Overheated engine

[KathiE-H]

Our engine was overheating towards the end of our recent 8600+mile trip. Journey 36'. Wagner Equipment of Albequerque looked it over. Sprayed Simple Green on the radiator, power washed it and away we went! NO CHARGE!! We had been warned that we could be stuck for awhile with a radiator that needed repaired, etc. so Wagner's solution was a relief. Thank you WAGNER!!

[KathiE-H]

Our engine was overheating towards the end of our recent 8600+mile trip. Journey 36'. Wagner Equipment of Albequerque looked it over. Sprayed Simple Green on the radiator, power washed it and away we went! NO CHARGE!! We had been warned that we could be stuck for awhile with a radiator that needed repaired, etc. so Wagner's solution was a relief. Thank you WAGNER!!

[Joe-K]

Hi Kathie,

You didn't mention what year your Journey is, but a clogged radiator sometimes occured on pre-02 Freightliner chassis motorhomes due to the engine blowby tube allowing crankcase blowby (containing oil mist) to be pushed through the radiator by the cooling fan. On '02 and later year units, the blowby tube was exteneded to end underneath the radiator so gas air from it doesn't go through the radiator. On our Journey, the tube ends right behind the hitch cross tube.

If your unit doesn't have the extended tube, you might be able to contact Freightliner to see if they'll extend it for you, or possibly supply the tube to do it yourself.

If your unit already has the extended tube, then just be sure to perform a annual cleaning on your radiator. You'll always have some residue build up on the radiator, and if you think about it, with the radiator in the rear, it doesn't get the "cleaning" the front radiator units get everytime they're driven in the rain.

[Radarr]

Joe,

My 2003 had the short tube which I had replaced under warranty. It's a lot of work to get to the attachments, since the tube is relitively cool anyway, I think a simple extension from a poly hose will do the job if it's run out the back of the coach just to the rear of the hitch and then allowed to drop down toward the ground. It will diffently stop the misting on the radiator.

Radarr

[Digital Boy]

How many of us diesel drivers know that we should wash off the radiator and tranny cooler periodically?

With a front radiator a rain shower may do the job and we never think about it. I've got a side radiator and wouldn't have known to do it.

I only learned about a year ago from another diesel driver.

When I see my coolant guage rise to 180 - 185 degrees I brake out the hose at the next overnight stop. The next morning the needle settles in at 170 - 175 degrees!

[Edmund A Skibinski]

Thats why this website is always a good source of usable information, we have people who will share their experiences with others, where some might encounter problems there are others willing to help to avoid such problems. Ed.S