330 Cat engine drain plug

[RKL2]

I want to drain the coolant and refill on my 3126E engine...Does anyone know where the engine drain plug is located and when you replace it does it need a thread sealant...thanks RKL

 

[RKL2]

I want to drain the coolant and refill on my 3126E engine...Does anyone know where the engine drain plug is located and when you replace it does it need a thread sealant...thanks RKL

 

[Radarr]

RKL

I would highly recommend that you call CAT Support 1-877-777-3126 and get the proper procedure from them. I have heard some horror stories about subsequent damage caused when a vacum blockage wasn't removed, when the system was drained. You'll have only one time to do it right or it may come back and haunt you later.

radarr

 

[Zimectrin]

Good advice as have not seen this addressed before here.

Let us know waht you learn. Each and every one of us has a radiator and a lot have the 3126.

 

[RKL2]

Good advice...I will call Cat support and post the proper procedure....RKL

 

[KirbyRVA]

RKL:

Just curious why you want to flush and refill now. I just talked to FL and they quoted, 'coolant in 2002 and later motorhomes with CAT engine good for 60 months or 100,000 miles as long as SCA's are checked every 6 months.'

I had the 'itch' to change mine but am reconsidering. Mine has an inline drain petcock and there is a coolant drain, flush and refill procedure in the FL manual that came with the rig.

 

[RKL2]

Coolant confusion ends....I think...2 past calls to Freightliner Customer assistance ended up with the tech stating the original factory added Fleetcharge coolant had a 24 month life and then needed to be changed....
After Ranger said it was 60 months, I called again today and asked for the supervisor who said that if you don't check and service the SCA's every 6 months, then you need to change it at 24 months...If you do the SCA maintenance, then it is good for 60 months.
He said the techs I talked to were simply reading the maintenance schedule which apparently says to change at 24 months period.
Cat says to refill by removing lower radiator hose, let drain, then refill with distilled water and or flush, run for 10 minutes, drain again and then refill slowly thru the overflow tank and then let idle for 10 minutes...afer a few miles recheck level and concentration %.
No need to remove engine drain plug per Cat tech and the 3126 is NOT a sleeved engine.
I found out my service center was not checking SCA's at each oil change...,Freightliner say for me to check it now and if additional SCA is indicated...then dump it...If SCA'a are ok ,then keep it to 60 months but check SCA's regularly....
Thanks for all the input...The factory added coolant is Fleetcharge non extended life..
RKL

 

[RKL2]

smlranger....where is the inline petock on your 36 GD?...also is there one on the radiator?...thanks......RKL

 

[KirbyRVA]

RKL:

I seem to remember the drain petcock is on the road side of the engine in a coolant line that likely runs forward to the heater core. Anyway, I use that drain to gather coolant for dipping the test strips to check SCA concentrations. I did add a pint of Pencool once since I got this coach in Feb.

Can't remember if there was a drain petcock on the radiator but would think so. I will look at mine tomorrow.

 

[RKL2]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Reply </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Coolant changed on the 3126E Cat...only found one petcock and that was on the heater outflow line....Pulled the lower radiator hose, drained, flushed and then followed directions on the yellow decal on the radiator for the refill...no problems...all the spigot valves worked easily and did not leak....there is no petcock on the radiator......thanks for the input....RKL