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Gorlininc · 12-22-2017, 01:56 AM

I have a 2001 Cummins 330 ISC. My machanic pressure checked the system and can’t find a leak. The oil is clean and no water or steam is coming out of the exhaust. The engine runs smooth and has no power loss. I don’t know much about Diesel engines. Can it be burning the coolant? Any ideas will help.
Merry Christmas to you all
Rick

palehorse89 · 12-22-2017, 03:33 AM

First off, you might never see drips or leakage. If the loss of coolant is very little it just could be loose hose clamps some where. Did he look really good for "dry coolant tracking" marks on all the hose's, usually they are white stains in color running down the hose or what ever the coolant has been on, heated and evaporated. Every connection that would have coolant in it needs inspected, even heater hose connection's. I chased a little loss, very slight.......then after evey thing was checked out and tightened I added this to the coolant system per "spike 45" advice. Problem over.
Read here http://www.irv2.com/forums/f123/cumm...ak-175340.html

I ordered it from walmart Zerex Super Sealer........approved by Cummins.

Here is the tracking marks would look like I mentioned.....

http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachmen...8&d=1511016860

Gorlininc · 12-22-2017, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

First off, you might never see drips or leakage. If the loss of coolant is very little it just could be loose hose clamps some where. Did he look really good for "dry coolant tracking" marks on all the hose's, usually they are white stains in color running down the hose or what ever the coolant has been on, heated and evaporated. Every connection that would have coolant in it needs inspected, even heater hose connection's. I chased a little loss, very slight.......then after evey thing was checked out and tightened I added this to the coolant system per "spike 45" advice. Problem over.

Read here http://www.irv2.com/forums/f123/cumm...ak-175340.html

I ordered it from walmart Zerex Super Sealer........approved by Cummins.

I should have mentioned. I’m losing gallons of coolant. I lost 1 and half gallons in 500 miles. I can’t find any trace of coolant or smell any being heated up.

palehorse89 · 12-22-2017, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorlininc

I should have mentioned. I’m losing gallons of coolant. I lost 1 and half gallons in 500 miles. I can’t find any trace of coolant or smell any being heated up.

Oh MY! ........You leak is way beyond what I posted......I am going to lean towards a head gasket.......maybe send in a oil sample or stop at a Speedco and have it tested.......they do the testing right there.
Loosing that much coolant and nothing on the back of the Coach or TOAD........it has to be leaking into the engine and the oil test will verify this.

CountryB · 12-22-2017, 04:16 AM

Sorry to hear that. I would bet it's a cracked head. When the engine is cold the crack is tighter and does not show signs of leakage, then as the engine heats up the crack expands and coolant leaks. Usually the crack is between coolant passage and exhaust valve so the leaking coolant goes out the exhaust and is hard to notice by driver (until it gets real bad). You would not get any coolant in the oil in this case.

Make sure your mechanic is pressure testing the engine hot. There is also a leak detector that detects combustion gases in the coolant (a sign of a cracked head/block or failed head gasket). It fits on where the radiator cap goes and when the engine is running if any combustion gases leak through that crack into coolant it will show on the tester.

Gorlininc · 12-22-2017, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryB

Sorry to hear that. I would bet it's a cracked head. When the engine is cold the crack is tighter and does not show signs of leakage, then as the engine heats up the crack expands and coolant leaks. Usually the crack is between coolant passage and exhaust valve so the leaking coolant goes out the exhaust and is hard to notice by driver (until it gets real bad). You would not get any coolant in the oil in this case.

Make sure your mechanic is pressure testing the engine hot. There is also a leak detector that detects combustion gases in the coolant (a sign of a cracked head/block or failed head gasket). It fits on where the radiator cap goes and when the engine is running if any combustion gases leak through that crack into coolant it will show on the tester.

I thought of a cracked head or head gasket. Wouldn’t you smell the antifreeze or see steam coming out the exhaust.
Thank You for your reply

CountryB · 12-22-2017, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorlininc

I thought of a cracked head or head gasket. Wouldn’t you smell the antifreeze or see steam coming out the exhaust.
Thank You for your reply

There is a lot of exhaust gas volume coming out the tail pipe so its eassy to hide a little coolant mixed in. At first (low leakage) it would be hard to see or smell (an exhaust gas analyzer might detect it), then as the leak grows bigger it would become more obvious.

Gorlininc · 12-22-2017, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryB

There is a lot of exhaust gas volume coming out the tail pipe so its eassy to hide a little coolant mixed in. At first (low leakage) it would be hard to see or smell (an exhaust gas analyzer might detect it), then as the leak grows bigger it would become more obvious.

Ok. Thank you. I’ll look for a diesel machanic tomorrow and have then go through it. I’ll let you know what they find.
Your help is really appreciated

monacojim · 12-22-2017, 08:35 AM

It is possible you are losing that much from your coolant recovery tank. It is quite common for them to crack. I just replaced mine with a steel tank for just that issue.

Gorlininc · 12-22-2017, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monacojim

It is possible you are losing that much from your coolant recovery tank. It is quite common for them to crack. I just replaced mine with a steel tank for just that issue.

Funny you mention that. I just replaced my tank since it was leaking. I thought that was the issue. I guess the engine is drinking the antifreeze. You would think I’d lose power or see some engine issue. I can’t find anything. So I’ll have to find a shop to diagnose it.
Thank you for your reply
Merry Christmas
Rick

Outbound · 12-22-2017, 10:22 AM

Have you checked your pressure cap? I was loosing coolant and found my pressure cap was bad.

Mr_D · 12-22-2017, 10:33 AM

When I was having tires installed I found coolant on the ground but couldn't find where it came from. Later I saw another fee drops. Ran the generator out and found a few drops coming from the dash area. Removed a cover plate and found a rag tied around one of the hoses. Seems that rather than fixing the leak at the hose end someone just tied a rag around the hose to soak it up. Now I'm going to have to figure out how to get my hands in there to fix it permanently although adding a fee cups of coolant is easier. MH originally belonged to a truck business owner so he had his shop do all his maintenance so this "fix" must be an old trucker thing.

MSHappyCampers · 12-22-2017, 10:35 AM

Rick, I'm about as far from being a mechanic as possible, but that sounds like a serious problem! Hope it turns out to be something simple!

dix39 · 12-22-2017, 10:47 AM

Just a thought, but I replaced my recovery tank with one from a parts store that was evidently smaller than the original. On our first trip we used most of a gallon of coolant because the recovery tank would overflow when the engine got a bit past normal operating temp. (at least that was my best guess). I couldn't find a larger "see through" tank so I added another one like the first, plumbed them together and didn't have to add any coolant on our last trip.

Best of luck with it.

Steve