Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: MAZ on November 11, 2010, 09:25:09 pm

Title: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: MAZ on November 11, 2010, 09:25:09 pm
I need to get some Texaco ELC (or equivalent) coolant for my Ft and I am wondering if any chain stores carry it. I went to NAPA but they don't have it. Where do you all purchase it?
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Barry Beam on November 11, 2010, 09:38:37 pm
Quote
I need to get some Texaco ELC (or equivalent) coolant for my Ft and I am wondering if any chain stores carry it.
I don't think Texaxo ELC is available anymore.
Here are some equivalent coolant to look for.

Fleetguard ES Optimax
CAT ELC
ChevronTexaco Delo  Extended Life Coolant
Shell Rotella  Extended Life Coolant
Texaco Havoline  Extended Life Coolant
Valvoline Zerex Extended Life Extreme 3/300
Detroit Diesel PowerCool Plus
Old World Industries Final Charge
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: MAZ on November 11, 2010, 09:43:25 pm
Thanks Barry,

Do you know of any chain stores that carry any of these or do I need to go to a truck stop, Cummins ......etc?

Mark
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Michelle on November 11, 2010, 09:44:04 pm
We've purchased the Shell Rotella ELC at a local large truck parts/service center (Inland Truck Parts in Denton, Texas).

Michelle
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: MAZ on November 11, 2010, 09:47:12 pm
Thanks for the info Michelle,

I had a small leak today. I put in Bars Leak C16 and ran it. Seemed to stop the leak. Now I just need to find some coolant. I will try a truck supply type business.

Mark
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: George Stoltz on November 11, 2010, 09:50:55 pm
Mark,
 
Periodically you might want to check the coolant reservoir when the engine is totally cold.  We had a small leak that was fixed, but it took about two weeks for the Bars to completely do its thing.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: MAZ on November 11, 2010, 09:56:38 pm
Thanks George for you insight. I will do that tomorrow. Thanks,
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Barry Beam on November 11, 2010, 10:04:26 pm
Quote
I put in Bars Leak C16 and ran it. Seemed to stop the leak.
Depending on size of radiator, Our m-11 450 engine takes 4 cans of Barrs leak.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Don Hay on November 11, 2010, 10:11:33 pm
Let me add one more to Barry's list:  Keith Risch at Encore RV recommends and uses "Final Charge Global", ELC.  He just flushed the cooling system in the Express and put in 16 gallons of 50:50  Final Charge.  It's made by "Old World Industries" and it says "CAT EC-1" on the tag.  It also says "With a complete flush and fill and the addition of a single Final Charge Extender at 300,000 miles", it is good for "600,000 miles/12,000 hours of total cooling system protection".
 
I figure that I'll be long gone by then.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Scott Beard on November 12, 2010, 11:06:08 am
I have what I am sure is a real stupid question, but here goes....What is the tidiest way to put coolant in your reservoir.  I had to add some when on my trip this past summer and made a hell of a mess of it.  Though I could fit the jug up in there and pour.  What a mess.  I know you guys will have a miriad of much more inteligent methods.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: MAZ on November 12, 2010, 11:09:39 am
Thanks for the input on radiator size Barry. I put in three 10oz size bottles of bars leak. I will check to make sure that is enough.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: amos.harrison on November 12, 2010, 11:15:23 am
Scott,

Walmart and lots of places carry a plastic adapter for gallon jugs of oil that has a twist on/twist off valve built in.  Replace the coolant jug cap with the adapter, invert the jug over the overflow bottle, and twist open to fill the bottle to the correct level.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Barry Beam on November 12, 2010, 11:25:06 am
Quote
What is the tidiest way to put coolant in your reservoir.
As previously stated:
Quote
Walmart and lots of places carry a plastic adapter for gallon jugs of oil that has a twist on/twist off valve built in. 
Replace the coolant jug cap with the adapter, invert the jug over the overflow bottle, and twist open to fill the bottle to the correct level.
Here is what I use found at Walmart.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Paul Wildenstein on November 12, 2010, 11:45:01 am
I would never have room to get a gallon jug into a position to pour into the overflow tank.  What works pretty well for me is a 16 oz cold drink cup.  That way I can pour about 12 oz at a time with plenty of room to get the cup in position above the overflow tank opening and the cup allows me to squeeze the sides in a bit and pour without spilling a drop.
Paul
36' 2000 U320
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: wolfe10 on November 12, 2010, 12:07:18 pm
If you are adding just a little, a 4 ounce cup works well.

