Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

November 01, 2014, 11:24:10 pm

 First I thought is was transmission fluid on it's way to the cooler. On closer inspection and removing the rubber cover to prevent road debris and dust being pulled up into the fans, I see the coolant appears to be seeping between the radiator side tank and the core. The core is not wet but where the bolts are all the way up about 6 inches is wet.

 It only leaks when running. I have lost about a gallon in 4000 miles.

 May I use a radiator stop leak such as prestone and or some aluminum flakes product?  That would be my short term solution and hoped it worked.

 Now, to get at this gasket between the core and the tank (if that is where it is seeping) I take it the radiator must be removed. (I noticed some of the nuts were not tight) Is there a source for direction in how to remove the radiator that I may be able to access?

 I'm almost at my destination Mazatlan Mexico and will, I think have access to radiator shops and will be staying there for most of the winter. (and so I have time and a place to work)

In my travels thus far I have only seen one very nice Grand Villa, parked alongside a warehouse in Lancaster California.

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Re: Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

Reply #1 – November 01, 2014, 11:47:33 pm

This may be similar to a very small leak I had from the moment I bought the coach, used, in 2008. It was nearly impossible to find, and I only rarely had to add coolant. I tried stop leak, and it didn't help at all.  My mechanic had the radiator removed and sent somewhere for repair, and it has been perfect ever since, about three years now.

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Re: Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

Reply #2 – November 02, 2014, 09:03:46 am

Live with the leak or fix the leak. 

Do not put anything (aka: Stop Leak in a cooling system.) 

IMO.. pc

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Re: Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

Reply #3 – November 02, 2014, 10:07:06 am

A number of us on the forum have suffered the same leak. Many, including me, carefully tightened bolts and added Barr's or another stop leak solution. Check out previous threads for more detailed information and some photos.
jor

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Re: Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

Reply #4 – November 02, 2014, 10:58:46 am

Several report that tightening nuts stopped a leak.

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Re: Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

Reply #5 – November 02, 2014, 01:58:34 pm

We tightened the bolts a little over two years ago and have had no further leaks. Did not remove radiator. The inner row of bolts are accessible from the back with the engine hatch open, the outer row is more difficult; I had FOT tightened them. Did not use any additive.
Dick

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Re: Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

Reply #6 – November 02, 2014, 02:30:38 pm

Barr's Leaks has been a standard FT Service recommendation for many years. 

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Re: Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

Reply #7 – November 02, 2014, 11:04:28 pm

 Thank you all for the speedy replies. I topped up the plastic overflow today to the cold level. I bought a case of coolant in Yuma. Chevron man says chevron bought texaco out (it was a Texaco/Chevron wholesale suppler) Says the coolant in the chevron jug is the same as 7889 Texaco extended life) Just bought the coolant on spec, did not know I had a leak, hard stuff to find at home, no Texaco dealers.

 I'll pack my arsenal of stop leaks (none of them are Barr's) somewhere in the basement for now. Carry on to Mazatlan and see if tightening the bolts helped, and also have a go from the hatch to get at the outside ones.

 This coach is a dream to drive and really is well thought out for all practical purposes. My drivers side top mirror ended up somewhere with the lost "L" many nights ago in the rain. I'm guessing I may order that from FT in future.

 John and Pierce, I will be in the Cerritos (Punta)RV campground just North of the RUI hotel at the end of the road behind the plaza with a restaurant named the Last Drop. An easy in and out from the main Hwy 15. I will be there well past February. Henderson's have excellent steaks,rib eye etc. That's a bbq dinner invitation if I know when and your preference.

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Re: Found; the leak for the disappearing coolant

Reply #8 – November 03, 2014, 06:46:05 am

Had the same thing going on about 4 years ago, leaks at the header and tank. I tightened the bolts and put 2 bottles of Barr's leak in (per F/T recommendation) no more problems since. I'm sure at some point I will have to have the radiator removed and repaired, but for now I"ll keep the 4-5k in the bank. If you choose to go the Barr's Leak route they recommend closing the valve to the water filter for the first couple of thousand miles to keep it from catching all the product until it has time to do it's thing. A couple of mos. ago I changed the water pump Thermostat and coolant, as well as the water filter. I cut the old water filter apart to have a look, it had some of the Barr's leak product in it but it was not "stopped up" still flowing just fine and otherwise just fine.

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