Community Forums

smlranger · 09-17-2014, 12:06 PM

After seeing the thread about how to definitively determine what radiator we have in our coaches, I sent CC an email with my serial # and was advised that my coach did come with an aluminum radiator. CC advised me that all CC's made from the late 1990's until they closed in 2009 had aluminum radiators.

When did CC start having problems and did they change suppliers in the later model years? My CAC, radiator, and transmission cooler are bolted together and I had been told the new-and-improved cooling packs were indeed bolted together.

At any rate, mine is not leaking at 7 years and 48K miles so will keep the faith.

Old Scout · 09-17-2014, 12:35 PM

Afraid you might be in the sweet spot for future leaks-- during the 06/07 build years, many RV builders got their radiators from Radiator Specialists in Sacramento, Ca. Believe the issue is not the use of aluminum but that they "experimented" with epoxy to seal seams and joints vs solder or welding...but dont quote me [smile]

smlranger · 09-17-2014, 02:11 PM

More info from CC. Gregg Bootes advises the following:

The problem radiators were used in the 2004 - 2007 era. Late 2007 and on coaches were outfitted with better radiators from AKG. Since my coach was built in May '07, Gregg says I likely have one of the 'problem' radiators but also said the Allures were not highly prone to failure.

Well, I have some cash set aside for future fixes so will keep my fingers crossed that the radiator holds up.

Southpark · 09-17-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smlranger

More info from CC. Gregg Bootes advises the following:

The problem radiators were used in the 2004 - 2007 era. Late 2007 and on coaches were outfitted with better radiators from AKG. Since my coach was built in May '07, Gregg says I likely have one of the 'problem' radiators but also said the Allures were not highly prone to failure.

Well, I have some cash set aside for future fixes so will keep my fingers crossed that the radiator holds up.

If you know, were the problem units used across the entire CC line, or just certain models?

smlranger · 09-17-2014, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southpark

If you know, were the problem units used across the entire CC line, or just certain models?

He did say all models from '04 - late '07 used the radiators from the same supplier. He indicated Monaco and a few other coach builders used the same radiators and also had issues.

Southpark · 09-17-2014, 08:11 PM

Doh!

And thank you.

smlranger · 09-18-2014, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Scout

Afraid you might be in the sweet spot for future leaks-- during the 06/07 build years, many RV builders got their radiators from Radiator Specialists in Sacramento, Ca. Believe the issue is not the use of aluminum but that they "experimented" with epoxy to seal seams and joints vs solder or welding...but dont quote me [smile]

My father owned a radiator shop for 30 years. When Corvette aluminum radiators started coming into his shop with leaks, he used a two part epoxy to repair them. That was in the mid 1960's. I remember him telling the owners he could not guarantee the epoxy fix.

Smitty77 · 09-18-2014, 09:08 AM

I'll now need to do some homework! As I was told that if you can look up and see that he side caps bolts, that you do not have an aluminum radiator. Another test was to try a magnet on the side caps, and see. Mine does have the side cap bolts, so I've always felt I dodged the problem radiators... I have nothing in my receipts that indicate this is not the OEM radiator.

I'll do some closer looking next time I'm under the coach!

Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017

Dr4Film · 09-18-2014, 09:29 AM

That's correct. Monaco had similar problems with certain aluminum radiators. I don't remember the time frame.

My 2002 Windsor has had zero problems so far but I am not looking forward to the day when I do.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

smlranger · 09-22-2014, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smitty77

I'll now need to do some homework! As I was told that if you can look up and see that he side caps bolts, that you do not have an aluminum radiator. Another test was to try a magnet on the side caps, and see. Mine does have the side cap bolts, so I've always felt I dodged the problem radiators... I have nothing in my receipts that indicate this is not the OEM radiator.

I'll do some closer looking next time I'm under the coach!

Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017

Smitty, I had to call Kevin Waite today with another question so asked him about my radiator. Kevin was pretty definitive when he told me if my oil cooler (very bottom), radiator (middle) and CAC (top) had horizontal flanges with bolts holding them together, I had the new-and-improved steel/copper radiator. Mine is just as he described. So, if my coach left the factory with the aluminum rad as Greg Bootes suggested, Kevin believes mine was changed out by the prior owner. I do have the PO's phone number and may call him to confirm (hate to bother the fellow after this much time).

Oilbrnr · 09-26-2014, 06:52 AM

SMI, when you say horizontal flanges, do you mean that the tanks are on the top and bottom of the radiator rather than on the sides?

I guess what confuses me, and I have yet to see any good descriptions let alone pictures, of the defective radiators, is are the tanks on those units also aluminum or are they steel bolted to the aluminum core.

Here is a shot of mine looking straight up the side of the stack towards the front side of the coach. Rad on left, trans cooler and CAC on the right.

smlranger · 09-26-2014, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilbrnr

SMI, when you say horizontal flanges, do you mean that the tanks are on the top and bottom of the radiator rather than on the sides?

I guess what confuses me, and I have yet to see any good descriptions let alone pictures, of the defective radiators, is are the tanks on those units also aluminum or are they steel bolted to the aluminum core.

Here is a shot of mine looking straight up the side of the stack towards the front side of the coach. Rad on left, trans cooler and CAC on the right.

Based on how Kevin Waite described the 'good' radiators (steel tanks bolted to copper cores), your pic is as he described it. It appears you have the bolted on tanks. If you look at your radiator from outside the coach, are the radiator cooling tubes vertical?

My radiator (and CAC and hydraulic oil cooler) are mounted sideways so my tanks are on either end of each core (see pic). From what I can tell, my tanks seem to be attached to the cores with some sort of epoxy or other fastening process. The bolts in my pic are for the flanges that hold the three pieces together.

TeJay · 09-26-2014, 07:49 AM

JFYI, If the tanks are located on the sides it is called a "Cross flow" radiator. That design came about as vehicle profiles got lower in the front and a standard, "Downflow" radiator didn't keep the fluid in the tubes long enough for effective cooling hence the cross-flow style. Even with the CF radiator Corvette (probably others as well) had to lean the radiator back at an angle to get the front profile even lower.

TeJay

Oilbrnr · 09-26-2014, 11:16 AM

hmm SML, interesting. So are you saying that all your coolers are in the same plain rather than stacked?

Typically, as in my case, things start with the AC condenser followed by the CAC and other fluid radiators and the actual engine coolant radiator is the last in the stack before the fan.

Are you sure what you showed in the picture above is not the CAC? I know that looking from the backside through my fan, the rad is definatly not segmented like what you are showing.

Guess I need to sign up with Kevin anyway. He is a prepaid service advisor more or less correct? I have a couple of other things I need to work on, including replacing a PACBrake with an updated style, so though I'm an accomplished wrencher, some RV type service advise on the larger class systems might be a good idea!