Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Tomibach on March 23, 2020, 08:06:39 am
Title: smelling coolant
Post by: Tomibach on March 23, 2020, 08:06:39 am
smell coolant very strong in the vicinity of the hot water heater on my '94 280 w Cummins 8.3 ...suspect the engine heat system of the hot water heater leaking, any way to isolate..valves to close etc?
thanks in advance
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: folivier on March 23, 2020, 08:12:26 am
Not familiar with your Cummins but on the Detroit Diesels there are 2 valves on the engine block that can shut off the coolant flow that goes to the water heater, if you have that option on your water heater.
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: Tomibach on March 23, 2020, 08:23:19 am
Not familiar with your Cummins but on the Detroit Diesels there are 2 valves on the engine block that can shut off the coolant flow that goes to the water heater, if you have that option on your water heater.
yes, I have that option....anybody on the Cummins?
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on March 23, 2020, 08:53:49 am
If your coach MotorAid water heater plumbing is still factory stock, you should have one water hose valve on the wall in the vicinity of the water pump and water heater. Closing this valve diverts coolant flow around the water heater to increase flow to the dash heater/defroster unit.
Unfortunately, the valve only closes one hose going to the water heater, so it does not completely isolate the water heater coolant loop. My engine does not have any valves at the engine to shut off coolant flow going forward to the water heater and dash heater/defroster.
I have had several instances of leaks where the the MotorAid rubber hoses connect to our water heater. They are attached to pipe nipples, and probably held in place with simple worm gear drive clamps. These clamps will loosen over time, especially if the ambient air temps are swinging between hot and cold.
Try reaching up behind the water heater and see if you can find the two clamps with your fingers. If they are leaking, you will feel the wet sticky coolant. It is hard to reach them, but not impossible. If they are loose, tightening them up will often stop the leak. I finally ended up placing a second clamp on each hose. This solved my coolant "leakage" problem.
If they have been leaking for a while, the coolant has probably soaked into the insulating blanket around the water heater. If so, even after you stop the leak, you will still smell the coolant stink every time you open the bay door. Only fix for that is totally replacing the insulation, which would probably require removal of the water heater.
I cut a inspection port in the bay wall of our coach. It gives much better access to the area behind the water heater.
Behind the Water Heater Access Port (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=37421)
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: Tomibach on March 23, 2020, 09:05:27 am
If your coach MotorAid water heater plumbing is still factory stock, you should have one water hose valve on the wall in the vicinity of the water pump and water heater. Closing this valve diverts coolant flow around the water heater to increase flow to the dash heater/defroster unit.
Unfortunately, the valve only closes one hose going to the water heater, so it does not completely isolate the water heater coolant loop. My engine does not have any valves at the engine to shut off coolant flow going forward to the water heater and dash heater/defroster.
I have had several instances of leaks where the the MotorAid rubber hoses connect to our water heater. They are attached to pipe nipples, and probably held in place with simple worm gear drive clamps. These clamps will loosen over time, especially if the ambient air temps are swinging between hot and cold.
Try reaching up behind the water heater and see if you can find the two clamps with your fingers. If they are leaking, you will feel the wet sticky coolant. It is hard to reach them, but not impossible. If they are loose, tightening them up will often stop the leak. I finally ended up placing a second clamp on each hose. This solved my coolant "leakage" problem.
If they have been leaking for a while, the coolant has probably soaked into the insulating blanket around the water heater. If so, even after you stop the leak, you will still smell the coolant stink every time you open the bay door. Only fix for that is totally replacing the insulation, which would probably require removal of the water heater.
I cut a inspection port in the bay wall of our coach. It gives much better access to the area behind the water heater.
Behind the Water Heater Access Port (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=37421)
thanks, ill have a look, just started so possibly no collateral damage, will update
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: wolfe10 on March 23, 2020, 09:47:57 am
Indeed, look at the back of the water heater. May be nothing more than a hose clamp or cracked hose that you could splice using a barb to barb fitting and short piece of new hose. That is at least as likely as a bad water heater.
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: Tomibach on March 23, 2020, 09:59:08 am
Thanks, will do
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: kimosabe99 on March 23, 2020, 01:21:10 pm
If it gets to be an emergency and no valves:
jk
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: Old Toolmaker on March 23, 2020, 02:43:15 pm
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: dans96u295ft on March 25, 2020, 10:31:58 am
going to order those hose pliers today. Look like a must tool to keep in the mh
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: muskyman475 on March 25, 2020, 11:32:01 am
Just a cheaper set of pincher clamps giving options for tighter area.
OEMTOOLS 24689 3 Piece Hose Pinching Pliers Set | Mechanics Tool for Clamping Fuel, Bake, Coolant, Vacuum Hoses During Engine Work | Powerful & Easy to Use Engine Tools | Mess Free | Green in Color Amazon.com: OEMTOOLS 24689 3 Piece Hose Pinching Pliers Set | Mechanics Tool... (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2JTB44/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yK3EEbGD4K6NP)
Title: Re: smelling coolant
Post by: Tomibach on March 25, 2020, 11:55:22 am
Closed the valve, will have a look at things when it's nicer outside, thanks for the replies