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Coolant leak or bad radiator cap causing loss.

Yahoo Message Number: 16077
I have never been able to find the source of this problem, I've looked myself for evidence of the leak but can find none. I have also had two service centers presssure up the system and they could not find the leak. I continue to add coolant periodically to bring it back to proper level. The radiator cap is a 7lb cap, I am thinking it is possible that the cap is bad and I would like to replace it with a 10 lb cap to assure myself that the coolant is not being vented through the relief tube. At one time I thought it was hurricane heater hoses or the pump associated with the heater...the one mounted at near where the transmission and engine are connected. The last service center checked that one and could find no evidence of a leak there.

Anyone have experience with this problem and other things to check?

Thanks
Ray

2000 Intrigue

Re: Coolant leak or bad radiator cap causing loss.

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16081
Ray, had the same problem, went to a 20 pound cap, no further losses of fluid. 7 pounds will not hold it at high altitude or pulling 7 percent grades that most of us out west have in addition to high temperatures. I have gone to a couple of 18 inch arms supporting the rear engine access door, see the posted pictures. On a recent trip to St. George, Utah and back to Tempe, Arizona, a 20 degree drop was noted pulling the same grades with the door propped open and pulling the toad. In addition, you might look at the pictures of the 2005 experimental CCC pictures with louvers in the door, louvers on the radiator to catch more air and a lower flap below the radiator. We hope to add the louvers on the radiator shortly as there is a local louver maker that is going to make up one, probably a lot less than charged at the factory. Hope this helps. CC 7 pound system makes no sense. John
2002 Allure

#30702, 2004 Honda CRV

Re: Coolant leak or bad radiator cap causing loss.

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16082
Ok, will try that and thanks for the info. The Cummins tech suggested going to a 10 lb cap to see if that would help but I will go to the 20 lb. Is there any chance of causing any damage to the system? Some of these problems should be the subject of a bulletin but I suppose that CC doesn't want to admit their stupidity.

Ray

2000 Intrigue

Quote from: countryjrc
Ray, had the same problem, went to a 20 pound cap, no further

losses

Quote
of fluid. 7 pounds will not hold it at high altitude or pulling 7 > percent grades that most of us out west have in addition to high > temperatures. I have gone to a couple of 18 inch arms supporting

the

Quote
rear engine access door, see the posted pictures. On a recent

trip to

Quote
St. George, Utah and back to Tempe, Arizona, a 20 degree drop was > noted pulling the same grades with the door propped open and

pulling

Quote
the toad. In addition, you might look at the pictures of the 2005 > experimental CCC pictures with louvers in the door, louvers on the > radiator to catch more air and a lower flap below the radiator. We > hope to add the louvers on the radiator shortly as there is a local > louver maker that is going to make up one, probably a lot less than > charged at the factory. Hope this helps. CC 7 pound system makes

no

Re: Coolant leak or bad radiator cap causing loss.

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16123
Ray,

We too had this problem. We had a leaky radiator cap (one of the two rubber seals was missing). It also appeared possible some coolant was running out the relief tube. Long story short -- we replaced the cap with a new 7 lb cap and mounted an aftermarket (NAPA) automotive coolant recovery tank (approx 1/2 gal) at the end of a new (transparent) relief tube.

We haven't lost any coolant since (2 years now). The recovery tank is EMPTY when everything is cool, but I often see a small amount of coolant in the relief tube and bottom of the new tank after driving.
Everything gets sucked back into the standard coolant expansion tank when the engine cools.
--

Tom Harsch

36' 2002 Allure #30791

Quote from: travman100
I have never been able to find the source of this problem, I've

looked

Quote
myself for evidence of the leak but can find none. I have also had

two

Quote
service centers presssure up the system and they could not find the > leak. I continue to add coolant periodically to bring it back to > proper level. The radiator cap is a 7lb cap, I am thinking it is > possible that the cap is bad and I would like to replace it with a

10

Quote
lb cap to assure myself that the coolant is not being vented

through

Quote
the relief tube. At one time I thought it was hurricane heater

hoses

Quote
or the pump associated with the heater...the one mounted at near

where

Re: Coolant leak or bad radiator cap causing loss.

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16134
Hi Tom and Maxine,

Thanks, will let you know how the new cap works out. I will also look at adding the coolant recovery tank.
How is your slideout repair working out? I was parked next to you in JC while they were doing your slideout last spring.

Ray

2000 Intrigue

Quote from: Tom & Maxine Harsch
>

Ray,

We too had this problem. We had a leaky radiator cap (one of the

two

Quote
rubber seals was missing). It also appeared possible some coolant

was

Quote
running out the relief tube. Long story short -- we replaced the

cap

Quote
with a new 7 lb cap and mounted an aftermarket (NAPA) automotive > coolant recovery tank (approx 1/2 gal) at the end of a new > (transparent) relief tube.

We haven't lost any coolant since (2 years now). The recovery

tank is

Quote
EMPTY when everything is cool, but I often see a small amount of > coolant in the relief tube and bottom of the new tank after

driving.

Quote
Everything gets sucked back into the standard coolant expansion

tank

Quote
when the engine cools.
--

Tom Harsch

36' 2002 Allure #30791

[quote author=travman100"

>

> I have never been able to find the source of this problem, I've > looked

> myself for evidence of the leak but can find none. I have also

had

Quote
two

> service centers presssure up the system and they could not find

the

Quote
leak. I continue to add coolant periodically to bring it back to > > proper level. The radiator cap is a 7lb cap, I am thinking it is > > possible that the cap is bad and I would like to replace it with

a

Quote
10

> lb cap to assure myself that the coolant is not being vented > through

> the relief tube. At one time I thought it was hurricane heater > hoses

> or the pump associated with the heater...the one mounted at near > where

> the transmission and engine are connected. The last service

center

Quote
checked that one and could find no evidence of a leak there.
>

> Anyone have experience with this problem and other things to

check?

Re: Coolant leak or bad radiator cap causing loss.

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16238
Hi Ray,

Yes, we remember you from JC.

The slideout trim electrolysis repair seems to be holding up well at the one year anniversary.
--

Tom Harsch '02 Allure 30791