Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-28-2006, 08:23 PM   #1
Winnebago Camper
 
Golfingene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: California, Nevada, Arizona
Posts: 42
We just returned from a 2000 mi trip after having our radiator flushed and a new demister installed to keep the blow-by at bay. Everything went very well as far as cooling, even towing our Grand Cherokee during the hot weather. However, I used about 2.8 gallons of coolant along the way. The mystery is...I never saw any evidence of any dripping or smelled any coolant when it was hot or cold...just disappeared.

I'm going to schedule a return trip to the CAT dealer that fixed it, but would like to have ideas from my forum buddies to whisper in their ear. I read the heater core thread, but don't see any direct connection. Any suggestions?
__________________
Gene & Mary Lou
2011 Monaco Diplomat 43 DFT
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
Golfingene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2006, 08:23 PM   #2
Winnebago Camper
 
Golfingene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: California, Nevada, Arizona
Posts: 42
We just returned from a 2000 mi trip after having our radiator flushed and a new demister installed to keep the blow-by at bay. Everything went very well as far as cooling, even towing our Grand Cherokee during the hot weather. However, I used about 2.8 gallons of coolant along the way. The mystery is...I never saw any evidence of any dripping or smelled any coolant when it was hot or cold...just disappeared.

I'm going to schedule a return trip to the CAT dealer that fixed it, but would like to have ideas from my forum buddies to whisper in their ear. I read the heater core thread, but don't see any direct connection. Any suggestions?
__________________
Gene & Mary Lou
2011 Monaco Diplomat 43 DFT
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
Golfingene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2006, 02:13 AM   #3
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Fort Pierce Florida
Posts: 90
It is possible, during the flush/refill that all the air was not evacuated. If so it should stabilize, otherwise I would have an oil sample taken to determine if any coolant in the oil. Good luck and keep us posted.
__________________
2003 Journey 39'

2003 Honda Element (toad)
Florida Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2006, 02:49 AM   #4
Winnebago Master
 
ichn2go's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seaford, VA
Posts: 1,046
If you dont see any signs of leaks when crawling under it or puddles on the driveway my money would be with Florida Guy. Altho 2.8 gal is a lot of coolant.

When I had the radiator flushed and changed to ELC it took awhile to get the expansion tank to the mark. Doesn't ever hurt to get something checked. Good Miles
__________________
Happy Trails! ICHN2GO, Seaford VA,
06, 34 Newmar Ventana
02 Jeep Liberty
ichn2go is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2006, 04:33 AM   #5
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 212
A heater core leak is hard to spot in hot weather when you have your dash AC on as the coolant will leak and travel down and out the AC dash drip tube and look like water run off....To test, shut off the AC and run the heater and put a dixie cup under the drip tube to collect any coolant dripping.....This is where the leak will show up on a heater core leak....RKL
RKL2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2006, 06:30 AM   #6
Winnebago Master
 
smlranger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 2,169
Agree with RKL...check under the front right to see if your heater core is leaking. Mine started on my current trip and I lost some coolant.
__________________
'07 Country Coach Allure 470 Siskiyou Summit #31578, Cummins ISL 425; 2014 Ford F150 toad; Air Force One Toad Brake.
Glen Allen, VA; Smith Mountain Lake, VA.
smlranger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2006, 08:42 AM   #7
doc
Winnebago Owner
 
doc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dixie !! (north Georgia) USA
Posts: 140
We had a similar experience, although this was not after a flush. After a long run, the coolant would be low in the filler container (Cat diesel) Never saw any evidence of a leak when the coach was parked.
I had it parked on a concrete pad at a local college football game (Univ of Ga) and the engine was idling after I set it up. Saw a drop of coolant hit the concrete and then another. Turns out the thing leaked from a hose connection, but only leaked when the engine was running. FCC in Gaffney replaced the clamp the next time we had it serviced. End of problem. Hope yours is that simple
doc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2006, 10:49 AM   #8
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 962
Golf ...

I have a 2004 Journey with the Cat engine ... when it was new my coolant kept disappearing very slowly ... no visible sign of it ...

My local Freightliner shop found it ... one of the connections to the radiator was not tight ... the mechanic found it with a pressure device and listening for sound ... it took him about 10 or 15 minutes to find the leak ... and 3 minutes to fix it ...

On my rig the leak was on street side of the radiator about 3/4 of the way to the top ...

Somebody did not tighten this enough during assembly ...
skigramp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2006, 07:07 PM   #9
Winnebago Camper
 
Golfingene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: California, Nevada, Arizona
Posts: 42
Thanks for the great info...I'll fire her up and check before I take her to the CAT dealer. I'll let you know when it's fixed and how that was accomplished.
__________________
Gene & Mary Lou
2011 Monaco Diplomat 43 DFT
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
Golfingene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2006, 07:47 PM   #10
Winnebago Camper
 
Golfingene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: California, Nevada, Arizona
Posts: 42
Interim update. Ran engine for over .5 hour, turned on heater, surveyed front and back...no visible leaks. Guess I'll schedule it into CAT. Keep tuned...
__________________
Gene & Mary Lou
2011 Monaco Diplomat 43 DFT
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
Golfingene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2006, 03:17 AM   #11
Winnie-Wise
 
Joe-K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Butler, PA
Posts: 283
After the last test run, did you notice the coolant level drop again?

I'm in agreement with the other suggestions that the air is purging after the flush and fill. I know on my rig, I used coolant for the first 3 trip that we had it. Never used a drop after that until I changed it, then used coolant again for a couple trips.

Maybe the air is now flushed out and the level will stay up and you can save the expense of a CAT service appointment.
__________________
Joe & Shelly, Justin, Tyler, Alyssa | Butler PA
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP|Cummins 425|Honda CRV
Joe-K is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2006, 04:17 AM   #12
Winnebago Master
 
ichn2go's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seaford, VA
Posts: 1,046
I had the same experience as Joe-K. Give it a little time and see what happens.

This is not a critical fault, just have some coolant on hand.Good Miles
__________________
Happy Trails! ICHN2GO, Seaford VA,
06, 34 Newmar Ventana
02 Jeep Liberty
ichn2go is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
RV Radio Clock losing time LK23 Tech | Toys and Gear 9 06-26-2005 08:46 AM
Radio clock losing time LK23 Tech | Toys and Gear 6 05-28-2005 05:21 PM
Engine Battery Keeps Losing Charge Vet Man Electrical | Charging, Solar and Electronics 26 05-02-2005 02:33 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.