Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I am going to change the A/F in our 88FC. The Blue Box
says the capacity with the heaters is 85 quarts. I was going to use A/F
that meets the basic Cat standard plus the additive. Is there any
trick to emptying the whole system. I was considering some low PSI air
pressure. What have others used for a/f and how did you empty the
cooling system?

Bruce
1988 FC35

Bruce, I've used Cat prediluted antifreeze since I bought the coach in 2000.
Cat says their
product has a usable life of 600,000 miles/6,000 hours/6 years but you must add
their
extended life additive package at 300,000 miles/3,000 hours/3 years to use it
this long.
Cat shops charge about $10/gallon bottle. I'll be changing out the system this
year.
Biggest problem I've had in the past is finding someone that will take the spent
antifreeze.

When I drain the system, I close the block valves on the circulation system and
drain the
radiator and engine block only. Volume comes to about 12-15 gallons. I figure
the
circulation system volume is negligible and don't try to drain it. I'm sure you
could blow
out the circ system with compressed air but I just haven't considered it worth
the effort.

Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> I am going to change the A/F in our 88FC. The Blue Box
> says the capacity with the heaters is 85 quarts. I was going to use A/F
> that meets the basic Cat standard plus the additive. Is there any
> trick to emptying the whole system. I was considering some low PSI air
> pressure. What have others used for a/f and how did you empty the
> cooling system?
>
> Bruce
> 1988 FC35
>

--- I use the CAT predeluted stuff too on my 90SP36....costs $12/gal
in Vegas........red in color, supposed to last 600,000 miles or at
least for a while...make sure you follow instructions and drain all
the old stuff in the system..LOL
Hank Hannigan
90SP36








In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
wrote:
>
> Bruce, I've used Cat prediluted antifreeze since I bought the
coach in 2000. Cat says their
> product has a usable life of 600,000 miles/6,000 hours/6 years but
you must add their
> extended life additive package at 300,000 miles/3,000 hours/3
years to use it this long.
> Cat shops charge about $10/gallon bottle. I'll be changing out
the system this year.
> Biggest problem I've had in the past is finding someone that will
take the spent antifreeze.
>
> When I drain the system, I close the block valves on the
circulation system and drain the
> radiator and engine block only. Volume comes to about 12-15
gallons. I figure the
> circulation system volume is negligible and don't try to drain
it. I'm sure you could blow
> out the circ system with compressed air but I just haven't
considered it worth the effort.
>
> Eric in San Antonio
> 84FC35SBWL2
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
> >
> > I am going to change the A/F in our 88FC. The Blue Box
> > says the capacity with the heaters is 85 quarts. I was going to
use A/F
> > that meets the basic Cat standard plus the additive. Is there any
> > trick to emptying the whole system. I was considering some low
PSI air
> > pressure. What have others used for a/f and how did you empty the
> > cooling system?
> >
> > Bruce
> > 1988 FC35
> >
>

Hank, noticed in your signiature line only 1 bird listed. You finally outta the
2 bird club?
Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston,Montana
"POO-DOO-EXPRESS"
----- Original Message -----
From: Henry Jay Hannigan
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 8:38 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Changing A/F in a 3208


--- I use the CAT predeluted stuff too on my 90SP36....costs $12/gal
in Vegas........red in color, supposed to last 600,000 miles or at
least for a while...make sure you follow instructions and drain all
the old stuff in the system..LOL
Hank Hannigan
90SP36

