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Powertech 12kw Generator Coolant Change

March 02, 2014, 03:07:06 pm

I was wondering if someone has any wisdom on the Powertech 12kw generator coolant change in a U320.  This setup has the separate radiator and squirrel cage blower in the front driver side bay.  There is a plug at the top of the radiator and one at the bottom to drain but there doesn't appear to be a clean way to drain the coolant out of the radiator into a drain pan.  The fill plug also looks particulary small so I am wondering how people deal with that.  Also there doesn't seem to be any way to drain the coolant reservoir (the one above the fan belt on the unit itself that has the actual radiator cap on).  Also there doesn't seem to be a way to fill that will fil up the radiator hoses which go over the top of the engine. 

Does anyone have guidance on how to service this unit in light of this?  Do you just fill it the best you can and run it a few times and hopefully it'll suck in additional coolant from the overflow during warm/cool cycles?

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Re: Powertech 12kw Generator Coolant Change

Reply #1 – March 02, 2014, 10:11:02 pm

If you drain the coolant and then install new coolant you will have to bleed the air out of the system, as it will have an air pocket which will cause it to overheat and shut down. To find out how to bleed out the air, call power tech and they can tell you how to get all the air out, that is what I had to do on mine, when it had a line that leaked and I refilled and it would not keep running.

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Re: Powertech 12kw Generator Coolant Change

Reply #2 – March 11, 2014, 09:40:03 am

First, why are you changing generator coolant?  It should be ELC, which in generator applications usually means many years of service.  Does it test bad, or been contaminated?

Yes, it will make a mess draining from the lower radiator petcock.  The best you can do is to press a hose over the end and hold it there.  After filling at the radiator cap neck, open the top petcock and keep adding coolant until the overflow bottle starts filling.  Stop when it reaches the hot line.  I use a plastic water bottle with a closeable top to fill with the generator in place.(I use the same bottle to top up the main A-H tank)

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Re: Powertech 12kw Generator Coolant Change

Reply #3 – April 12, 2014, 09:31:43 pm

Sure it is ELC but I don't know when the last time it was serviced was and the coach is a 1999.  That's 15 years of service potentially.  Sorry to revive this thread but I realized I never responded

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Re: Powertech 12kw Generator Coolant Change

Reply #4 – April 13, 2014, 06:29:28 am

I use Cummins ELC test kits every six months.  I carry a jug of booster but have never had to use it.  How many hours on the generator? 

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Re: Powertech 12kw Generator Coolant Change

Reply #5 – July 27, 2014, 10:29:32 am

Not to ressurrect a dead thread but for the sake of completeness for the archives I am posting this.  I had an idea to use a shop vac on the bottom hose to suck all the coolant out of the radiator.  I suspect this would work fine and be very clean.  Just an idea.

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Re: Powertech 12kw Generator Coolant Change

Reply #6 – August 10, 2017, 10:27:54 am

Used oil change pan to catch coolant that drained into that bottom piece of sheet metal and has a drain hole.  Used 5 ft clear vinyl line to syphon out overflow bottle.  Be sure to bleed out air after refilling thru air bleed screw or engine will overheat and shut down.  Not too messy, rinsed off afterwords with water hose.

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