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Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Yahoo Message Number: 80687
I just want to know what to expect tomorrow.
I am writing this from a Pilot truck stop in West Sacramento, CA. On the freeway today, my Low Coolant light flashed and beeped. Then, in a few seconds the engine lost power then, shut down. I was lucky to be able to coast onto a narrow shoulder.
I inspected the engine compartment. There was a puddle of oily substance beneath the area where the fan turbine is located. Of course the turbulance had tossed it to other locations.
Coolant level in reservoir seemed to be OK. I slid under the engine as far as I could but, I could only see a steady drip coming from above (about one or two drips per second). I could not identify the source of the leak. the liquid has the consistancy and oily feel of hydraulic fluid. It kept dripping even though the engine was shut down. I checked the hydro fluid reservoir. Fluid level is still OK. Checked oil and tranny fluid. All OK. It has leaked probably about a pint that I could see, not counting some unknow quantity on the freeway. None on my toad.
I called Coach Net. They of course reported, "No shops are open for service on July 4th." So, they arranged for a tow to a "safe place" which turned out to be Pilot Truck Stop. They will call me in the morning to re-tow me to a service center that is equipped to handle this problem and can get my coach into their shop.
All I want to know is what possibilities to expect. I am guessing split hydro hose or fitting (best case scenario) or blown hydro turbine (Oh no, big bucks!)

Any help out there? Any ideas?

Daron Hairabedian, Bleading 98 Allure 30226

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80688
The hydraulic drive motor for the fan. Could be a simple seal, more likely a bad motor leaking at the shaft. Did you loose power steering? If so, maybe PTO involved. Sounds like the engine overheated and shut down-cooling fan issue with the oil leak big suspect. If motor try John Davis or Kevin for a quick replacement. Make sure they pipe it to suck into the engine compartment and not blowing out of the side of the coach. Can be piped either way. Wrong way=huge mess and big repair cost on someone.

What you did not tell us is engine and the miles on the coach. Would help with problem understanding.

Leonard

97 Magna 5418

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80689
Thanks for your rapid response, Leonard, Engine is 8.3 Cummins. Coach has about 62,000 miles. I do not remember engine temp being excessively high. Upon inspection, engine did not appear to be hot. No excess pressure in coolant recovery tank No loss of power steering except of course, when engine quit.
Would computer shut down the engine if sensors showed a drop in hydro pressure at the fan motor?
98 Allure, 40', single galley slide. About 28,000 lbs loaded. Chev Malibu toad.

Daron

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80690
What color is the fluid? Red = hydraulic. Blue or green = coolant.
Usually when the low coolant light comes on, you get a beep and the motor will shut down. Leaking hydraulic fluid will not cause the low coolant light to come on.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427
'02 Intrigue #11427

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80691
I had a radiator fail, causing mixing of tranny fluid and engine coolant.
Neither the engine or the tranny

liked the situation and my tranny warning came on first, with high temps and shifting down to first gear.

If I turned off the engine the trany would set a code and after 30 minutes i could drive the coach, Then

engine warning light came on. I was in Santa Rosa and ended up in Fairfiel;d for repairs, YUK. Wish I could have gone to Allison or Cummins in Sacramento. In your case would look for a full service

Cummins shop that works on RV's.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731. Did they disconnec the drive shaft while

towing your unit or did they use a low boy trailer??????

Original Message:
-----------------

From: Daron Hairabedian daronha@... Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2012 03:24:47 -0000 To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

I just want to know what to expect tomorrow.
I am writing this from a Pilot truck stop in West Sacramento, CA. On the freeway today, my Low Coolant

light flashed and beeped. Then, in a few seconds the engine lost power then, shut down. I was lucky to

be able to coast onto a narrow shoulder.
I inspected the engine compartment. There was a puddle of oily substance beneath the area where the

fan turbine is located. Of course the turbulance had tossed it to other locations.

Coolant level in reservoir seemed to be OK. I slid under the engine as far as I could but, I could only see

a steady drip coming from above (about one or two drips per second). I could not identify the source of

the leak. the liquid has the consistancy and oily feel of hydraulic fluid.
It kept dripping even though the

engine was shut down. I checked the hydro fluid reservoir. Fluid level is still OK. Checked oil and tranny

fluid. All OK. It has leaked probably about a pint that I could see, not counting some unknow quantity
on the freeway. None on my toad.

I called Coach Net. They of course reported, "No shops are open for service on July 4th." So, they

arranged for a tow to a "safe place" which turned out to be Pilot Truck Stop. They will call me in the

morning to re-tow me to a service center that is equipped to handle this problem and can get my coach
into their shop.

All I want to know is what possibilities to expect. I am guessing split hydro hose or fitting (best case

scenario) or blown hydro turbine (Oh no, big bucks!)

Any help out there? Any ideas?

