still remain inside the water pump and related parts. The heat from the running engine can evaporate leftover moisture. This eliminates trapped water to prevent the water pump from freezing and water seal damage which causes coolant leakage.

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