Engine Coolant Leak

[theBeav]

I've had a fun two days. First, I have nothing but compliments to Foremost Insurance. They towed us to a service facility without any trouble at all. Matheny Truck Service, in Mineral Wells, West Virginia. They did a diagnostic and confirmed my own diagnostic, but better. I knew it was low coolant, or a bad engine coolant level sensor. They confirmed that the sensor was fine. And, we added coolant. We were back on our way the next day.

Managed to get the 50 miles to our campground for the night.

This morning I found the real cause. There is a leak of coolant in the front generator bay. Does everyone think, as I do, that I have a cabin heater core leak, or piping to that core? That's the only reason for engine coolant to be in the front bat. Right?

[theBeav]

I forgot to add. Anyone know of a good place near Winston-Salem that might be able to fix it?

[CountryB]

Sure sounds like a leak at the heater core or one of the heater hoses.

If you not in a good place to do a big repair job (a heater core replacement can be a big job) - You could remove the two heater hoses (either at the front by firewall before the leak, or back at the engine) and plug the two hoses (usually they are 5/8 or 3/4 inch ID heater hose, so a short 5/8 or 3/4" bolt will fit nicely into the hose and then use the hose clamp on that to stop the leak.

Could be leaking at the heater valve on the firewall (which would be easier to get to).
You need to run the generator out and see if you can spot the source.

[Damion]

My Cummins came with valves right on engine block to valve off heater hoses!
Handy I had a heater hose leak in Alaska this summer!

[8.3Oilbuner]

Hi George; Check the heater hose clamps. Over the years they need to be tightened now and then. Had a leak on my previous 2000 Monaco Windsor up front. Turned out that one of the hoses coming out of the coolant heater valve was dripping. Tightened the clamp, it was loose, and no more leak. You will find that most of them up in the gen. bay need tightening. Let us know what you find. It is an inexpensive, try to fix first, before heading to other areas for leaks. Good luck!

[Woodman018]

If it is the heater core leaking, you will be able to smell coolant inside when you turn up the heat and run the fan. My first thought would be a leak at the valve, loose hose or faulty valve.
Dave

[Outbound]

Ditto on heater line or evaporator..

[Jthigh]

We had a similar situation. Blew a heater hose that goes to the front right next to the generator. Lost all coolant. If you find a leaking hose I would have all of them replaced. That’s what I’m doing with mine. Don’t want another hose to blow while on the road.

[theBeav]

Originally Posted by Jthigh

We had a similar situation. Blew a heater hose that goes to the front right next to the generator. Lost all coolant. If you find a leaking hose I would have all of them replaced. That’s what I’m doing with mine. Don’t want another hose to blow while on the road.

Thanks. I'm only losing about 2 gallons an hour, so it's not a full blow out yet. Trying to fix it before it gets to that stage.

[theBeav]

Originally Posted by Woodman018

If it is the heater core leaking, you will be able to smell coolant inside when you turn up the heat and run the fan. My first thought would be a leak at the valve, loose hose or faulty valve.
Dave

Thanks Dave. I agree. Gonna look at it tomorrow.

[theBeav]

Originally Posted by 8.3Oilbuner

Hi George; Check the heater hose clamps. Over the years they need to be tightened now and then. Had a leak on my previous 2000 Monaco Windsor up front. Turned out that one of the hoses coming out of the coolant heater valve was dripping. Tightened the clamp, it was loose, and no more leak. You will find that most of them up in the gen. bay need tightening. Let us know what you find. It is an inexpensive, try to fix first, before heading to other areas for leaks. Good luck!

Yup. Going leak hunting tomorrow.

[veraken]

Had the same problem. I installed 2 ball valves as described in post #1 & 2 in this thread. Got all the parts from HD. Easy fix. Took about 1 hr to do.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/maki...er-152494.html

Since we don't travel in the winter, don't know if I'll ever invest the time & $ to repair. If I do, it will be easy to just open the valves.

[theBeav]

Well. Hasn't been a great day. I did find that my leak must be coming from the heater core. The leak trail goes all the way to near the top of the dash underside, and almost all the way across the heater core housing. This indicates to me that it IS in fact the heater core.

Bad news is that I am unable (more likely ignorant) to find the location of the engine coolant input and output to the heater core. There is allot of expansion foam near the top of the core where several hoses seem to go. It looks like I need to find the coolant shutoff valves on the engine.

But, I can't find any documentation anywhere that shows me what they look like, or where to find them. I don't want to just root around turning valves. :-)

Anyone here got a C13 in their rig that knows what I'm talking about and where to find them?

[oldguy70]

If you are stuck you can just cut off the heater hoses and connect them together and
fix them when you put in a new heater core.