In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
wrote:
>
> Bruce, I've used Cat prediluted antifreeze since I bought the
coach in 2000. Cat says their
> product has a usable life of 600,000 miles/6,000 hours/6 years but
you must add their
> extended life additive package at 300,000 miles/3,000 hours/3
years to use it this long.
> Cat shops charge about $10/gallon bottle. I'll be changing out
the system this year.
> Biggest problem I've had in the past is finding someone that will
take the spent antifreeze.
>
> When I drain the system, I close the block valves on the
circulation system and drain the
> radiator and engine block only. Volume comes to about 12-15
gallons. I figure the
> circulation system volume is negligible and don't try to drain
it. I'm sure you could blow
> out the circ system with compressed air but I just haven't
considered it worth the effort.
>
> Eric in San Antonio
> 84FC35SBWL2
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
> >
> > I am going to change the A/F in our 88FC. The Blue Box
> > says the capacity with the heaters is 85 quarts. I was going to
use A/F
> > that meets the basic Cat standard plus the additive. Is there any
> > trick to emptying the whole system. I was considering some low
PSI air
> > pressure. What have others used for a/f and how did you empty the
> > cooling system?
> >
> > Bruce
> > 1988 FC35
> >
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Eric: Thank you for that reply. I have done a lot of reading on A/F.
Used to be easy when you just went and bought a few gallons
of "Prestone". My BB Blue Box says that the cooling system capacity
is 61 quarts for the engine and 85 quarts if you include all the
heaters. That means there is 24 quarts in the heaters. Are you saying
you can buy Cat ELC A/F for a mere $10.00 a gallon?? Seems very
inexpensive. That is a word Cat does not understand. In the files
section in one of the Forums there is a Cat document that covers oils
and A/F. They say you can use any of 5 different coolants:

Non Cat ELC 3 years
Cat ELC 6 years
Cat Deac 3 years needs SCA
ASTM 6210 2 years needs SCA
ASTM 4985 1 year needs SCA

They all require Cat SOS testing at half life.
You CANNOT mix Extended life coolants (ELC) with other A/F. So if you
used the long life Cat and did not drain the heaters and flush you
could have a problem. I remember reading about certain mixtures of
A/F turning into a gel. A PHD in chemistry is needed to understand
all of this. Has anyone in this forum tried Final Charge??

Bruce
1988 FC35

Bruce,
I buy it a case at a time from Cat dealers for a "mere" $10-$12/gallon. Cat
stuff is not
cheap but afterall it is prediluted with 50% water and I don't think they use
Perrier for
diluent. It is Cat ELC. I've had no gelling or other problems. Just dumb
luck I guess as I
never got past a B.S. in ChE.
Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> Eric: Thank you for that reply. I have done a lot of reading on A/F.
> Used to be easy when you just went and bought a few gallons
> of "Prestone". My BB Blue Box says that the cooling system capacity
> is 61 quarts for the engine and 85 quarts if you include all the
> heaters. That means there is 24 quarts in the heaters. Are you saying
> you can buy Cat ELC A/F for a mere $10.00 a gallon?? Seems very
> inexpensive. That is a word Cat does not understand. In the files
> section in one of the Forums there is a Cat document that covers oils
> and A/F. They say you can use any of 5 different coolants:
>
> Non Cat ELC 3 years
> Cat ELC 6 years
> Cat Deac 3 years needs SCA
> ASTM 6210 2 years needs SCA
> ASTM 4985 1 year needs SCA
>
> They all require Cat SOS testing at half life.
> You CANNOT mix Extended life coolants (ELC) with other A/F. So if you
> used the long life Cat and did not drain the heaters and flush you
> could have a problem. I remember reading about certain mixtures of
> A/F turning into a gel. A PHD in chemistry is needed to understand
> all of this. Has anyone in this forum tried Final Charge??
>
> Bruce
> 1988 FC35
>

Ya know, the coolant test strips are available at Cat or Napa, not expensive.
The coolant treatment is a little costly but I use recycled green in my rigs and
haven't had a cooling system failure in over 100k miles of operation. The
notion of extended life anything in a motor home makes no sense unless it is
used daily and covers lots of miles. Cheaper to the change the product, oil or
coolant frequently.
That strategy will achieve the same goal, extended service life of the engine.
There is no cheap way to get there.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: birdshill123
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 1:30 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Changing A/F in a 3208


Eric: Thank you for that reply. I have done a lot of reading on A/F.
Used to be easy when you just went and bought a few gallons
of "Prestone". My BB Blue Box says that the cooling system capacity
is 61 quarts for the engine and 85 quarts if you include all the
heaters. That means there is 24 quarts in the heaters. Are you saying
you can buy Cat ELC A/F for a mere $10.00 a gallon?? Seems very
inexpensive. That is a word Cat does not understand. In the files
section in one of the Forums there is a Cat document that covers oils
and A/F. They say you can use any of 5 different coolants:

Non Cat ELC 3 years
Cat ELC 6 years
Cat Deac 3 years needs SCA
ASTM 6210 2 years needs SCA
ASTM 4985 1 year needs SCA

They all require Cat SOS testing at half life.
You CANNOT mix Extended life coolants (ELC) with other A/F. So if you
used the long life Cat and did not drain the heaters and flush you
could have a problem. I remember reading about certain mixtures of
A/F turning into a gel. A PHD in chemistry is needed to understand
all of this. Has anyone in this forum tried Final Charge??

