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09-28-2020, 06:48 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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If I get the cap and fill it up with coolant and find no leak should I still have a mechanic check it out?
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2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-28-2020, 08:03 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 176
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Here’s my procedure for filling. It’s a hillbilly procedure that has served me well for a long time. The better shops have fancy machines that save time, money, and coolant.
Put a tarp, boxes, whatever you have that is dry and clean under the engine and radiator. You want to be able to spot leaks and drips
Check the oil. If it’s milky looking you have a major problem
Fill the radiator up with coolant to the tippy top of where the radiator cap goes. Leave the funnel set up. Try to not make a splashy mess
Hang out for a bit and have a cup of coffee or two. Look for drips around hoses, water pump, etc. also look up front at the heater core above the generator
Assuming that you don’t see any leaks at this point, start up the engine. Watch the temp gage go up and go out and look for drips and gushing leaks
During the warm up period, you might need to top up the coolant
There’s a device called a thermostat in the coolant system. It’s sometimes a source of trouble. When the temperature gage gets to about halfway (195f) you might see the coolant level drop noticeably. This is normal. Add more to top the radiator up and then put the cap on and tighten it up
If the temperature climbs above halfway, the thermostat might be bad. This is a different problem. Shut off the engine and let things cool off
Assuming that you are able to top off the radiator and put the cap on, let it run for another 5 minutes or so. Once the system builds pressure any leaks should become pretty obvious. Hoses, water pump, radiator etc really leaking coolant you need to deal with them
No leaks, temperature in the mid range, reservoir filled halfway, you should be ok to drive around and see if you have any problems.
Hopefully this helps. Good luck
Don’t overheat the engine whatever you do
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2003 Monaco Dynasty
2020 Chevy Spark Toad
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09-29-2020, 04:19 AM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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I dont think I feel comfortable getting filled correctly to allow me to drive. I could always call Coachnet and see will they send out a mechanic.
I need to get a cap first off.
Oh, do you know about the Gas pusher facebook page?
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-29-2020, 06:03 AM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Spoke to both Coachnet and the service shop.
Coachnet Tech said to fill it with water and check for leaks and drive to the shop. Shop says to fill it half up with coolant then check for leaks and continue to fill. Coachnet will tow if needs be.
I will check the workhorse book for the coolant type.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-29-2020, 06:47 AM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_K5LXP
Well, if it's leaking coolant you would see a corresponding drop in reservoir tank level, or it may be dry and you're sucking air into the radiator. Look at the reservoir and see. If it's coolant you see and it's "rusty" you have more to worry about than just a leak.
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
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Hi Mark,
I meant rusty in color, not containing rust.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-29-2020, 07:37 AM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Manual states is its Dexcool coolant. The service shop manager told me that I need to put in a compatible coolant as we dont know what was put in previously.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-29-2020, 11:55 AM
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#35
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northwestern Montana
Posts: 3,512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unicorn Driver
Manual states is its Dexcool coolant. The service shop manager told me that I need to put in a compatible coolant as we dont know what was put in previously.
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Prestone states on their bottle that it’s compatible with all other coolants. Since the engine never showed hot, You are probably only going to add a small amount mixed with water 50/50, Walmart also sells a generic Dexcool either premixed 50/50 or full strength.
Sometimes with a bad radiator cap, and the engine is either shutdown or ideled, the pressure in the cooling system rises and causes coolant to leak out past the faulty cap to the overflow hose
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Dieselclacker
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09-29-2020, 12:08 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Thanks, I got some in Napa as needed a radiator cap also.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-29-2020, 02:04 PM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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The radiator took a half gallon and put some in the overflow. As per the Workhorse book I ran the engine with the cap off. Some fluid bubbled out.
I moved the coach so I could see any coolant leaks on the concrete drive.
I still think I should bring it in to get checked out.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-29-2020, 03:05 PM
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#38
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Fulda, MN
Posts: 1,240
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By all means if you do not feel comfortable with what you have done have it checked out by someone who knows. A lot of us on here giving advice have worked on vehicles all our lives but if you don't understand these machines you definitely to get someone who knows look at it.
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09-29-2020, 04:15 PM
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#39
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David 70
By all means if you do not feel comfortable with what you have done have it checked out by someone who knows. A lot of us on here giving advice have worked on vehicles all our lives but if you don't understand these machines you definitely to get someone who knows look at it.
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Hi David,
I really do appreciate the advice from everyone here.
Don't get me wrong I would rather not bring it to the shop tomorrow and having to pay as will have to take time off work. I am going to let the coach sit overnight and look for any leaks.
Issue is I cannot ascertain when the coolant was last changed, I have had the coach since spring 2018 and have not done it.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-29-2020, 05:05 PM
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#40
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Fulda, MN
Posts: 1,240
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I understand. It sounds like you are taking the right approach. Dexcool is pink in color so you can then determine which coolant is in it. If you feel you need to change, it by all means do it, then you know.
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09-29-2020, 07:10 PM
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#41
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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We will be driving max another 500 miles this year before the coach is stored for winter. Another option is to get the radiator checked out in spring.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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09-29-2020, 11:16 PM
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#42
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Alaska in Summer Snow Birds in Winter
Posts: 2,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unicorn Driver
We will be driving max another 500 miles this year before the coach is stored for winter. Another option is to get the radiator checked out in spring.
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You got a lot of good advice in this thread. From the looks of your radiator cap and the dirty/rusty color of your coolant bottle and dip tube into the bottle I would lean toward a bad radiator cap. You are on the right track. The radiator is now full, you have a new radiator cap, you have the coolant bottle back to the proper level and I assume you have the hose to/from the coolant bottle hooked back up properly. These are all good things.
You need to mark your coolant level in the bottle so you can monitor it closely. Your bottle looks dirty and most of that is likely on the inside. Its too late to remove the bottle and clean it this year but you should consider cleaning the bottle in the spring before next season. But, mark the level in the bottle with a sharpie. Monitor the level closely. For sure check the level before you start the engine each time and immediately after you shut the engine down each time. The level shouldn’t change much. If it is up an inch when warm it should be back to the mark once its cooled back off. Monitoring the coolant level in the reservoir is something you should put on your preflight checklist every time. By checking this regularly you will easily notice when the level moves even 1/2”.
My personal opinion, from 5000 miles away, is you have probably solved your issue. The new radiator cap should eliminate that as the issue. The coolant level should remain relatively constant from this point forward. On your next trip monitor the level closely at every stop. If the level drops, like drops more than an inch or so in 500 miles you may have further issues. My guess is that you will be pleasantly surprised and the coolant level will hold steady and not move much from trip to trip.
All that said....... I would consider changing out the coolant next season. While at it remove and scrub the inside and outside of the coolant tank. Get some fresh coolant in that old girl. A decent shop should charge around $200 for a complete coolant change including the coolant flush/change kit and disposal.
__________________
Tom and Sherry W.
06 Winnebago Adventurer 38J Workhorse W24 Lots of motor and suspension mods in the works
02 Itasca Suncruiser 35U. Workhorse W22 w/Safe-T-Plus, Koni FSDs, UltraTrac, etc, etc.
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