If you are adding a large quantity, get 4' of clear cheap plastic hose.  Raise the gallon jug above the level of the reservoir, start a siphon and let it do the work.

Brett Wolfe
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: George Stoltz on November 12, 2010, 12:18:14 pm
I would never have room to get a gallon jug into a position to pour into the overflow tank.  What works pretty well for me is a 16 oz cold drink cup.  That way I can pour about 12 oz at a time with plenty of room to get the cup in position above the overflow tank opening and the cup allows me to squeeze the sides in a bit and pour without spilling a drop.
Paul
36' 2000 U320

I keep an 8 oz water bottle with a screw cap next to the gallon of coolant.  Takes a steady hand to fill the water bottle, but it sure is easy to add coolant from the small bottle.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Barry Beam on November 12, 2010, 12:21:21 pm
Quote
I would never have room to get a gallon jug into a position to pour into the overflow tank.
I dont have any trouble fitting the gallon bottle up inside and pouring directly into reservoir.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Dave Katsuki on November 12, 2010, 12:35:39 pm
I got a pump at AutoZone that was intended for gear oil but screws right onto the 1 gal coolant container and then you just  use the piece of tubing that comes with it or get a longer one.  Pretty easy and almost mess-free.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Chad and Judy on November 12, 2010, 01:35:36 pm
Nor is there room to pour directly into the over-flow reservoir in our '98. There is only 3-4" clearance from the ceiling of that compartment. I've successfully used a long/flexible neck funnel for servicing.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: amos.harrison on November 12, 2010, 02:19:27 pm
Chad,

What do you have above the coolant reservoir?  There's very little clearance on mine to the top of the door opening, but inside it's clear all the way to the top of the end cap.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Dave Head on November 12, 2010, 02:29:08 pm
I have the top of a 2 liter bottle with the cap on. I can pour it in with hardly any spill, because its flexible. Lately I was thinking, and I am going to make a rigid tubing out of 1/2" PVC. 2" long, a 90 degree, 10" long, another 90 degree, and 5 inches long. That should work great and clear everything. Put a funnel on the 5" long and the 2" goes in the reservoir.
 
__________|
|
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: nitehawk on November 12, 2010, 02:31:13 pm
The radiator cap and fill point on our rear-mounted radiator is just inside the rear cap and about 2" below the top of the door opening. I purchased a long narrow spout plastic garden watering pitcher for 99 cents at a Dollar Store. It reaches in nicely, is easy to monitor pouring, cleans easily and is no great loss if it disappears.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Felix and Gail on November 12, 2010, 10:20:30 pm
I use an inexpensive 1 gallon sprayer, the kind with a pump to pressurize, to add coolant to engine and generator.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Barry & Cindy on November 12, 2010, 10:30:07 pm
We bought at Wal Mart an inexpensive short spout that screws on gallon containers that has a built-in ball valve.
 
Screw on antifreeze container, close ball valve, remove RV overflow cap, turn anti freeze container upside down and put up into open space over plastic coolant overflow container, lower spout into RV overflow container, open ball valve.
When you have added chosen amount, close ball valve & reverse steps.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: Scott Beard on November 13, 2010, 11:27:44 am
Thank you all once again.  I knew I would get a miriad of options to solve my problem.  You guys are simply the best and we look forward to meeting you on the road.
Title: Re: Where can I find TELC coolant locally?
Post by: John S on November 14, 2010, 06:09:07 pm
Quote
I would never have room to get a gallon jug into a position to pour into the overflow tank.
I dont have any trouble fitting the gallon bottle up inside and pouring directly into reservoir.

Me either. I close off the spout raise it up over the coolant overflow upside down then open the spout. It will empty a gallon pretty quickly that way.  I also get my fluid at the Cummins Shop. The only place other than MOT and FOT and Tenn RV that carries it. I think I might check out Keystone if I need more sooner or later as they are closer.