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Hurricane Coolant Mix with Engine?

Yahoo Message Number: 8434
Does the engine coolant and Hurricane Furnace mix? Cummins Atlantic serviced our 01' Intrigue with Ethylene Glycol based antifreeze and could only get 9 gal back into the system when it calls for 12 gals. Then I started asking about the Hurricane coolant and Country Coach tell me there is a heat exchanger in the system to keep the two system from mixing. So far two out of three sources have said there is one system not two. I have inspected and have to agree.
After turning on the Hurricane system for an hour to see if the engine would warm up, I slid under neath and found the green hose connected to the Cylinder head of the engine. When I cranked the engine the Temp read 123 degrees.

So what's the big deal? What type of antifreeze do you use, Propylene Glycol or Ethylene Glycol based antifreeze? Hurricane and Country Coach both recommend Propylene Glycool for safety reason.
The domestic hot water heater is heated by the same coolant and a potential safety hazzard. There is also a potential that we have two types of antifreeze since CC says they only use Propylene glycol.

If you have solved one, let us know.

Paul and Nancy Cummings
01' Intrigue 11309

Re: Hurricane Coolant Mix with Engine?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8437
Paul and Nancy,

No, the engine coolant and Hurricane coolant do not mix. At least on my '02 Intrigue they don't. If you remove the side access panel on your Hurricane, see if there are two separate pumps. The larger one on the left (on my unit) is the Hurricane coolant pump. The smaller one on the right is the engine loop pump. This pump is used for engine preheating or using engine waste heat while running down the road. The engine coolant lines run through this pump and then through the heat exchanger. The Hurricane coolant lines run through the larger pump and then through the heat exchanger.

Perhaps on some coaches (before 2002?) they are the same system. It might also depend on the model Hurricane you have. My Hurricane unit is the model CO45XL.

As far as the type of coolant, I use ethylene in the engine and propylene in the Hurricane. Next time I flush the engine, I'll go with propylene. I don't think you should ever use ethylene glycol in the Hurricane system.
Rob

'02 Intrigue - #11480

Re: Hurricane Coolant Mix with Engine?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8445
rbessinger,
Just checked my Hurricane and I have a CO45. What does the XL represent? Recently had radiator drained, flushed with water and filled with Fleetguard Ethylene Glycol. Its what Cummins recommended.
Dr. Stan

Re: Hurricane Coolant Mix with Engine?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8456
Dr. Stan,

Actually, my CC paperwork says a model CO45. The serial # on my Hurricane begins with a CO45XL-. I picked up the the "XL" suffix after talking with International Thermal Research a while back.
There may be no difference at all. Perhaps check your serial # and see if the "XL" is there.

I mentioned before that I was going to switch to propylene glycol on the next radiator flush. This was mainly because I just wanted to carry one type of coolant with me, and the Hurricane has propylene.
Most Cummins dealers carry and install ethylene glycol by default, while propylene glycol is less popular. I was told by a Cummins dealer that either is fine, and they can be mixed.

Rob

'02 Intrigue - #11480

Quote
Just checked my Hurricane and I have a CO45. What does the XL

represent?

Quote
Recently had radiator drained, flushed with water and filled with
Fleetguard Ethylene Glycol. Its what Cummins recommended.

Re: Hurricane Coolant Mix with Engine?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8459
Rob,

I've been told by the technical help desk at CC, that they switched to Propylene Glycol because of the coolant smell that Ethylene Glycol produced via the heating hoses inside the coach. As for mixing the two that would not be a good idea due to the different formulations. If they are mixed you will not get correct freeze protection test readings

--

Regards

Jose' Ferrer

Allure '03 40' tag

# 30863, '03 Silverado Toad
Jose Ferrer
06 Magna Rembrandt #6568
Towed 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Cat C13  with Allison Transmission
Hydralift, Blue Ox Avail tow bar

Re: Hurricane Coolant Mix with Engine?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8473
-Thank for the reply, you are correct the 02' model used a different Hurricane than the 01'.

CC emailed us that yes, the engine and Heating system are mixed, finally, now to understand the operation of both as you drive down the road.

Paul and Nancy
01' Intrigue

Hurricane Coolant

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8436
Hi Paul and Nancy,

Irrespective as to how CC is doing their heating systems now, your system is similar to my '01 Magna. The Hurricane system uses your coolant system as its reservoir. When parked, you will get a slight increase in coolant temperature from a heat transfer. You need an option to heat the engine while parked.(Affinity, Lexa) The systems are not separate because your engine is the "boiler" when you are moving down the road with your heat on. The hot water heater on our coaches get heated by the Hurricane by way of an external plate.
There is no chance coolant will get into the domestic water.
I use Fleetguard Compleat Propylene Glycol.

Fred Sage 2001 Magna

Re: Hurricane Coolant

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8442
Fred,

Thanks for the reply and clairfication. We were hoping someone had the answer. Herb from CC responded this evening and confirmed the 01 Hurricane furnace and engine coolants are mixed with the CO45DRF Furnace.

We love the engine preheat, coach heat and hot water but CC service manuals don't spell it out a one coolant system so when you get the engine coolant replaced you have to drain the Hurricane system too.
I should have let our dealer do this one. Lessons learned, the owner has to keep up with service.

Paul and Nancy Cummings
01' Intrigue 11309

Quote from: c100495

Hi Paul and Nancy,

Irrespective as to how CC is doing their heating systems now, your > system is similar to my '01 Magna. The Hurricane system uses your > coolant system as its reservoir. When parked, you will get a

slight

Quote
increase in coolant temperature from a heat transfer. You need an > option to heat the engine while parked.(Affinity, Lexa) The

systems

Quote
are not separate because your engine is the "boiler" when you are > moving down the road with your heat on. The hot water heater on

our