Cooling system flush/refill

[smlranger]

My rig is due a coolant flush/refill. I'd do it myself but since I probably will need to replace the thermostat/s and upper/lower radiator hoses, I will likely have it done at Gaffney.

Has anyone here had the folks at Gaffney do a cooling system flush and refill and, if yes, about what did it cost? I realize hoses, thermostat will be extra.

[chasfm11]

I did it myself last Spring and it wasn't that difficult. I'd had the thermostat replaced for a problem not long before so I just replaced the hoses and flushed the coolant.

On ours, the upper radiator hose was $76, Gafffney price. The other large hoses were short and not very expensive. Our setup had several hoses running to the surge tank that I replaced locally.

Other than dealing with 26 gallons of used coolant (original dump and two more afterwards), the job was pretty easy. It is more of a pain to work on our Ford Econoline.

If you call Pat in Gaffney, I'm sure that she can get you a ballpark price for the job. If I had that option, I'd have had them do it. There is no place locally competent in Dallas, IMHO.

[smlranger]

Quote:

Originally posted by chasfm11: I did it myself last Spring and it wasn't that difficult. I'd had the thermostat replaced for a problem not long before so I just replaced the hoses and flushed the coolant. On ours, the upper radiator hose was $76, Gafffney price. The other large hoses were short and not very expensive. Our setup had several hoses running to the surge tank that I replaced locally. Other than dealing with 26 gallons of used coolant (original dump and two more afterwards), the job was pretty easy. It is more of a pain to work on our Ford Econoline. If you call Pat in Gaffney, I'm sure that she can get you a ballpark price for the job. If I had that option, I'd have had them do it. There is no place locally competent in Dallas, IMHO.

I want my coolant recovery tank to be replaced also...it has developed cracks and I can see it failing soon. I was trying to avoid the extra labor charge for the flush...I understand it takes much time to get it done right. We will be in Gaffney in April so I will just bite the bullet and let them do it all.

[chasfm11]

As part of the work that I did, I had the coolant recovery tank off. It was easier to clean out that way. On ours, the there were only a couple of screws holding it fast.

I went to Cummins and used the flush that they recommended. On the coolant service that I paid for, they didn't put enough new coolant in for the size of our system and didn't use distilled water. I wanted to use the flush to get rid of any problems that those decisions caused. I followed the directions on the flush label carefully. I'll admit that it took a while to make sure that the flush was completely out of the system.

Even with all of that, I didn't have the time in my job (5 hours) that the professionals charged me for. You won't run into that problem at Gaffney. They are honest folks.

[tomsm]

smlranger - have you been able to get Pat at Gaffney on the phone? I tried yesterday and today and only get the answering machine and, so far, no response to my message. Maybe they're on a reduced schedule??

[tomsm]

Disregard my question - Pat just returned my call...

[elgarc]

Quote OP: I noticed some cracks in my surge tank. Unquote.

I had a local RV shop do a flush/change coolant. $65 bucks, my coolant. The tech noticed that there was a crack 'forming' on the surge tank, but didn't think there was any urgency. I took a trip to Yuma a month later. At Barney's Flying J, I found coolant all over my toad and rear of engine. There was blowing leaks from 3 different places not even detectable during the flush service. (The low coolant light hadn't come on.) No Freightliner parts in Yuma, had to overnight the tank down from Phoenix. (I had tried the JB steel product that you mush together like a clay. It didn't stop the leaking).

My advice: Really give those surge tanks a look over and if it looks suspicious replace it now! It ain't good if they go!

[06 Tradewinds]

Gary,

Was this the first tank replacement on your 2005 model coach? We have a 2006 model Freightliner that is on its third tank.

[Gary RVRoamer]

My 04 with ISL 370 is still on its original overflow tank. Maybe the side radiator models have less of a problem than the rear rads? I've heard of some tank failures on ISLs, but not as many as the ISCs.

[chasfm11]

I'm still on the original overflow tank on ours (see signature) so I'm not sure that it is a rear rad problem. Perhaps they just had a bad batch of plastic.

[Darryl]

I had mine replaced by Gaffney last year. I also had them replace all the hoses at the same time. However, the antifreeze and labor totaled $146.50.

[smlranger]

Quote:

Originally posted by Darryl: I had mine replaced by Gaffney last year. I also had them replace all the hoses at the same time. However, the antifreeze and labor totaled $146.50.

Wow. If they will flush, refill and change my radiator hoses for $146.50, I will be very happy. I am having other stuff done but that sounds more than reasonable for what you had done.

[Darryl]

No, they did not change my radiator hoses for $146. You asked what they charged for changing the coolant. That is $146 (as itemized on the bill). Getting all the hoses changed, as well as all the belts, plus coolant, cost $703. Still a bargin in my book.

[chasfm11]

Quote:

Getting all the hoses changed, as well as all the belts, plus coolant, cost $703. Still a bargin in my book.

I'd agree. I paid $500 here in Dallas the time before for just a coolant change. They didn't use enough coolant to really re-fill the system properly. That was one of the reasons that I did my own, used Cummins flush and then re-filled with distilled water to bring my mix to the proper level.

I think my costs on coolant and hoses were about $245. The most expensive hose ($73) I got from Gaffney because it was quoted to me locally at $185.

I figured that I saved myself around $500 in labor. Probably more important to me, is the fact that I understand where ever hose is and where it goes. Actually, the work wasn't that hard. I'd very much rather replace all of the hoses than to change out the air filter. That is not a fun job at all.