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10-29-2017, 09:51 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Oregon
Posts: 195
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Radiator Leak
Hey, folks...new to the neighborhood and Class A battleships. Hope someone can help me out here.
I just acquired a 1994 HR Navigator with the prerequisite 6CTA 8.3 stuffed in the rear, and couldn't be more impressed. As a school bus driver, I'm familiar with the handling 'yikeses' but not with how quick and quiet this thing is.
The problem? After getting services done post-purchase (at an International shop, to include oil change, new engine belts, chassis inspection, replacing the plastic overflow bottle and pressure testing), and after logging some 600 miles, there is a leak, apparently from the radiator. It doesn't totally empty out the coolant system, but enough drips out that I lose at least half a gallon after I shut down.
Radiator? Hose clamp? Some magical do-hickey I don't know about?
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10-29-2017, 09:57 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Metamora, MI
Posts: 5,518
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Hard to guess from here. You will have to look closely to see where it is coming from. You might wash down the radiator / engine, let it dry, fill the radiator and see the high point where it is draining from. Just remember not to get underneath the RV without jack stands in place. Don't rely on the RV's jacks.
Odds are a clamp, then a hose, then the radiator cap and then the radiator itself.
__________________
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire Limited 4370 w/ Spartan K2 and Cummins 500hp
ASE Master Certified (a long.....time ago...)
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10-29-2017, 10:09 PM
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#3
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,307
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Glad to have you here in the forum with us.
Hoses and clamps are the easiest and cheapest thing to look at first.
A radiator is a whole different issue. See if a radiator shop near you can look at it and test it. Even if they have to come to you.
Good luck!
Happy Trails!!!
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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10-29-2017, 10:20 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,985
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Get some spray foam engine degreaser, (Walmart, Autozone) and spray that part of the engine down per can instructions. Then after 5 min, spray with the water hose which should clean up the engine area. I do this annually for the entire truck motor. After the engine dries, check the radiator areas over with a flashlight from the top and underneath looking for the leak. It may take a while, even a couple of drives but you should find it. Another option is take the vehicle to an auto or radiator shop and have them pressure check the cooling system.
Did they just pressure test the radiator cap or the entire cooling system?
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10-29-2017, 10:21 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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from WA State!
You'll have to do some sleuthing to find the leak and fix it.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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10-30-2017, 05:42 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,400
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArgoPilot
replacing the plastic overflow bottle and pressure testing)
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Why was this replaced and tested? Was there a pre-existing condition? Did they pressure check the entire cooling system or what? I'm just wondering if these 2 items are related to your current leak. Looks suspicious.
If not...my guess would be—because of your rigs age—it's a hose clamp or radiator seam somewhere at the top. While you're under there looking for this leak, I'd also look for any other hoses that are touching/rubbing against anything that could pose a future hose failure. I found one cooling hose in my engine bay last week that was worn 1/2 through rubbing in an area where the hose was going around a corner. No doubt it was on it's way to failure.
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10-30-2017, 06:11 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 2,810
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I have the same problem and have still not been able to find the leak. Don't forget to check your dash heater core and the hoses/clamps going to it. Please keep us posted on what you find.
__________________
Vera & Ken
1998 Holiday Rambler Imperial, RR8S Chassis
Cummins 6C8.3 mechanical engine, 325HP, 3060 Allison
Towing 2014 Ford Explorer
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10-30-2017, 06:21 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,396
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...make sure you are using the appropriate coolant mix or distilled water when replacing coolant loss....all good ideas above.....coolant cap or specific leak based on source of "drips"..... also make sure you know the proper protocol for checking your coolant level....most rigs require that you check sight glass for level when engine is at ops temp, not cold--or you will overfill.....
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Old Scout
2015 IH45 Foretravel
2003 Alpine 40' MDTS [Sold]
New Braunfels, Texas
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10-30-2017, 08:45 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 1,343
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Trying to understand,"drips out after shut down". Do you see it dripping? Are you sure it is lost after shut down?
__________________
2000 Allegro Bus 35R 3126 Cat 300 Allison 3060MD 6 speed
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10-30-2017, 09:45 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 164
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As with many other things, go to the last place someone touched it. The odds are, the problem will be there, either a parts problem, or installation. If that fails, then go to the A,to B, to C, method.
__________________
2000 Damon Ultrasport 3670
DP Cummins 5.9
Tow Dolly, 06 GMC Envoy
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10-30-2017, 06:09 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Oregon
Posts: 195
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The overflow bottle was cracked and leaking, thus the replace. The leak is from under the radiator, about one small drip every 10-15 seconds. It has not stopped since yesterday.
Can I access the radiator by removing the plate underneath it? If I can get at it from the bottom, I could see where the radiator failed.
__________________
Home sweet home...wherever we roam!
1994 HR NAVIGATOR 38WB
Rechristened 'The Argo'
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10-30-2017, 06:15 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Oregon
Posts: 195
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One note here: the whole point behind this purchase was to get into a Class A with cash, not mortgages. I won't have $6-$7k to drop on a new radiator. I also need it to be able to move here and there for resources to test the main systems (water, appliances/120v system, gen set, and propane).
If there are some semi-permanent fixes THAT WORK, I'd be obliged.
__________________
Home sweet home...wherever we roam!
1994 HR NAVIGATOR 38WB
Rechristened 'The Argo'
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10-31-2017, 11:56 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Oregon
Posts: 195
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Just discovered that my radiator is NOT aluminum but is, in fact, BRASS. Leak is small; no other corrosive breakdown noted. Can even solder leak in place without removing radiator. How 'bout THEM apples?
__________________
Home sweet home...wherever we roam!
1994 HR NAVIGATOR 38WB
Rechristened 'The Argo'
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10-31-2017, 12:36 PM
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#14
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,307
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Glad to hear you found the leak and that it is repairable not relatively inexpensive to fix.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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