Daron Hairabedian, Bleading 98 Allure 30226

mail2web LIVE ? Free email based on Microsoft® Exchange technology - http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80692
C Marshall,

Thanks. I will ask about a Cummins full service shop in AM.
Coach Net sent out a BIG BOY tow truck (not a flat bed) and a very knowledgeable driver with RV experience. Yes, he removed the drive shaft and placed it and the fasteners in one of my compartments.
He did something else that impressed me. He hoisted the towing light cable up over the roof so as not to mess up the finish on my side panels with a flopping cord. Clever! BTW, tranny light did not come on.
Daron

PS; I hope I do not have a duplicate of your problem. Sounds very expensive.

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80693
Don,
Thanks.

I did not capture any of the fluid as I had a few alligators on my tail. It was a little inconvenient as it was about 100 degrees on the freeway shoulder. I know;...... feeble excuse! The fact is that I did not think of that at the time.
I will try to collect some in the AM and inspect color before the tow driver arrives.
My coolant is green. I am thinking that green would be a much better scenario than hydro fluid. Right?! I guess it just depends on where it is coming from!

Daron

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80694
There is a Cummins dealer in West Sac. and a Kenworth dealer with a Moho shop on I 80 not far from Pilot, you picked a good place to break down in a good way.

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80695
There is a Cummins dealer in West Sac. and a Kenworth dealer with a Moho shop on I 80 not far from Pilot, you picked a good place to break down in a good way.

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80696
Low coolant light, engine derates, leaking hydraulic fluid . . . how are they linked?

Lee

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80697
Don,

Upon further inspection this AM I discovered that the fluid is green. So, it is probably coolant. I guess I have forgotten how greasy coolant can feel to the touch. I will report more after I get tech's diagnosis.

Daron

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80698
Lee,

I was in error. The leak is green so, it appears to be coolant. I could not detect the color at the road shoulder breakdown site.
More later.
Daron

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80701
Daron

I had a event like this.I was toad by flat bed from by the Utah Colorado border Northwest of Cortez Colorador to Farmington New Mexico. The shaft on the circulator pump was leaking. Used a 3/4" pipe nipple to bypass the circulator pump and was good to go down the road until I could get a replacement Circulator pump. the engine coolant does feel like the oily consistency of hydrolic fluid.

Hope your event turns out to be as easy fix as mine did.

Bo & Kathy Lee
2000 Magna #5896

2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Rubicon

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80702
I have had your experience a couple of times.
The school bus pump on my rig that forces coolant to the front dash heater fails.

It was located at the driver side rear of the engine.
The pump is about $200, Cummins West will charge another $200 of labor.
Four years ago I bypassed and removed the pump. We still get heat from the dash heater.
There is another similar pump hiding behind the front bumper passenger side. It has never leaked. I do not know if it works. We still hot water from the coolant passing by the water heater.
But....when the pump failed, it drained my coolant surge tank and the engine shut down.
Cummins West is about 2 miles from the 49er Truck Stop which is the Pilot I think you are at.

Dean

95 Magna 5280

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80703
Dean,

Thanks. Yes, we are at the Sacramento 49er Truck Stop. Coach Net just called. They are dispatching a tow truck to take the coach to Cummins West which is a "Coach Care" service Center.
I will advise the Cummins tech of your suggestion. If that pump turns out to be the culprit, I will ask them to check to be certain that I have second booster up front. Then, I will ask them if it is advisable to bypass as you suggested.
I wonder why CC decided to have two pumps in the circuit serving the same purpose. This seems redundant.
Anyone know why they did this.

I will keep you all posted as I get more info.

Daron

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80705
Hope your issue is that simple, I run on the front circulation pump now for 3 years and everything is A

OK. I hope its that simple. If its the radiator, call Cummins in Cohburg, Oregon and speak to the

service department. There are two prominent radiator after market manufactures in Eugene. They will tell you which is the best. Don't waste your money on repairing an Aluminum radiator it will just fail again. TWI 11731

Original Message:
-----------------

From: daronha@... Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 11:50:13 -0400 (EDT) To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Dean,

Thanks. Yes, we are at the Sacramento 49er Truck Stop. Coach Net just called. They are dispatching a

tow truck to take the coach to Cummins West which is a "Coach Care" service Center.

I will advise the Cummins tech of your suggestion. If that pump turns out to be the culprit, I will ask

them to check to be certain that I have second booster up front. Then, I will ask them if it is advisable to bypass as you suggested.

I wonder why CC decided to have two pumps in the circuit serving the same purpose. This seems
redundant.

Anyone know why they did this.

I will keep you all posted as I get more info.

Daron

Re: Hydraulic Fluid Leak - Stranded

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80722
Cummins West repaired my first pump failure. It failed again 2 years later in the Boonies of Montana where a mechanic bypassed the pump and I had it repaired when I got home.
2 years later the pump failed again and I did the bypass myself with $3.00 of parts four years ago.
Personally, I would leap to removing the pump if that is your trouble.

Dean

95 Magna 5280