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Topic: Aqua Hot leak.... (Read 916 times) previous topic - next topic

Aqua Hot leak....

My Coach has been drinking some anti freeze..fourn the aqua hot tray with a layer of anti freeze in it. I'm asking for a method of solving this issue. For a year or two when we would get back from a trip and we dumped the tanks we were at an angle. It would leak from the under flooring of the coach...not alot but enough for concern. Right now I have the engine heat going while sitting at my house. Only been about 15 minutes...should be pumping it through. I also want to know if there is a ball valve shut off of this heating loop...if I can't find the leak I would like to disable. We do very little cold weather travel..

Thanks for reading.
2001 U320 42 tag with two slides
Build number 1583
Love this forum for all of it's help and members

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #1 –
Mike,  Engine preheat loop involves only main engine coolant.  The coolant in the Aqua Hot tank is completely separate from the engine coolant.

I know of no valves that Foretravel installed to isolate the engine preheat loop from the main engine coolant.  But, you can put hose pinch plires on the two 3/4 inch engine lines at the AH.  Then removed these two hoses from the AH and loop them with a 3/4 to 3/4 hose barb.

This will isolate an engine coolant leak that is in the heater.  If the hoses to and from the AH heater are leaking, this will not stop such a leak.

All the best solving the issue.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #2 –
Possibly where the hoses are connected at the engine there may be valves to isolate the hoses. There were valves on my DD's, not sure if Cummins has them.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #3 –
Mike, what are the indications of your engine coolant overflow bottle and aqua-hot coolant overflow bottle?
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #4 –
John Fitzgerald and I have decided that it probably leaks under pressure. The aqua hot loop to the engine ran for two hours last afternoon and no sight of any leakage..so we will put pressure to the system and then give it a look over. Thanks for the great ideas...we will prevail...somehow...lol
2001 U320 42 tag with two slides
Build number 1583
Love this forum for all of it's help and members

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #5 –
My AH had a leak in the 90* elbow of the engine loop coming out of the coil area, before going out to the coolant outlet.  Based on the notes from the PO, that fitting had been replaced about 4 years ago.  It developed a leak in the inside corner of the elbow.  I had DeGerald Services look at it when they serviced my AH at Quartzsite in January and they said it would be a job they would need to do at the shop, not remotely.

Since I'm nowhere near Arkansas, I decided to try my hand at a patch.  I cleaned the area, roughed it up and covered the corner and went around the fitting with JB Weld Water Weld.  It's been holding firm with no leaks so far (knocking on wood).
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #6 –
I had a leak in the same place. Cut the elbow out and used a 90deg shark bite fitting. Been good ever since.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #7 –
Quote from: WS6_Keith –
My AH had a leak in the 90* elbow of the engine loop coming out of the coil area, before going out to the coolant outlet.  Based on the notes from the PO, that fitting had been replaced about 4 years ago.  It developed a leak in the inside corner of the elbow.  I had DeGerald Services look at it when they serviced my AH at Quartzsite in January and they said it would be a job they would need to do at the shop, not remotely.

Since I'm nowhere near Arkansas, I decided to try my hand at a patch.  I cleaned the area, roughed it up and covered the corner and went around the fitting with JB Weld Water Weld.  It's been holding firm with no leaks so far (knocking on wood).
That was were my engine loop was also leaking. Strange. My aqua hot was also damaged on the potable water lines but I knew that prior.

Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Scott

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #8 –
Rudy...I have a couple questions. I looped the two 3/4" hoses as you said. I obvously did not find leak...my question is this..Should I loop the two fittings on the aqua hot side..one to keep things clean in that loop I would think...Nest question...can you tell me the adverse affects of turning the swich on for diesel engine heat inside the coach.

I'm not defeated yet to find the leak but I am traveling this week and I don't want to add coolant..
2001 U320 42 tag with two slides
Build number 1583
Love this forum for all of it's help and members

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #9 –
Once the two 3/4 inch engine heat coolant lines have been looped, the engine preheat has been bypassed.  Turning on the engine preheat switch inside does nothing except run a non-functioning pump.  Leave it off.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Aqua Hot leak....

Reply #10 –
Quote from: rbark –
I had a leak in the same place. Cut the elbow out and used a 90deg shark bite fitting. Been good ever since.

Well my patch didn't hold forever and my coolant leak has returned.  I bought the 90deg Shark Bite fitting, clamped off the in/out coolant lines and cut the elbow out.  I did NOT expect ~3 gallons of coolant to come out...what a mess.  After removing the original elbow, the tubes didn't line up with the Shark Bite fitting.  I bought the steel braided flex hose too, but it's too long to fit.  Ended up using the Shark Bite brass push copper stub-out, cut it down, then shortened the original pipe a little and used a coupler.

Still rinsing and cleaning the AH bay, tray and area of coolant.  At about 2.75 gals of coolant in the tray and running out the exhaust hole and overflow, I cut the coolant return 3/4" hose to try to drain the coolant faster, and not through the slit in the fitting I had made...it promptly stopped draining, so that was a waste.  I am unable to find a 3/4" push on union barb fitting, so I've ordered one for Monday.  I hope to get it all buttoned up and tested on Monday.  Picture two is after 3 rolls of paper towels sopping up the tray and bay.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197