2001 First Coolant Change (Maybe)

[LeeB]

I am new to the world of Diesel. I bought my MH 2 months ago in California it is now in Tennessee. I have had all the oils changed except the Transmission (that is scheduled for next month). I will be changing over to Transyn.

I am positive that my coolant needs to be changed but I don't have a clue on what I need or how?
Is there somewhere (a web site) that will show me how I go about it?
I have a ISC 330...

Apparently there is a filter that needs to be dealt with and TEST STRIPS?

Any advice would be much appreciated...

I don't even know where to begin ...... Thanks

[st687]

If you are going to change your coolant, check with a Cummins shop about the proper way to flush and change the coolant, ask them about a blank filter and adding an ELC coolant,good for up to 600K miles and no test strips to mess with, and no need to add SCA's.

[GaryKD]

Hi LeeB,
If your coolant is green in color, it does need changing. Like previously posted, extended life coolants are a better way to go. They are red in color. There are several brands available. I made this change myself. For my coach (Cummins ISC 330) it took many drain and refill cycles with water to get all the green coolant out of the system. From memory was 8 cycles. I refilled with Final Charge Coolant. It will last 6 years. After 3 years I need to add a quart of Final Charge extender. With Final Charge there is no need to check for or add Supplement Coolant Additives (SCAs). My cooling system holds 10-12 gallons of coolant.

Nothing about this is difficult. It is just a lot of physical work.

[LeeB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD Hi LeeB, If your coolant is green in color, it does need changing. Like previously posted, extended life coolants are a better way to go. They are red in color. There are several brands available. I made this change myself. For my coach (Cummins ISC 330) it took many drain and refill cycles with water to get all the green coolant out of the system. From memory was 8 cycles. I refilled with Final Charge Coolant. It will last 6 years. After 3 years I need to add a quart of Final Charge extender. With Final Charge there is no need to check for or add Supplement Coolant Additives (SCAs). My cooling system holds 10-12 gallons of coolant. Nothing about this is difficult. It is just a lot of physical work.

Not that I am totally lazy or anything but in searching for a blank coolant filter I ran across this web site about Final Charge. Can I change out the coolant filter to a blank and then do this? Final Charge Antifreeze .....Click the link... Thanks so much

[a k]

I went with Shell ELC and mixed it with RO water and put a plain filter( NO SCA) on mine.

[GaryKD]

Hi LeeB,
Yes, the link provided in your post is the Final Charge Coolant I use. If your coach has a coolant filter (not all do), you'll need to get a blank cartridge.

[LeeB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD Hi LeeB, Yes, the link provided in your post is the Final Charge Coolant I use. If your coach has a coolant filter (not all do), you'll need to get a blank cartridge.

OK in doing the switch over to Final Charge Coolant do I still have to flush the radiator a million times to get the GREEN stuff out?....

The way I read the article I don't need to flush?

Where can I get the BLANK filter? That's what I was looking for when I ran accross the article about Final Charge Converter?

[a k]

Google fleet filter

[LeeB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by a k Google fleet filter

OK thanks....Wix Coolant Filters: FleetFilter Secure Online Store

[GaryKD]

Hi LeeB,
Yes, you need to flush the system until all the green is gone. The article is a bit confusing. I think it is referring to the situation where the current coolant is already and ELS formula (just not Final Charge).

[LeeB]

Thanks Gary... Some how I knew that... I was wondering how that was gonna work. I called the local Cummins Service center and he told me to come by and pick up a test strip kit and see if I need to do it right away or if I can wait a few months. If it needs it I will do it..

I just bought my MH in February in California and drove it to Tennessee with ZERO problems. It only had 11,000 miles on it a only 33 hours on the generator. I have sank a lot of DOLLARS into the MH in the past few months. ie: Changed all the oils, replaced all the filters, going to change Transmission to TranSyn next week. So if I can put changing to Final Charge for a while it will be easier on my pocketbook. Not to mention trying to explain it my wife.... LoL

[GaryKD]

Hi LeeB,
When it comes to the automotive part of the coach, wives do not understand.

[Hooligan]

LeeB: Check your local WalMart, they had the Final Charge Coolant here, at a good price. The local store discontinued it, close-out was $6/gal.

Worth a try...