ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Topic: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines: (Read 591 times) previous topic - next topic

ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

February 12, 2020, 01:53:00 pm

I wonder how many folks with mid to late nineties Foretravels have converted to ELC or OAT coolants and have subsequently had problems with any of three issues: firstly, engine oil in the coolant, secondly, coolant in the engine oil, or thirdly, leaking coolant level sensors.
This inquiry is based on two TSBs issued by Cummins and on the field experience of Dave's Diesel (in Quartzsite AZ) who has replaced gaskets (in particular air compressor) eroded by ELC or OAT coolants.

TSB040018 issued on 2004May05 titled "Level Sensor Durability Concerns" included: "An emerging issue with 2-pin coolant level sensors and ELC has been identified in the field", "Corrosion and coating of the coolant level sensor probes causes low coolant level fault codes", and "No resolution".

TSB100033 issued 2010April08 titled "Coolant Level Sensor Leakage Issues" included "coolant level sensor malfunction can allow coolant to seep into the wiring harness and into other sensors and electronic control system devices", "Symptoms include: slow coolant consumption, fault codes, electronic component corrosion", "current coolant level sensor materials cannot withstand exposure to ELC", and "A leaking coolant level sensor will cause contamination of the entire engine wiring harness".

I planned to convert to "Final Charge", but will stay with SCA, with nitrite, type coolant for a few more years.

Dave told me that these two TSBs have mysteriously, been removed from their web site, although I did not confirm this.

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #1 – February 12, 2020, 02:02:14 pm

And a mention of this on the Diesel RV Club Forum:

Cummins Coolant Level Sensor Leakage Issues; TSB100033

Also has a link to the TSB itself.

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #2 – February 12, 2020, 02:18:49 pm

My '99 came with Texaco ELC from the factory and has had no issues with the Final Charge I put in it when I bought it in 2015.

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #3 – February 12, 2020, 02:21:08 pm

Likewise I have heard of very few failures.

BTW Freightliner also had a problem with ELC's and thier coolant level sensors.

Would be interesting to know if the replacement sensors ARE compatible with modern coolants!

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #4 – February 12, 2020, 02:29:21 pm

What model years in Foretravel coaches have the coolant level sensor? I don't think my mechanical C8.3 has one, but not sure.

I use Fleetguard OAT in our engine.

Fleetguard ES Compleat OAT EG Premix 50/50 1 Gal - CC36077 – shopcummins.com

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #5 – February 12, 2020, 02:31:46 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – February 12, 2020, 02:29:21 pm

What model years in Foretravel coaches have the coolant level sensor. I don't think my mechanical C8.3 has one, but not sure.

The bulletin only lists the"I" engines-- ISB, ISC, ISL, ISM

So, older, "regular" C engines not included.

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #6 – February 12, 2020, 02:47:49 pm

Brett, I read that in the bulletin but do you believe this to be limited to those engine families or just not updated to include other engine families using the same part... i.e. would that exclude the m engine family like the M11 in my case? I am not familiar with how through Cummins or their service centers are in reporting field issues. I know in the case of a computer companies I worked for it took an "act of congress" to get the internal approvals necessary to actually publish field notices due to the liability/potential expense issue.

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #7 – February 12, 2020, 02:50:13 pm

Final Charge Global meets Cummins spec CES 14603 so it should be fine.

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #8 – February 12, 2020, 02:50:24 pm

Walt,

Best answer is to call Cummins with your engine serial number and ask them what years/engines are involved.

Cummins 800-286-6467

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #9 – February 12, 2020, 02:56:40 pm

Good advice, will do.

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #10 – February 12, 2020, 03:58:27 pm

And by all means Walt, please update us as to what you find out!
Don

Quote from: wolfe10 – February 12, 2020, 02:50:24 pm

Walt,

Best answer is to call Cummins with your engine serial number and ask them what years/engines are involved.

Cummins 800-286-6467

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #11 – February 12, 2020, 04:09:07 pm

AFIK, the only coolant level sensor on our 99' ISC is on the coolant tank located to the right of the engine. It is difficult to imagine leaking coolant contaminating the engine harness from that location. Perhaps the are other coolant level sensors I am not aware of... There are of course the temperature senders, one for the dash gage and possibly one for the ECM (I forget now, but I know there are two oil pressure senders- dash gage and ECM). The temperature sender for the dash gauge is located right over the top of the transmission bell housing and would be unlikely to do too much damage to the engine harness.
Don

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #12 – February 12, 2020, 04:37:44 pm

Yup, couple of questions:

What engines have the defective sensors and is this only the coolant level sensor or others such as temperature sensor?

Are the replacement sensors compatible with the current generation OAT-based coolants (including Cummins own Fleetguard brand).

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #13 – February 12, 2020, 06:59:47 pm

We have used Peak Final Charge Global in our 1995 U320 with Cummins M11 engine for several years with absolutely no issues.

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #14 – February 16, 2020, 03:51:10 pm

We've used ELC since new with no issues in 220,000 miles.

Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 13, 2025 ...

ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

February 12, 2020, 01:53:00 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #1 – February 12, 2020, 02:02:14 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #2 – February 12, 2020, 02:18:49 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #3 – February 12, 2020, 02:21:08 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #4 – February 12, 2020, 02:29:21 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #5 – February 12, 2020, 02:31:46 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #6 – February 12, 2020, 02:47:49 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #7 – February 12, 2020, 02:50:13 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #8 – February 12, 2020, 02:50:24 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #9 – February 12, 2020, 02:56:40 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #10 – February 12, 2020, 03:58:27 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #11 – February 12, 2020, 04:09:07 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #12 – February 12, 2020, 04:37:44 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #13 – February 12, 2020, 06:59:47 pm

Re: ELC or OAT coolant in mid to late nineties diesel engines:

Reply #14 – February 16, 2020, 03:51:10 pm

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