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Coolant Tank fooled me

Yahoo Message Number: 13376
I got a Engine Mant. light and found low coolant problem. It took 1 1/2 gals. to fill the tank. The funny thing was the plastic expansion tank still had 1/2 full level. I check the hose and there was a flat spot so I decided to replace the hose. I connected one end to the metal tank and when I pulled old hose off the plastic tank the Antifreeze did not come out. I figure the tank was clogged. I ran a metal pick into the hose opening at the bottom of the tank and still nothing. Then I removed the tank and poured the antifreeze out. On close examination, I discovered the tank was solid plastic from the bottom of the tank. "No hole" was ever drilled for the outlet at the bottom of the tank. Go figure.
Thought you might want to pass that along to QC.

Check your tank. That antifreeze had been in our coach for three years doing nothing but making me think I had no problem with coolant level. The sight hole did not help. It looks almost the same full or empty.

Paul Cummings

01' Intrigue # 11309

Re: Coolant Tank fooled me

Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 13397
Hi Paul,

I didn't quite follow your explaination. Is the plastic tank in addition to the metal coolant reservoir - the first feeding the second? I do understand that the plastic tank's outlet was sealed.
Could you please explain.

It's inportant to use only the correct antifreeze and not car antifreeze.
Fred Kovol

Quote from: pcummings4

Re: Coolant Tank fooled me

Reply #2
Yahoo Message Number: 13401
Dear Paul Cummings,
I had the same problem with my 02 Intrigue. In solving the problem, I pushed a 3/8 inch dowel down as far as it would go, while holding it down to the bottom of the filler neck for stability and to remember to measure the same way every time. I then marked the top of the neck using a permanent marker. Measure the length of the neck and mark the bottom of the neck. Then place a mark at 1 inch intervals from the bottom of the neck mark to the end of the dowel that goes into the tank. Now you will have a positive measure of how much coolant is in the reserve tank. Oh, I also cut a small notch on the one inch marks that are in the tank. I was told by CC to refrain from keeping the reserve tank more than half full. Knowing that the dowel does not go to the bottom of the tank because of the angle of the filler neck, my reserve tank shows half full at about the middle of the dowel. This seems to be working & I have not had to add coolant for over 6,000 miles.
Dr. Stan 2004 Intrigue #11471

 

Re: Coolant Tank fooled me

Reply #3
Yahoo Message Number: 13416
Rred,

Correct, the plastic tank feeds the metal one. Sorry for the confusion. Most exphansion tanks are off to the side of the main fill radiator and Fleet guard Antifreeze 50 /50 is the product I used, thanks. They make two types, make sure you use the Polyethylene and not the Ethylene.

Paul

Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Paul,

I didn't quite follow your explaination. Is the plastic tank in > addition to the metal coolant reservoir - the first feeding the > second? I do understand that the plastic tank's outlet was sealed.
Could you please explain.

It's inportant to use only the correct antifreeze and not car > antifreeze.
Fred Kovol

[quote author=pcummings4"

>
>

> I got a Engine Mant. light and found low coolant problem. It

took 1

Quote
1/2 gals. to fill the tank. The funny thing was the plastic > > expansion tank still had 1/2 full level. I check the hose and

there

Quote
was a flat spot so I decided to replace the hose. I connected

one

Quote
end to the metal tank and when I pulled old hose off the plastic > > tank the Antifreeze did not come out. I figure the tank was > > clogged. I ran a metal pick into the hose opening at the bottom

of

Quote
the tank and still nothing. Then I removed the tank and poured

the

Quote
antifreeze out. On close examination, I discovered the tank was > > solid plastic from the bottom of the tank. "No hole" was ever > > drilled for the outlet at the bottom of the tank. Go figure.
> Thought you might want to pass that along to QC.
>
>
>

> Check your tank. That antifreeze had been in our coach for

three

Quote
years doing nothing but making me think I had no problem with > > coolant level. The sight hole did not help. It looks almost

the