Radiator fluid low. What type do I need?

[Doug-Terrie]

Radiator fluid low. What type do I need? My motorhome sat all winter long and now I am ready to take it on a trip. I started it up for the first time after several months and I am seeing the warning light on the dash says the radiator fluid is low and it is an inch or two below the minimum line in the plastic reservoir.

The radiator color looks sort of blue. The motorhome is in the Monaco diplomat with a Cummins. 38d.

MH is new to me last summer.

[Mr_D]

You need fluid with SCA's unless you have one of the long life ones. Any chance you can contact the previous owner and find out what is there? Color is not a good indication of what you have.

[Ken Thompson]

I too would like to know what’s the best antifreeze choice. I know with my shove it or leave it duramax, the stock stuff is garbage and was part of the cause of the head gaskets going bad @90k. I switched it to the lifetime Cat antifreeze and when ever I test it for the PH, etc come up great all the time. Would this work good in my Cummins 8.3 as well? I know I would have to cover up the “Cat” sticker when I pour it in so my Cummins doesn’t get mad at me.

[Woodman018]

What engine do you have? Is it a wet sleeve engine? My next question would be, where did the coolant go.
Dave

[RamiDav]

The coolant industry is a mess . There are several different types of coolants .
Virtually all the companies make all the different types of coolants .
However there is no color standard between the brands .
So since you don't know what brand of coolant you have the color doesn't
really tell you anything .
Probably the best thing for you to do is replace the coolant then you will know
what kind it is and that it is fresh .

I'll assume you have a Cummins 8.3 ISC engine . If you do it is imperative that
you use a coolant designed for heavy duty diesel engines .
Cummins engines of 8.3 size and larger have cylinder liners which require
special anti cavitation additives otherwise the cylinder liners will begin to erode
eventually piercing holes through the liner .

As Woodman018 said find the leak first , you can just add some distilled water
for a short period until its repaired and changed .

I'm collecting hoses , filter and coolant to change mine when the weather improves .
I'm using " Final Charge Heavy Duty Extended Life Coolant " made by Peak .
It is supposed to be 8 yr and 1 million miles , at 78 I'm thinking I may not need
to do this again . LOL

Ray

[DanKathyC]

if you can access the coolant to get a sample, take a sample to cummins or cat and follow their recommendations. if you can't reach the coolant, add tap water and run it for a while before you pull the sample. at that age and
number of unknowns, flushing and new coolant may be a good choice.

[bruceisla]

Originally Posted by DanKathyC

if you can access the coolant to get a sample, take a sample to cummins or cat and follow their recommendations. if you can't reach the coolant, add tap water and run it for a while before you pull the sample. at that age and
number of unknowns, flushing and new coolant may be a good choice.

Use distilled water. Available at most supermarkets for about $1 per gallon. Save extra for batteries.

[William Willard]

Originally Posted by Doug-Terrie

Radiator fluid low. What type do I need? My motorhome sat all winter long and now I am ready to take it on a trip. I started it up for the first time after several months and I am seeing the warning light on the dash says the radiator fluid is low and it is an inch or two below the minimum line in the plastic reservoir.

The radiator color looks sort of blue. The motorhome is in the Monaco diplomat with a Cummins. 38d.

MH is new to me last summer.

You didn`t say what year your coach is -- It may have a coolant filter -- It`s not really a filter, but looks like one -- About the size of a car oil filter -- It adds needed chemicals to your coolant -- If you change to a long life coolant, witch you should, that filter need to be changed to a "dummy" filter -- NAPA has them -- If it does have such filter, be extra careful when you change it -- There is a shut off valve just above that filter & the handle can be very fragile -- A coolant change is a DIY project -- Not much to it, just time consuming -- Final Charge coolant is a good choice -- Bill Willard

[Mr_D]

It could actually be a coolant filter if on an ISC. They came with them. You could buy ones with no additives or with additives in varying amounts. ISL's may not have a filter though.

[distaff]

Mr Doug-Terrie seems to have abandoned his thread, I hope it is not because he topped up his coolant and headed out on the road with a leak and is now stranded!

[Bob Prince]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

You need fluid with SCA's unless you have one of the long life ones. Any chance you can contact the previous owner and find out what is there? Color is not a good indication of what you have.

Sorry to bother you again, but you seem to be able questions that I have.
Todays ? is this, Can I replace the SCA fluid with the long life fluid and not have to worry about the liner problems? or Do I HAVE to use the SCA Fluid?

P.S. Did you happen to find the part number for the Coolant sensor you showed me?

Thanks in advance, Bob