Country Coach Owners Forum

> I have an 02 CC Allure with ISC 350hp Cummins. My mechanic is having > trouble draining all 25 gals of coolant. He can only get about 12

It will be interesting to see the response to this. I am going to

and do mine for the first time myself and would like to hear how

have approached it. I was thinking about pulling the thermostat

then draining the system through radiator and removal of heater

connection. Everything should gravity drain at that point.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

[quote author=ccallure2002"

>

> I have an 02 CC Allure with ISC 350hp Cummins. My mechanic is

trouble draining all 25 gals of coolant. He can only get about

gals

> out. Called CC and they said to pressurize the coolant tank and

would open up thermostat and drain. That brings up another

How are you going to get all 25 gals back into system if you

>

Here's one procedure for a CAT I once found on RV.net. This > procedure does not specifically pertain to a CC, but I think it is > accurate and will work. I have not done this yet.

Larry, 03 Allure #30856

"With the engine cold, pull off the lower radiator hose. Capture

old coolant for recycling (I use an old Rubbermade tub). Close and > fill cooling system with tap water. Put dash heater on full hot.
Start and run engine until operating temp is achieved plus 10 > minutes to circulate the coolant. Let cool and drain. Repeat until > what you drain is clear.

For the last flush, use distilled water. You can NEVER drain the > whole system with all the hoses to the front of the coach, dash > heater core, etc. The residual you leave in the cooling system > should be distilled water. Now add the correct number of gallons > (exactly 50% of the total system capacity) of the CORRECT (low > silicate antifreeze that meets Cat specs that are in your owner's > manual-- NOT regular Prestone).

You will need to calculate the correct initial dose of SCA. It can > be added as a liquid or coolant "filter" if you have one or BOTH.

Now, top off with distilled water.

Note: Cat recommends replacing the thermostat every few years.

the coolant drained, it is an easy job, and you are likely due.

While you are back there, make sure to lube the grease zirk on the > upper idler/fan bearing-- one small squirt of grease. Do NOT > overgrease or you will blow the seal.

Also check all hose clamps for tightness.

You are good for another 2-3 years with routine checking/adding of > the SCA's.

It does take time, but is VERY low tech-- and you will have done

correctly. It is close to impossible to pay someone to do it the > correct way.
> I do NOT recommend changing from one "type" of coolant to another--

it is just too hard to get all of the old coolant out of all the > lines and permanent (like ELC) and regular low silicate antifreeze > are NOT mixable. "

[quote author=Jim Hughes"

>

> It will be interesting to see the response to this. I am going

try

> and do mine for the first time myself and would like to hear how > some

> have approached it. I was thinking about pulling the thermostat > and

> then draining the system through radiator and removal of heater > hose

> connection. Everything should gravity drain at that point.
>

> Jim Hughes

> 2000 Allure #30511
>
>

[quote author=ccallure2002"
>]
> >

> > I have an 02 CC Allure with ISC 350hp Cummins. My mechanic is > having

> > trouble draining all 25 gals of coolant. He can only get about > 12
> gals

> > out. Called CC and they said to pressurize the coolant tank

How dose one typically recycle the antifreeze and > flushing fluids?

Thanks

Russ

05 Intrigue

11883

_____
> From: Jim Hughes [mailto:kc4fws@... (kc4fws@...)] > Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 3:43 PM > To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com (Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com) > Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Channging > Antifreeze Question

Thanks for the input Larry. You are correct in that > you cannot trust

someone else in doing it correctly. From experience, > Cummins Coach

Care does not even come close in doing it correctly.
I watched one

Cummins technician service SOB diesel pusher and all > he did was drain

the radiator, changed the SCA filter and added some > SCA additive to

the coolant. All together the tech maybe added 3 > gallons of

antifreeze/coolant and topped to all off with tap > water. I was

getting an oil change and chassis lube at the time.
I bet the owner

was charged for a complete cooling system service. I > decided then, I

was not going to let them touch my cooling system.

From looking at the coolant system diagrams, I am > assuming the heater

system will gravity drain if I open up the diverter > valve in the heat

system up front. I am not sure if the valve is > mechanically, vaccuum

or electrically controlled. I will have to take a > look before I get
into it.

Again, any and all comments/suggestions welcome.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511