I have a hidden coolant leak behind the water heater. There are telltale red drops on the bottom of the water heater bay, they run while driving from side to side. I have looked for all the obvious points in the water heater bay where the leak could come from near the water heater, and I find none. I even removed the water heater from the rv and ran it partially outside to check for any leaks, and there were none visible.
What is the path for these hoses?
The only thread I could find where someone attempted to replace these Foretravel water heater heat exchanger hoses, is the following one. It appears to just end, with no comments on the result.
heater hose/coolant line replacement (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=6804.msg29152#msg29152)
I appreciate any input. Where do these hoses run to? Does one go to the engine, or do both run up to the front of the rv heater core along side of the fuel lines?
Found my answer here:
Heater Hose to Check (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=35570.0)
Jack,
I have had some small leaks where the engine coolant hoses connect to the back of our OEM water heater. I finally fixed them by putting two hose clamps on each hose. Since you said you pulled your water heater (partially) out I am sure you inspected the hose connections.
I have luckily not had any other leaks in those hoses. I don't know how the hoses are routed. The "Close For Max Heat" valve supposedly shuts off flow to the water heater but does not stop flow to the dash heater. This leads me to theorize that the water heater is on a loop which branches off the main hose running to the dash heater. See my kindergarten quality diagram below. Of course, I could be completely wrong.
I do not like to contemplate how hard it would be to replace the OEM coolant hoses. Hope I'm never forced into that situation.
Qur water heater takes about 10-15 minutes to heat up,no engine heat,my opionion is less hoses,less things to leak.
Since no one responded to my question that replaced these hoses, I will solve my leak temporarily by putting a bypass of the heater core and heat exchanger on the engine, until I replace the failed hose.
I can do that easily by running a hose from inlet to outlet as a bypass, on the engine, or capping both off as a temporary solution.
Although I found no FT owners that replaced those hoses, I did find many links of Winnebago owners that have, as they used the same water heater with heat exchanger. This also lead to the following Barth owner that replaced his on a similar 6C8.3
To aid any Ft owner that has a similar issue in the future, and that this will be a summer 2021 maintenance project, I'll update this thread at that time.
Monarch 8.3 Cummins cooling system - Topic (http://www.barthmobile.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3631087061/m/1233951297)
There are current posts on this subject by al mata. Antifreeze solution leaking from under water heater (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=40666.msg403784#msg403784)
I sure like having hot water anytime I stop. Saves on propane as well, as I dry camp a lot.
My leak is different than the post you point to. In earlier posts on my thread I said I have no leaks on the back of the hot water heater or the hose sections in that compartment. The leaks are on a portion of hose that runs above the fresh water storage tank. It is either on the hidden part of the hose that goes from the heat exchanger to the engine or it is on the hose going to the heater core in front dash. Even with water heater removed, engine running, leaks are not visible. My temporary solution is to block at the engine the inlet and outlet, or loop.
Jack has your Motor aid been removed from your system or do you still have those hoses in the compartment?
Our 97 U 295 has 2 shut off valves at the back of the engine by the transmission. Maybe someone installed them.
When I did the new motor, I just shut them off, till I was ready to blow out the rest of the cooling system. I just replaced both the hose's to that point from the engine.
Someone mentioned double clamps. I actually double clamped every new hose on the engine at rebuild.
As a FT tech, one of my 1st jobs was to replace them front to back on an older FT, one that had a chassis (don't remember model) Man did I get dirty, not for the faint of heart.
Chris
Maybe one like mine Chris?
https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=26970.0;attach=37204;image
Craneman, New water heater w/heat exchanger, new hose to cutoff to heat exchange system, new cutoff valve.
That would be it.....Makes me tired and dirty just looking at it!
Chris
Jack, so you have two hoses which one of them has a hole in it. Can you isolate them, then drain any coolant out of them, then plug one end of each hose and put low pressure air in one hose at a time and listen for an air leak? At least you would know which hose it is and /hopefully trace the air leak to where it is. Just a thought.
If I recall when I had my water tanks out, I traced the hoses to TEEs in the area above the rear axle inside the cable tray. They weren't really TEEs but more like WYEs.
Like rbark, I'm thinking maybe it only leaks when there's pressure; just running the engine cold might not be enough and it has to be up to temperature to get the pressure up.
rbark, JohnFitz, gracerace, craneman and and all, thank you. That will be the plan. Rv is in storage now, so I will try that when I can, spring 2021.
For anyone new finding this thread, search "heater hose". Posts there answered all my questions.
This is a marine 8.3, however it shows the two heater hoses and where they go, problem solved. It is necessary to double click on the picture for it to expand and see #6 and #7 heater hoses.
6CTA 8.3 430/450 Diamond Engine Hoses - Seaboard Marine (https://www.sbmar.com/6cta-430-450-diamond-engine-hoses/)
and thank you jor for these pictures
Heater Hose to Check (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=35570.0)