Continuous Running of Forklift

Short answer; It will damage the motor due to insufficient cooling ability, requiring extensive repair or replacement of motor.

Longer answer; likely damage that will result, in no particular order

damage to water pump seals and bearings

head gasket failure

cylinder head cracking

motor block cracking

pistons melting/cracking

main and big end bearing failure

It's better to locate source of coolant loss and repair than have to replace the motor, especially in a forklift.

Tubugrynbak:

Is that theoretical damage or really damage?

Normally, we can see the coolant low level indicator keeps turned on if we have not enough the coolant level in the system. So, if there is any chance we will have an interlock that prevent the forklift form operation until the coolant is added.

Regards,

Rule #75.

Er Rule #75?

I must of been asleep when it was promulgated..

It says that original posts must be only one sentence, and contain no useful information.

Thanks, I'll remember that for next time

Generally the same thing that will happen to any other vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, without coolant the engine will (eventually) overheat and the moving mechanical parts will seize.

External forced air cooling of the engine won't help unless your forklift is traveling at dangerous velocity.

Not theory, but actual real world results as has occured all to often when equipment is neglected.

If your machine has a low coolant warning system then it must be heeded.

It could well be adapted to provide the protection you are looking for.

However proper operation of the forklift, has a daily or shift check regime and it should be adhered to.

Here is some further guidance:

https://www.nclabor.com/osha/etta/indguide/ig12.pdf

It is essential that proper work practices are in place when operating forklifts.

The difference between theory, and reality, is in the very fine details. The first time you let the engine overhead, may be the last time it runs, or it can survive many doses of that abuse. Some engines are prone to loosing head gaskets. If that happens, the engine will probably stall and you will fix the leaks and do ahead thinking you got hurt by the damage. But if the engine does not loose a head gasket, it will continue to get hotter, and hotter until something gives way. That can be a cylinder head, or an engine block that cracks. Or it may be the oil that starts to fry away till the bearings melt from heat and destroy the crankshaft and connecting rods.

If we were a little careless about the coolant, how meticulous were we about keeping good fresh oil in your fork lift?

What can you do about it? Murphy gauges, or idiot lights. Either can be installed inexpensively, and be made to shut off the engine if pre set limits are exceeded. The systems commonly monitor oil pressure and engine temperature. That is cheap insurance. Another cheap insurance policy is synthetic motor oil. If the fork lift is propane, store say 10 tanks of propane . When the 10 tanks are all used, it is time to change the oil. If gasoline, or diesel, use an arbitrary number of gallons as a guide. when the forklift has consumed that much fuel, change the oil. BTW, how old are the fuel and air filters? Just thought I would ask. Good luck.

We have dismantled it today and found that the cooling water chamber got leakage. I dont know it was caused by the broken gasket or by cracking. So I let the Vendor answer.

Problem is about the broken level gauge. It seems to be perfect with the level keeps at the average one... stably "in two years". We just operate the forklift and until today when it is down.