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Topic: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground (Read 995 times) previous topic - next topic

Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

We are at the Quartzsite Gathering and on our 2nd night, generator shut down on its own.  Went out side in the dark and saw coolant on the ground under the generator radiator end.  This could send us to a campground, but a Foretraveler came to the rescue and we plugged our shore cable into their coach.

We have the 3-cylinder Izusu 8,000 watt with the radiator mounted to the generator, (not in the side compartment).

When we get back to Yuma in 10 days, we will try to determine where the coolant leak is.  Because we are having so much fun out here in the Quartzsite desert, I have not started to research the Forum for previous postings to help us.  We are aware of several who have mechanically separated the radiator from the vibrating engine.  The leak may be in the radiator which can be repaired in Yuma, but it makes sense to replace other parts too.

Any help is appreciated on where the leak could be from.

We are looking for part numbers for the thermostat and water pump.

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
.........................We have the 3-cylinder Isuzu 8,000 watt with the radiator mounted to the generator, (not in the side compartment).

When we get back to Yuma in 10 days, we will try to determine where the coolant leak is.  Because we are having so much fun out here in the Quartzsite desert, I have not started to research the Forum for previous postings to help us.  We are aware of several who have mechanically separated the radiator from the vibrating engine.  The leak may be in the radiator which can be repaired in Yuma, but it makes sense to replace other parts too.................................We are looking for part numbers for the thermostat and water pump.................................

Barry,
Just curious.  Does your unit have the original radiator, or has it been replaced with another radiator core already?
Our original Isuzu 8K, 1998 U270, radiator only lasted a couple of years before it developed a leak in the lower end of the core.  Because the radiator core is hard mounted to the frame of the Isuzu, the early, original radiator core design was ruggedized (significantly/throughout) and those that failed, were replaced by FT under the FT 3yr. 36K mi. warranty. 
When ours failed, FT over-nighted the replacement kit (extensive) to a local Isuzu dealership and then paid the dealership to change it all out.
Clearly not your salvation at this point, but just curious as to whether yours is a core to bottom bell region failure and if so, is this the second or first failure.  Maybe yours lasted much longer than ours.  If yours is the original core, I would be cautious in having it rebuilt as I recall that the replacement core, end bells, fittings and mounts were considerably more rugged throughout.  I did talk to FOT later on about whether I should go through the bisection of the radiator from the engine, as several owners have done, to separate the core from the strong engine vibrations, especially at start-up.  FOT's response was that it was not deemed mandatory but that it would not hurt longevity, if done properly.  Looking at the original design and how much violent vibration is imposed on the radiator assembly, that's pretty intuitive, anyway.  I never did the biopsy and never had a second damage occur.
I did look carefully at a couple of biopsies that helped me understand why FOT added the caution, "If done properly".
Neal

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Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #2 –
Shortly after we bought our coach in 2008, I found that the generator radiator itself was leaking a little bit of coolant.  I was able to remove it and took it to a radiator repair shop.  It was rebuilt and it hasn't leaked since.  I also found that the fan belt was loose and needed replacing as well as some rubber vibration mounts that support the radiator.  I'm sure you could do these repairs if you want to.  I think I bought the mounts at Grainger.  In my case it looked like the bad mounts allowed the plastic fan blades to hit the shroud and wore off the tips of the blades.  I never replaced the fan as I could not find a new one.  It has never overheated though.
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #3 –
Soon after we purchased Forrest a genset radiator leak happened.  Luckily it was under warranty and the core was refurbished by FOTn.  This was when the coach was 7 years old.  I assumed it was the original radiator.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #4 –
Check the radiator cap before you get to involved----- could be a simple fix.  Refill the radiator, start it up and watch for where the leak is, could save you a lot of grief.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #5 –
I replaced the radiator mounts this past summer on mine. 4 mounts...two bigger ones on the buttom and two smaller ones on the top. Ordered from PowerTech website. I also removed the overflow tank and mounted it to the base plate as the extra what was changing damping characteristics of the system and made the dang think shake a lot more.
1998 U270 34'

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #6 –
Dave Katsuki may be somewhere near Quartzsite. See if you can find him and look at what he did with his generator.

My understanding is that the Izusu is hard on radiators because of vibration. Katsuki put the radiator on mounts separate from the engine.

Best wishes for a solution simpler than replacing the radiator.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #7 –
Quote from: J. D. Stevens –
Dave Katsuki may be somewhere near Quartzsite. See if you can find him and look at what he did with his generator.

My understanding is that the Izusu is hard on radiators because of vibration. Katsuki put the radiator on mounts separate from the engine.

Best wishes for a solution simpler than replacing the radiator.

We are in Q (got in this afternoon), but I didn't do the mod that MAZ (Generator Radiator Modification) designed.  It's on the list, though.  I replaced the radiator sub-mounts and added some weight and damping to the radiator bottom frame to try to reduce radiation shaking a little, but I think the only real fix for the 8 KW Isuzu gen is the one that MAZ designed.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #8 –
Quote

We are looking for part numbers for the thermostat and water pump.


I recently replaced my water pump and thermostat and I have the part numbers at home. I can get them for you when I get back. I have a 3LB engine on my genset.

Mark
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Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #9 –
Neal & others,

We think we have the original generator radiator.  And now know about the need for a beefed up radiator.
We recently did a bunch of stuff on the generator, like relined the 4 walls, replaced fan blade, oil shutdown switch, 4 engine mounts, radiator rubber isolators, hoses & belt, painted the generator, bottom & side frames, widened the air output hole.  We found the bottom panel comes off with 4 bolts and we can sit with our upper body and arms inside behind the gen to do a lot of the work.
During our improvements we took the radiator out for access and to install new isolators, so I don't know if we contributed to the radiator leak with the handling.  We did straighten fins.  But we did not replace thermostat or water pump.  Years ago we added a coolant temp sender that is tied into our dash engine coolant temp gauge, so with our recent shutdown, we did see very high temps.

Thanks everyone for helping us.

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #10 –
Thanks Mark, we are also out for about 12 days.  Did you replace your parts as a preventative measure or did you have a problem

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #11 –
Barry,
  I just got home yesterday. Blew the front left wheel seal on this trip. I will post the part numbers today sometime. I had the generator out for some bay work when I noticed some radiator fluid had been leaking from the weep hole on the water pump. Thats when I decided to replace it. Also did the thermostat at the same time. Did you find out where the leak is yet?

Mark
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Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #12 –
Barry,
  The part numbers for a Izusu 3 Cyl  3LB engine are..
    Thermostat    8-97160-654-0
    Water Pump  8-97321-508-3

Mark
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Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #13 –
Mark,

Sorry about the front seal leak.

And thanks for the gen part numbers.  Certainly need to replace a leaking water pump seal.  We don't have any idea what is leaking from our gen, as we are having too much fun to check.  That is as long as we have power from our friendly neighbors.
Where are logical places to buy Izusu parts at good prices?

Thanks,
Barry
 

Re: Generator has pool of liquid on the ground

Reply #14 –
I had good service from Triangle Diesel in Mt Dora, FL. Ask for Jeff in parts. I believe that Powertech gets parts from them.