Community Forums

johnhnc · 07-10-2019, 04:07 PM

Our 15 year old Hydro-Hot HHE-500-08M has been slowly leaking coolant from the water jacket, but it's getting more pronounced. It has served us well for 15 years, but obviously a total replacement is called for before the leak becomes catastrophic. I'm investigating the cost of having it removed and replaced with a current Oasis. Has anyone gone down this road?

We've gotten a detailed quote from the Newmar factory that is as much as a small car, including 95 hours labor. As we painfully contemplate this I'd like to hear from others who have had a similar conversion done.

Thanks, John.

FatChance · 07-10-2019, 06:43 PM

Did you look into finding a used, direct replacement at a RV salvage yard?

johnhnc · 07-10-2019, 07:25 PM

An interesting idea, although this model H-H was superseded by a different model years ago. The likelihood of finding one in good shape is low, but just might be an option. I'd feel a lot more confident in a true upgrade.

Thanks,
John

spsm · 07-10-2019, 07:26 PM

You sure it isn't your radiator cap leaking?

Dutch Star Don · 07-10-2019, 07:44 PM

The last place I would have an installation done on an older coach is Newmar. 95 ours is outrageous! The system and plumbing is already there.

I would find an RV Tech that specializes in both units Aqua Hot and Oasis and have them do the swap. You may find it even easier to just have a newer version of the HH or AH installed since it's typically plumbed and sized the same way.

azSkier · 07-10-2019, 09:31 PM

The Aqua Hot 450D is probably a drop in replacement. If I needed a new system, I would start looking there.

My preferred installer would be this guy.

https://heatmyrv.com/

Smitty77 · 07-10-2019, 11:05 PM

Have you had it removed and benched checked? If the tank is not shot, and some tanks do fail, you might find you only need to do some maintenance replacement items. Our 04 Allure with the same basic HydroHot, did develop a small leak, and we found that a nylon/plastic threaded sleeve for the temperature sensor, was leaking.

While we had it out, we replaced all of the threaded sleeves going into the tank with metal ones. We also replaced the plastic level float with metal, and the heat element too. Finally, we had a AquaHot 450 (And yes, as close to identical as can be with the HydroHot.) insulation kit installed. It's made a difference on the sound inside of the coach from noise.

At the same time we had our unit rebuilt, a gent was doing the same thing with his few years newer AH450. But he had a ruptured seam in his tank, requiring a rebuilt one. (We both looked at both of our units basically side by side on the bench. The AH's tank was corroded out from the inside. He speculates the gent he bought the coach from, had not kept the proper balance of boiler fluid, and thus the corrosion.

You may find that after replacing all of the nylon/plastic sleeves, and leveler float and heating element, adding the insulation blanket - that you'll get another 10-15 years of normal maintenance out of your system.

One last tip if you got that route. Pay the extra hour of shop rate for them to drain and flush your coach hose loops to heat registers, and engine loop too (If you have one on your setup.) - this way you start with a cleaned out an flushed set of registers, hoses, and tank - with all new fluids...

Best of luck to you,
Smitty

Dav L · 07-11-2019, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

The last place I would have an installation done on an older coach is Newmar. 95 ours is outrageous! The system and plumbing is already there.

From looking at Newmar's quotes posted for any type of repair / maintenance...they are killing it in the Service department. Full, many bays and high quotes.

I havent looked at Oasis plumbing as I have a HydroHot in my older rig. But, I assume it's all the same. I bet it could be done in less than a day if so.
95 hours...crazy.

Does that include replacing the registers in each room? Do they even need to be replaced for Oasis? Even then, they are easy to do. Just disconnect and blow air through the lines to drain, and replace the registers.

johnhnc · 07-11-2019, 08:00 AM

Great suggestions so far. Thanks, everyone.

Smitty, can you tell us who did your rebuild? It sounds as if they did a thorough job. That may just be a good way to go in our case.

John

spsm · 07-11-2019, 09:04 AM

Yes, John Carillo is the best, but you can say the same thing about this guy. This guy, solved my problem, new Rad Cap, and it was only a $81.00 item. (Lloyd DeGerald, 501-258-8426, Paron, Ark.)

Renipladlo · 07-11-2019, 09:21 PM

Ok, when we bought alpine in 08, the HH did not give us hot water, WRV was gone and dealer wanted us in the same boat, gone. So we found this fellow, and he spent hours figuring out it was the mixing valve, which he and I changed during a one day marathon in FL. This was in 2010, subsequently I have randomly stayed in touch with him, don't know if he is still doing HH, but he is one of their master certified repair guys, excellent. Now with that said, I would not put in a unit out of a wrecked MH, you don't know the forces it was exposed too in the wreck, or how it was taken care of before the wreck. The space is there for the newest model, in fact they take up less space than the older ones - see this link - 450D â€“ Aqua-Hot TribridHotTM RV Heating -
get Lou to order it, he might pass along his discount, if you can, agree to help him with install, saves on labor. His phone number was: 541-490-6357, last I knew lived in FL, near Ft Meyers. Text that number and see what you get, tell Him Monty said for you to call. He also might be retired, and still keeping his hand in. I would wager good beer, he is the best there is on HH. Stay with what you have, it's easier in the long run, and I have been to HH school, they make good stuff.

Pine Stump · 07-12-2019, 07:42 AM

The Oasis I have heard are too loud in new units
….Just my 2

Renipladlo · 07-12-2019, 02:47 PM

I believe the floor registers are louder than the alpine we had, but I don't care, it's heat, which the alpine did not have in abundance, the Oasis seems to be able to heat quite well, and that is more important than noise. I froze almost to death in South ATL one time when huge wind and -7F at night. So heat way more important than noise. JM2CW.