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Engine coolant leak?

Yahoo Message Number: 4256
Hi group, I think I have a semi-serious problem. I'm located in MI and I have 2000 Allure; CCI Serial Number is 30507.

I went out last night to fill the house water system in preparation for a trip starting tonight. Since the coach is winterized, I had to open the house water system water pump housing to close the drains.
On the floor of the pump housing, I found about a 1/2 cup of automotive antifreeze that had leaked from somewhere. I checked the engine bay coolant surge tank and it was empty. The last time the coach was driven was 3 weeks ago. I took it on a one hour periodic exercise drive in the immediate area; there was no apparent overheating or coolant leak. The last time the house water system was used was over Christmas and no problems were noticed. We have had some sub-zero weather, but I don't see how that would cause an engine coolant leak.

Questions:
1. Where do you think the antifreeze is coming from? The water heater is on the curbside so I don't think it's the water heater coolant loop. So I guess that means it must be from the coolant loop that serves the dash heating.

2. Assuming it is the dash heat coolant service loop, how do I access the line to find where the leak is? Since the antifreeze appeared in the plumbing bay, I guess that means the coolant line runs above the bay, but I can't find any evidence of antifreeze running down the inside of the fiberglass housing. My coach does have the larger Toyo tires so as I understand that means it has the larger frame rails that came out during the 2000 model year.

3. If I can't fix the leak, is there a place in the engine bay to cut off or short circuit the coolant from this loop?
4. Can I use common automotive antifreeze to top off the engine
coolant level?

Thx for you help,
Brian

Re: Engine coolant leak?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4257
"On the floor of the pump housing, I found about a 1/2 cup of automotive antifreeze that had leaked from somewhere. I checked the engine bay coolant surge tank and it was empty. "
I had a very similar problem. My cause of leakage was loose fittings to the water heater motor-aid hoses.

I got to them by removing parts of the driver-side panel covering the holding tanks. The fittings lay on top of the uppere tank and were just accessable with pliers to retighten.

1999 Country Coach Intrigue #10700 George W Becker

Re: Engine coolant leak?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4259
Brian

We had a 2000 Intrigue that developed a leak at the joint where the hot water heater connection went to the hwh. When CC builds the chassie there is a coolent line that goes from the engine to the front of the coach and when the chassie goes to the coach shop they cut this line and put in a tee to go to the hwh for over the road hot water. Assumming you have over the road hot water that tee could be your leak. Our leak came out around the plumbing bay.
We sold the coach to a friend and he fixed the leak. If you think this is where your leak is you can contact the new owner of our coach at wb3dju@... and he can tell you how to go about a fix which was not easy.
Tell him Bill gave you his E mail I don't think he will mind. He also watchs this site sometimes.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Engine coolant leak?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4260
Brian,

Use Cummings "Complet" coolent or Fleetguard "Complet." CCI puts in Cummings coolent (even in Cat engines) and you don't want to mix that with automotive coolent because your engine requires a certain chemical balance to stay healthy. That balance should be checked at least twice a year either by you (with cummings test strips) or by your service garage and balanced if necessary.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Engine coolant leak?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4274
I bought a gallon of Fleetgard ES Compleat @ Beaudry RV in Tucson for $25....seems awful pricey to me...my first spare parts purchase. Where do purchase?

Thanks

Mike F 2003 Magna #6236

Re: Engine coolant leak?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4275
wrote:

Quote
I bought a gallon of Fleetgard ES Compleat @ Beaudry RV in Tucson for > $25..seems awful pricey to me.my first spare parts purchase. Where do > purchase?
Last Week I purchased (2) gal of ES Compleat at the local Cummins distributor (Detroit Michigan area ) for $21.75 total including 6% Michigan sales Tax. Also bought spare engine belt, fuel filters and extra engine oil from them. (You can always find someone to install belts, but the CC belt is not aways available - especially on weekends. )

Re: Engine coolant leak?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4277
You didn't mention which coolant you bought.... either the premix or straight coolant. I use only the premix (50/50 coolant and distilled water) and the price at one Cummins shop was $11.08.
Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Engine Coolant Leak

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4258
I agree with George, I think you have a clamp that is leaking. I would take the screws out of your city water fill compartment and take a look around. There should be enough slack on the hoses so you can pull it out enough to see with a light. Whether if you have hydronic heat or not, I am confident it is just a clamp. You had your coach up to operating temperature, then subjected it to below zero temperature and a clamp is not tight. You could access through your water pump door and use a mirror.

As part of your PM, you should make sure all your clamps are tight.
As time allows, you could change your clamps to the "constant torque" style. You rarely have a leak with these clamps. They expand and contract with temperature.

Fred 2001 Magna, Snowed In