Are you loosing coolant and not sure why? [Archive]

David Bott

12-19-2010, 08:33 AM

Hi All...

I just made a post on our travel log in regards to loosing coolant and could not see a leak. Turns out to be ERG Cooler leaking. Here is the story...

http://www.outsideourbubble.com/loosing ... t-sure-why (http://www.outsideourbubble.com/loosing-coolent-not-sure-why)

Happy holidays!

Chuck v

12-19-2010, 11:58 AM

David,

Thanks for the heads-up on this issue. I have not had any coolant loss as of yet with my Mercedes powered T40-C but will definitely keep this in mind.

Just a quick question -- how risky is adding plain water in terms of diluting the anti-cavitation additives in the factory recommended coolant? I expect that mixing brands of SCA formulations would be even less desirable...

Chuck

David Bott

12-19-2010, 12:39 PM

Not to sure. But I needed to add water in order to make it the rest of the way. I was told to add water by Freightliner. Not sure if it will all need to be drained and replaced again when the work is done tomorrow. That would really be a bummer as I just had that done in Gaffney on Wed of last week. Thus I would have paid the fluid and the work for nothing.

Chuck v

12-19-2010, 01:03 PM

David,

I believe that they can test the concentration of the SCA levels in the coolant and perhaps just add a dosage of the additives if required. Check with the service representative you have been working with and shop, they should be the final word on what work may be needed...

Chuck

tarheel

12-19-2010, 02:08 PM

David-
Thanks for the information. I also have experienced having my check engine light come on and discovered that I was low on coolant. On a recent 7500 mile trip, I lost over a gallon. With 10,000 miles on the coach, I've used a couple of gallons. I'm stationary in a Florida park for three months, but when I get home I'm going to take it over to Freightliner for a fix.

It's also interesting that my check engine light has come on four times since I've had the coach and it has been four different problems. You would think that they could seperate the problems with some sort of symbol when an issue occurs instead of having to take it to a garage to have it diagnosed. It would be a shame to have your vehicle towed to a garage to find you were down a half of gallon of coolant.

Dick

David Bott

12-19-2010, 03:13 PM

Hi Dick...

In regards to "I'm going to take it over to Freightliner for a fix. " This would not be a Freightliner issue, but the engine manufacturer. Freightliner was nice enough to help me with the cause and then helped me get it fixed.

So, if you are still in warranty, you will want to do this before it runs out.

tarheel

12-19-2010, 03:58 PM

David-
The Freightliner facility in Raleigh is also the Mercedes (Detroit) facility. They have taken care of a couple engine issues for me under warranty already. I bought my 07 new in March and have the full new warranty on everything beginning on that date.

Dick

David Bott

12-19-2010, 05:04 PM

Perfect! Yes, for sure something to look into if you are loosing coolant and do not see any leaks.

nomad

12-19-2010, 08:34 PM

I was under the impression that all Frieghtliner repair facilities can do Cummins engine repairs under warranty ?

David Bott

12-19-2010, 09:51 PM

I have a Mercedes (Detroit) 900. Not all do the Mercedes engines. Even the main one in Gaffeny is not Mercedes certified.

Chuck v

12-20-2010, 12:19 AM

David,

The engine in my 2007 TourMaster is the Mercedes 926 which is the largest of the 900 series engines at 7.2 liters. Even the 926 had four levels of specification, with the 330 HP and 1000 pounds-feet of torque being the highest. I suspect that your 330 Mercedes is the 926 as well...

I have a PDF of the data sheet for this engine as published by Mercedes-Benz and Detroit Diesel showing the HP and torque curves versus RPM, if you want me to e-mail it to you just let me know. It seems to be a bit more information than came with the literature on my coach.

By the way, my Portland, Oregon Frieghtliner dealer is my Mercedes/Detroit engine service shop as well, just like Tarheel said about his shop in Raleigh.

Chuck

univmd

12-20-2010, 05:57 PM

When we took our 2008 Tourmaster T40C Cummins360 to Speedco for service this past summer, the stop engine light came on right after Speedco topped off the coolant. Speedco could not understand why and could not read the fault code. So we had to have the coach towed to Freightliner. They read the code, which said low coolant, they topped off the coolant again, and now the coach runs fine. I have no idea what happened at Speedco and think it was a waste that we had to have the coach towed to Freightliner just because we did not know it was low on coolant. Now we carry 2 bottles of coolant in our storage bay, just in case...

David Bott

12-20-2010, 06:17 PM

Ok, EGR Cooler replaced. Post made to site along with some photos. On the road again! :)

http://www.outsideourbubble.com/erg-coo ... n-the-road (http://www.outsideourbubble.com/erg-cooler-replaced-back-on-the-road)

eldercaddy

12-24-2010, 07:29 AM

Thanks Dave for giving us an opportunity to read your story about loosing coolant. Happy Holidays too. :D

RayChez1

12-24-2010, 09:39 PM

Yes David, I found your post very informative. Thanks for the heads up info.

Midniteoyl

01-03-2011, 12:59 AM

(RANT TIME?I am sorry, but one light with no other message when the system has an engine stats system is just, well, STUPID! It should TELL YOU why the light is on without needing a computer to hook to it. After all, if I had it in ?engine error? mode, it will tell me the error, but only when the error is happening and only if you leave it in that mode, then you see nothing else. So it could be programmed that when an error happens, display the message. AUGH!)

I would think that investing in a Scanner would be a good thing to do. I havent done much searching beyond the Pro-Link, but for example, on my Audi there is a Laptop software solution that is not only better than a canned scanner, but 1/2 the price...

David Bott

01-03-2011, 08:53 AM

On our engine, you can not get the connector unless you are a service center. Then it requires software and a yearly license key. Not at all happy about that seeing I should be able to read the code of my own engine.

Midniteoyl

01-03-2011, 01:38 PM

Well thats bunk.... :cry:

GO BLUE

01-11-2011, 02:04 PM

I had a coolant leak that no one could find since the first week I owned the bus ...finally after 24000 miles at North Trail Rv I had taken it in for new horns they spotted the leak took it to freightliner they changed the hose that goes from engine to heater box up front it was rubbing on the alternator put a new hose on and wire tied it away from rubbing jim k

rescue7

03-15-2011, 07:38 PM

David

Did you have the coolant changed at Gaffney and then the EGR started leaking.

I find that strange as I just had mine changed at Gaffney and now I am loosing anti freeze somewhere. About a gallon in 900 miles. I wonder if something happens when the fluid is drained.
Going to have it checked when we get home Friday.
I have no smoke in the exhaust. Did you have smoke right away or after it leaked for a while?
Cant see any leaks so it must be internal.

Thanks

Don

David Bott

03-15-2011, 07:58 PM

Hi Don...

I had work done in Gaffney, but that was not the cause of the issue as I had the issue I think before that. And I did not have it changed at that time.

You can see the issue if you drive for some time and then stop for about 30 mins. If you have a leak the pressure built up in the radiator will force the antifreeze though the cracks and into the engine block. When you then start the engine, you should see white smoke. Mine leak was so bad that it smoked for like 5 mins.

If you are loosing antifreeze and can not see any wet spots on or around engine parts, then their is only one other place it can go...the engine.