Bruce
1988 FC35





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yes sir, I do the same as you do. Mine is green, so far so good. It's like
in-flight insurance on my airplane, if I ever need that I will not be around to
collect it, you know! So why have it?

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL



----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Hohnstein
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 6:53 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Changing A/F in a 3208


Ya know, the coolant test strips are available at Cat or Napa, not expensive.
The coolant treatment is a little costly but I use recycled green in my rigs and
haven't had a cooling system failure in over 100k miles of operation. The notion
of extended life anything in a motor home makes no sense unless it is used daily
and covers lots of miles. Cheaper to the change the product, oil or coolant
frequently.
That strategy will achieve the same goal, extended service life of the engine.
There is no cheap way to get there.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: birdshill123
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 1:30 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Changing A/F in a 3208

Eric: Thank you for that reply. I have done a lot of reading on A/F.
Used to be easy when you just went and bought a few gallons
of "Prestone". My BB Blue Box says that the cooling system capacity
is 61 quarts for the engine and 85 quarts if you include all the
heaters. That means there is 24 quarts in the heaters. Are you saying
you can buy Cat ELC A/F for a mere $10.00 a gallon?? Seems very
inexpensive. That is a word Cat does not understand. In the files
section in one of the Forums there is a Cat document that covers oils
and A/F. They say you can use any of 5 different coolants:

Non Cat ELC 3 years
Cat ELC 6 years
Cat Deac 3 years needs SCA
ASTM 6210 2 years needs SCA
ASTM 4985 1 year needs SCA

They all require Cat SOS testing at half life.
You CANNOT mix Extended life coolants (ELC) with other A/F. So if you
used the long life Cat and did not drain the heaters and flush you
could have a problem. I remember reading about certain mixtures of
A/F turning into a gel. A PHD in chemistry is needed to understand
all of this. Has anyone in this forum tried Final Charge??

Bruce
1988 FC35

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

---Yeh Ernie: no longer two bird club rep...delivered 80FC to
Alabama a couple weeks ago....It was a good bird.....we love our 90
SP36 and plan to keep it..LOL
Hank
90SP36 in VEGAS





In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
>
> Hank, noticed in your signiature line only 1 bird listed. You
finally outta the 2 bird club?
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Livingston,Montana
> "POO-DOO-EXPRESS"
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Henry Jay Hannigan
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 8:38 AM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Changing A/F in a 3208
>
>
> --- I use the CAT predeluted stuff too on my 90SP36....costs
$12/gal
> in Vegas........red in color, supposed to last 600,000 miles or
at
> least for a while...make sure you follow instructions and drain
all
> the old stuff in the system..LOL
> Hank Hannigan
> 90SP36
>
> In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
> wrote:
> >
> > Bruce, I've used Cat prediluted antifreeze since I bought the
> coach in 2000. Cat says their
> > product has a usable life of 600,000 miles/6,000 hours/6 years
but
> you must add their
> > extended life additive package at 300,000 miles/3,000 hours/3
> years to use it this long.
> > Cat shops charge about $10/gallon bottle. I'll be changing out
> the system this year.
> > Biggest problem I've had in the past is finding someone that
will
> take the spent antifreeze.
> >
> > When I drain the system, I close the block valves on the
> circulation system and drain the
> > radiator and engine block only. Volume comes to about 12-15
> gallons. I figure the
> > circulation system volume is negligible and don't try to drain
> it. I'm sure you could blow
> > out the circ system with compressed air but I just haven't
> considered it worth the effort.
> >
> > Eric in San Antonio
> > 84FC35SBWL2
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
> wrote:
> > >
> > > I am going to change the A/F in our 88FC. The Blue Box
> > > says the capacity with the heaters is 85 quarts. I was going
to
> use A/F
> > > that meets the basic Cat standard plus the additive. Is
there any
> > > trick to emptying the whole system. I was considering some
low
> PSI air
> > > pressure. What have others used for a/f and how did you
empty the
> > > cooling system?
> > >
> > > Bruce
> > > 1988 FC35
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>