Had it serviced, and the leak checked out in Dallas at the Allison
Transmission/Detroit for what I thought was going to be just a loose
hose clamp. Turned out that the coolant was dripping out from a
rusted thermostat housing which of course is only accessable thru the
AC compressor etc. It was dripping down on the wet hose that I
could see from underneath. They showed me the leak with a flashlite
and it's for real. No one ever said that these bird engines were
easy to work on. So... they tell me 5 to 7 hrs of labor plus the
parts, probably obtainable from Detroit Diesel. They did a pressure
test and it scored 11 out of a possible 15 psi. It's ok to drive it
but I'm to keep a close eye on the coolant level and temperature
gauge. They say it's not urgent but that the work should be done in
the next few months or so. I'd like to wait until we return to the
midwest, from San Antonio, in late April. Anyone had a similar
experience and do you think I should rush it or wait until late
April? It leaks a gallon after driving 250 miles or so.
P.S. Can I get by with topping off with pure distilled water until
then or should I put in the 50/50 mixture recommended by Detroit?
And before I forget, thanks to whoever it was that referred me to
the Dallas shop noted above. A very clean, friendly and well
organized facility which I would refer to anyone.
Thanks guys!
Ron & Ruth near Galveston
Ron get two cans of Bars Leak [no other brand] pour it in cold then
start up an drive,it should stop it. I have used it a lot of years.
Anytime i buy a car or truck i put a can in, also the bus.
Jack Jones
87 Pt 40
East Tn
Ron, Ruth The prob with using just water in place of the recomended
coolant mix is you will dilute the rust inhibiters and when the
inside of the metal coolant paths rust they get gunky and clog or
rust out. I would think that adding just water is ok for a temp fix
but 4 gal. of 50/50 should buy you 1,000 miles. Dripping coolant has
a salty taste and some pets will lap it up like milk. I lost a pet
dog when I was careless with flushed coolant.
Greg
--- In
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "luckyron1"
wrote:
>
> Had it serviced, and the leak checked out in Dallas at the Allison
> Transmission/Detroit for what I thought was going to be just a
loose
> hose clamp. Turned out that the coolant was dripping out from a
> rusted thermostat housing which of course is only accessable thru
the
> AC compressor etc. It was dripping down on the wet hose that I
> could see from underneath. They showed me the leak with a
flashlite
> and it's for real. No one ever said that these bird engines were
> easy to work on. So... they tell me 5 to 7 hrs of labor plus the
> parts, probably obtainable from Detroit Diesel. They did a
pressure
> test and it scored 11 out of a possible 15 psi. It's ok to drive
it
> but I'm to keep a close eye on the coolant level and temperature
> gauge. They say it's not urgent but that the work should be done
in
> the next few months or so. I'd like to wait until we return to the
> midwest, from San Antonio, in late April. Anyone had a similar
> experience and do you think I should rush it or wait until late
> April? It leaks a gallon after driving 250 miles or so.
>
> P.S. Can I get by with topping off with pure distilled water until
> then or should I put in the 50/50 mixture recommended by Detroit?
> And before I forget, thanks to whoever it was that referred me to
> the Dallas shop noted above. A very clean, friendly and well
> organized facility which I would refer to anyone.
>
> Thanks guys!
>
> Ron & Ruth near Galveston
>
Hi Ron,
Keep an eye on the transmission temps as I'm told
the transmission also offloads heat through the engine
coolant system. If I've misunderstood, someone please
help me get it right as well.
John Suter
2000LXi
--- Gregory OConnor
wrote:
> Ron, Ruth The prob with using just water in place of
> the recomended
> coolant mix is you will dilute the rust inhibiters
> and when the
> inside of the metal coolant paths rust they get
> gunky and clog or
> rust out. I would think that adding just water is
> ok for a temp fix
> but 4 gal. of 50/50 should buy you 1,000 miles.
> Dripping coolant has
> a salty taste and some pets will lap it up like
> milk. I lost a pet
> dog when I was careless with flushed coolant.
>
> Greg
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
> "luckyron1"
> wrote:
> >
> > Had it serviced, and the leak checked out in
> Dallas at the Allison
> > Transmission/Detroit for what I thought was going
> to be just a
> loose
> > hose clamp. Turned out that the coolant was
> dripping out from a
> > rusted thermostat housing which of course is only
> accessable thru
> the
> > AC compressor etc. It was dripping down on the
> wet hose that I
> > could see from underneath. They showed me the
> leak with a
> flashlite
> > and it's for real. No one ever said that these
> bird engines were
> > easy to work on. So... they tell me 5 to 7 hrs of
> labor plus the
> > parts, probably obtainable from Detroit Diesel.
> They did a
> pressure
> > test and it scored 11 out of a possible 15 psi.
> It's ok to drive
> it
> > but I'm to keep a close eye on the coolant level
> and temperature
> > gauge. They say it's not urgent but that the work
> should be done
> in
> > the next few months or so. I'd like to wait until
> we return to the
> > midwest, from San Antonio, in late April. Anyone
> had a similar
> > experience and do you think I should rush it or
> wait until late
> > April? It leaks a gallon after driving 250 miles
> or so.
> >
> > P.S. Can I get by with topping off with pure
> distilled water until
> > then or should I put in the 50/50 mixture
> recommended by Detroit?
> > And before I forget, thanks to whoever it was that
> referred me to
> > the Dallas shop noted above. A very clean,
> friendly and well
> > organized facility which I would refer to anyone.
> >
> > Thanks guys!
> >
> > Ron & Ruth near Galveston
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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If the leak is accessible with your hands, I'd consider cleaning the
area well with sandpaper, wiping off with acetone and putting some
epoxy putty on it until you can get it fixed. You'll need to do it
when the engine is cold and there is not much pressure on the system.
I've had epoxy putty hold for years in some instances. My house has
hot water radiator for heat and I repaired two cracked radiators 16
yrs ago with epoxy putty. They are still holding today.
This probably wouldn't work if it is a leaking gasket.
Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver