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Changing oil, coolant and fuel filters

Yahoo Message Number: 5433
I've done all my own auto and RV maintenance since I was a kid, but I've never worked on a diesel engine. How difficult is it to change oil and coolant filters on the Cummins engine? Are the filters within arms reach when you lay on your back under the engine?
Also, when changing the fuel filters, how do you keep air out of the system and how do you bleed the air that does get in?

Any tips would be appreciated.

Robert

Re: Changing oil, coolant and fuel filters

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5434
Robert: Same here, except that I had a diesel truck once that I serviced myself. I have serviced my own Intrigue for four years now. It's a grubby job. I drive mine up on some blocks rather than trusting the air system to elevate, other than the travel position. I like to get the entire coach up about 8 inches or so. I have an abundance of good 12X12 blocks from a sawmill that I once visited. They made great firewood and I kept a few for such occasions.
Drop the oil into a large enough container. (that takes some shopping, but they are available). Also the oil filter. Removal is a bit of a tug, but I have one of those nifty adjustable band filter wrenches that works fine. Recharge the filter with new oil when installing, just to keep the system full of oil and avoid running anything dry while the pump recharges.
Same thing with the fuel filters. Clean all of the surfaces and do a squeaky clean job of refilling them with fresh diesel fuel overflowing as you put them back on. I have never had a problem with continual supply of diesel to the pump and I've serviced my engine four times over the last four years. To lube the chassis, all of the zerks can be reached from easily, even with the coach level, but it helps to get it up in the air a bit. The zerks on the universal joints can create a little problem and you might need a flexible hose on the grease gun.
I have access to a service garage that my son owns, and I use it. Once I did it in my own garage/driveway. Not a good idea. It is inevitable that the black, black oil is going to drip and spill and it is a bear to clean off your driveway. I know.
I know that cost isn't a motivation factor or we would all be driving Winnebagos. I am the kind of guy that likes to work on my own equipment and the savings of $100 or so justifies the struggle to do it. Besides, I can stand back, and while wiping the black guck off from everywhere, tell my whipersnapper kids that the old man still has what it takes!

Larry

Intrigue 10762

Re: Changing oil, coolant and fuel filters

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5436
And you can say "I did it myself" or at least "I can't imagine what went wrong - I did it myself"!!
I use a galvanized wash tub about 20" in diameter and 12" deep to drain the oil into, then pump the old oil into a 5 gallon pail to take to recycle using an electric drill pump and a couple of short pieces of garden hose. Works for me.

Glen R. Fotre - Tucson, AZ

1996 Beaver Patriot/Toyota 4x4 Xtra Cab/Toyota RAV-4 AWD/Miata/VW Sandrail FMCA #F36478 Good Sam #043833367 BAC glen@...

Coolant

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5465
I'm chiming in on the coolant issue because I experienced overheating problems when my 2000 Intrigue ISC 350 was new.

Part of the fix was to replace the coolant tank with a much larger unit (furnished by CC)and a higher psi radiator cap. This was a selected recall for a series of Intrigues (encompassing mine) that have hydronic heat.

I did some research determined that blue and green coolant are very much different in their chemical origin and NOT COMPATIBLE. I read recently if a owner desires to change over to blue (longer life?) a draining and flushing procedure is required.
My unit came with green and I am sticking with it (old school is the best school!). The reason Cummins Compleat is recommended is that it is 50% water. I needed coolant and could not get to a Cummins shop. I looked in my documentation and came up with the coolant spec number.
Incidentally the specs for engine oil are in there too. I changed over to Chevron Delo (my lifelong favorite and available in gallons at WallyWorld --- I take my own oil to Cummins).

I bought the appropriate NAPA ****LOW SILICATE**** colant and I cut it with 50% water, carrying two bottles with me, one mixed.
Springfield (So Cal) Cummins discovered that the valve to my coolant filter was jammed closed and had to be replaced.
Coburg Cummins told me that I could dispense with worrying about DCA (I think this is a factor that indicates the electrical conductivity of the coolant) by changing my coolant filter with every oil change (annually or 12,000 miles). It's a deal!!!

The issue with the DCA has to do with a electro/chemical reaction between disimilar metals called electrolosis (sp?). As someone pointed out the cylinder linings are steel and the block is cast iron. Serious corrosion can take place if the coolant is corrupted.
Is is supposed to be replaced at 60k, but the filters are a lifesaver in the interim.

Inicdenatlly, the steel sleeves are replaceable (think millions of miles on one block!!!)

Chuck Gauthier

2000 Intrigue 11142

Lake Chachuma County Park Near Santa Barbara (no reservations but got in to a dry camp on Friday a.m. and can upgrade to full hook-ups Sunday)

Re: Coolant

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5467
Hi Chuck,

You are less than 10 miles from where I live - give me a call if you get some time. My name is in the local phone book and the call is local from Lake Cachuma.
Fred Kovol

Re: Coolant

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21003
Bill

I think Bob was talking about the hot water that's heated by the engine coolant system when you're going down the road. My Hurricane heater has this system with a separate heat exchanger that is used exclusively by the engine coolant. Does your Hydro-hot have this?

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

Re: Coolant

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21004
Larry,

As far as I know the Hydro Hot has an independent coolent system, that way you can use boiler coolent instead of the regular coolent. I think they went to this because they were concerned about cross contamination. If anyone knows otherwise let us know. I paid $45 for my last gallon of boiler coolent in AZ.

Bill G. 2005 Magna #6425

Re: Coolant

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21006
Bill

The Hurricane system has two independent coolant plumbing systems for the cabin heat and hot water. One from the engine coolant and one from a separate Hurricane coolant system. When selected, the engine coolant services an independent portion of the Hurricane system (closed loop to the engine) for cabin heat and hot water when you are going down the road (I.E when the engine is warm). The cabin heat/hot water is provided from the hot engine coolant through a completely independent heat exchanger used by the engine only. When stationary, the Hurricane "burner" can be selected as the heat source heat is provided independently through the Hurricane coolant/plumbing system. And, never will the two meet or mix (in theory). At least that's the way I understand it after several hours of troublshooting a Hurricane problem with the Hurricane techs over the phone.

Larry, 30856

Re: Coolant

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21008
Larry

coach # 11314 01 Intrigue Might be different than oter models
From what you have said it sounds like you are the one that can help me figure out what's really happening in the engine / Hurricane heating loops.

I will give you a bit of back ground on what my original concern was. I wanted to flush the cooling system to include the Hurricane system without damaging the pumps. I wanted to know just how to purge the air from the Hurricane system. I called Hurricane in which they said there should be a solenoid valve in the loop isolate the dash/forward heating system from the Hurricane system (both systems seems to heat the domestic hot water). I could not find the valve on the prints from CC nor could I find the valve in the coach. So I called CC to find out the location of the valve. CC said that the valve didn't exist and that the system had a boost plump to drive the fluid through the dash / forward heating system that was activated by the ignition switch and that pump was not to be operated dry just like the Hurricane pumps. I did find the boost pump and it seem to work as CC told me. I checked to see that the boost pump was wetted if the engine is full of coolant and it is.

I also was told that none of the pumps are of a positive displacement design.

Now for a bit of experimentation:

It would seem that the boost pump is pushing coolant through both systems ?
1. With the ignition off / Hurricane on: It heats the cabin the water heater and the engine.
2. With the ignition on engine running Hurricane off: It heats the
dash /front heater, the water heater and the hoses going through the Hurricane heater ( because of the fans being off no heat from the Hurricane domestic heating vents.

BOTH LOOPS SEEMS TO BE TIED TOGETHER.
DOES THIS SOUND RIGHT ?

My process was to place a drain valve locate in the hose coming out of the hurricane heater at the lowest point. ( got about 5 gal out of that drain) and another 5gal or so out of the radiator drain. I then used tap water ran the engine and drained to flush the remaining anti freeze out. Then using Fleetguard Restore filled the system and ran it on the road for an hour. drained and filled and drove again. I did this two times with water and two time with distilled water. the charged the filter and charged with antifreeze.

Each time the Hurricane was never turn on but during the driving time the hurricane seemed to purge itself of air because the hoses going through the burner were hot.

After the charging of antifreeze and driving the coach I the turned the Hurricane on and it is working fine.
JUST LOOKING FOR FEED BACK .
DID I OR AM I RISKING THE PUMPS?
IS THERE A BETTER WAY ?

Re: Coolant

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21010
Larry, I, too, have done alot of study and work on my Hurricane system, and you are right about the separate cooling systems. By the way, I was a vociferous complainer about the Hurricane a couple of years ago, but with full cooperation from Steve at Hurricane my problems were solved and the unit is completely dependable, now.
I did experience a problem ( I thought ) on the way to JC last fall with flameouts. What I finally determined, though, was that there is protection built in to cut off the Hurricane as well as the genset when your fuel tank gets down pretty low. As soon as I filled up, the problem disappeared.

Walt Rothermel

03Allure30811( for sale).

Re: Coolant

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21011
Marvin

Your paragraph #2 actually introduces the third heating system which comes from the dash heat. If you turned on your furnace via the wall thermastat while going down the road (Hurricane heater switch off), you would get heat blowing out of your floor heating system. And, you could have the dash heat on too. Don't know about the selenoid valve you mentioned. Also, there is an extensive bleeding procedure in the Hurricane owners manual, but after talking to the Hurricane tech (Steve), just keep filling up the reservoir and any air will eventually bleed off. If the pumps are loud, this indicates air in the system. I don't have the pump to heat the engine from the Hurricane like you do. I do get heat FROM the engine but not TO the engine so I couldn't heat the engine with the Hurricane in cold weather before start, but I still have the engine oil heater for that.
I'm wondering if you actually drained the Hurricane coolant, or could you have drained the engine coolant from two different places. My engine coolant system holds 14 gallons and my Hurricane coolant system holds 5 or 6. That's 19 gallons vs the 10 gallons you drained. Were you having a problem with the Hurricane before you drained the system?

I have one pump inside the unit and one pump way up front underneath.
I think the "boost pump" you mentioned must be solely for the dash heat and I don't believe this has anything to do with the hot water.
I believe the hot water we get from the engine is by default, coming from the Hurricane unit via a separate (smaller) engine heat exchanger inside the unit. You could verify this by turning off the dash heat and checking the hot water. Fact is, I remember getting hot water in the summer with the dash heat off while going down the road. It's coming from the Hurricane engine heat exchanger, which will provide you heat from the floor ducts with the wall thermostat set to "furnace" even with the Hurricane switch above the door set to OFF.

I don't claim to have all the answers, but I feel I am familiar with the system, probably to the point that I could get myself into trouble. I have a color schematic that might help. Got it off their web site. Let me know if you don't have it and I'll send it to you.

Larry 30856

Re: Coolant

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21031
Larry

Thanks for the Hurricane info : Don't cut your self short it sounds like you have a good understanding of the system.

I don't even know where to start! If this subject is taking up to much of your time just let me Know.

Ok. The installation on my coach the engine / hurricane coolant expansion tank is one in the same. This is not to smart because the engine becomes a big heat sink during operation of the hurricane system. They (CC) must have gotten smart in later models and followed Hurricanes recommendations. That's what why I was concerned about the Hurricane pumps / system when attempting to flush the engine cooling system the two systems are tied together. The details of which I am not sure.

Yes the total capacity of the system is about 17 gal and I am only able to drain out around 10 gal of that using the two point of drain. That is leaves 7 gal left in the system after draining & flushing thus all the distilled water during the flushing. When finished flushing I put in 6 gal ES complete and 4 Gal water. After running the coach on the road for 20 miles the coolant measured ?3 deg F or 35% antifreeze. Using the chart on page V-18 of the Cummins ISC book and some math came up with 17 gal system capacity and how much to drain and add to bring it up to a 50/50 mix. The math worked fine only took one shot to get it 50/50. I think the 7 gal is in the dash heater and engine. After adding it get a 50/50 mix put what was drained in the bay for later use to.

After reading your message is spent a hour or so under the coach trying to follow both the dash and hurricane lines around but it is going to take more time to really understand and draw the flow diagram, What I know it is not implemented like either the coach or the hurricane manual shows.

You ask if the system was working before is started all this: Yes I thought, but after being under it I found a kinked hose.
I have posted a picture of where I installed the second drain and of the kinked hose that I found.

Thanks for the info is was very helpful.

I am off to fix the hose maybe the system will work different afterwards.

I will send a follow up message.

Feel free to comment every all info is good info .

Marv

01 Intrigue

Re: Coolant

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21033
Hmmm! Sounds like your system is set up different than mine for sure Marv. Lucky you found that kinked. No worry on the long emails. I like talking about this stuff. Good luck!

Larry, 2003 Allure 30856

Re: Coolant

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21034
Hmmm! Sounds like your system is set up different than mine for sure Marv. Lucky you found that kinked. No worry on the long emails. I like talking about this stuff. Good luck!

Larry, 2003 Allure 30856

Re: Coolant

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21035
Wow! Sounds like you're on to something Marv! I went to the photo section but didn't find your pictures.

Larry

Re: Coolant

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21037
Years ago, CC sent out a bulletin to fix that problem. Mine was fixed at Lazy Daze in 2001. (At least I hope it was fixed.) That is still a fix that would be covered by the recall if yours hasn't been fixed.
Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Coolant

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21041
Years ago, CC sent out a bulletin to fix that problem. Mine was fixed at Lazy Daze in 2001. (At least I hope it was fixed.) That is still a fix that would be covered by the recall if yours hasn't been fixed.
Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Coolant

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38845
I have a 2006 Inspire with a CAT C-9. Can someone tell what type of coolant this engine takes? Also what type of coolant goes into the genset.

Judy

2006 Inspire 51706

Currently near Phoenix soon to be heading north

Re: Coolant

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38846
Judy

Are you losing coolant by chance? Did you get a new radiator yet? I switced the the good CAT coolant in 5 gallon buckets Darold

2006 Inspire 51682

Re: Coolant

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38847
I am not losing coolant......yet, but want to be prepared with extra in case I do. I bought this rig in October and haven't taken any significant trips in it. I have read the threads on the leaky radiator and will be prepared for that event when it happens. I am getting ready for some traveling the next 4 months around Arizona, Utah, Colorado.
I would like to know what kind of coolant was originally put in the rig..............
Judy,

2006 Inspire 51706

Re: Coolant

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38848
Smart moves, Mine started leaking in the upper most corners and was hard to tell it was leaking.
Enjoy your long trip. We live in Colorado by the way. Hope you stop and see Lake Powell!!!!!!!!

Darold

06' Inspire 51682

Re: Coolant

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38849
To be sure, I called CC for my Cummins. Don't have the specs in front of me right now, but it could be different for you CAT anyway. I carry spare fluid too.

Larry, 03 Allure 30856

Quote from: Judy
I have a 2006 Inspire with a CAT C-9. Can someone tell what type of coolant

Re: Coolant

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38851
As a matter of act, we are having a sort of family re-union on Lake Powell in mid-July for a week on a houseboat.
I have a call into CC about the coolant but haven't heard back yet. Inquiring minds still want to know what kind of coolant goes into the CAT.
Judy,

2006 Inspire 51706

Re: Coolant

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38860
I verfied the engine coolant as of two weeks ago with CC Tech Support.
All CC's since at least the '05 model year use Cummins/Fleetguard ES Compleat PG (propylene glycol) regardless of engine - Cummins or Cat. This coolant is good for 150,000 miles or 4000 hours of operation so replacing it with something else would seem unnecessary. A search on the I-net indicates it goes for about $30 a gallon in concentrate form. As there are several products labeled ES Compleat (note spelling of Compleat) make sure it is the PG formulation as the others probably do not mix or possibly worse.
I did not ask about the genset but just checked it and it appears to use plain old ethylene glycol. As it is time to replace that I will use the ES Compleat PG both for it's long life and to have the same coolant all around. As the cooling system capacity of the genset is small changing it isn't the expense of the automotive engine.

No leaks here yet with ~30,000 miles on the clock.

Bob Handren

'05 Inspire Siena 36 quad slide
51178

Re: Coolant

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38861
Yes, this is what I used and think that gen is the same. Cummins Orlando did not carry the PG, only EG, but they could order it.
Ended up getting it at Lazy Days.

Larry 03 Allure 30856