Radiator woes

Topic: Radiator woes (Read 2429 times) previous topic - next topic

Radiator woes

December 06, 2023, 11:52:56 am

Found my radiator has a few leaks, called and talked to Atlas radiator, Larry told me that a new unit could be a year out, he has a serious back log "ouch"radiator repai shop in Tucson said Barrs leak would not help as the core would just keep separating from the tanks, think i will try and get it recored or if possible get it he old core reattached.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #1 – December 06, 2023, 12:07:20 pm

U320 Radiator oil cooler support

These radiators weigh a bunch. IMO they were not supported well in the early years and replacement radiators come with a support cradle. Also on the 320s the transmission cooler was also added to the weight the core must support. They really need the added support cradle and relocating the cooler weight to the frame rails above it made sense to me.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #2 – December 06, 2023, 12:38:42 pm

I'm in the process of getting mine recored. About the same price as a new one but at least it is available.

The good news is the CAC tests fine.

Rich

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #3 – December 06, 2023, 02:47:42 pm

The previous owner of my coach had the radiator re-cored here locally in Vegas. It started leaking about 6 months into my ownership, about 18 months after it was re-cored. Make sure the warranty is as long as possible.

I ended up buying a replacement from Foretravel.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #4 – December 07, 2023, 10:39:02 am

Where are you heeler,someone may know a good shop.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #5 – December 07, 2023, 12:36:33 pm

Sierra Vista AZ, I have been talking to a repair shop in Tucson RedEye Services they can do the repair but I will need to get the radiator to them, and most truck shops are stacked up with work so I think I will need to do the R&R, was really hoping to make it to Q this year but with this likely not

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #6 – December 07, 2023, 01:33:16 pm

Anybody know how many gallons of coolant I will get from the radiator and associated plumbing to do the job, and can I. Get most of it from the petcock, my thought is to drain into 1 gallon jug then transfer to a 5 gallon, I want to minimize spillage as there are a lot of critters around here
Thanks
Mike

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #7 – December 07, 2023, 02:06:40 pm

Quote from: fatheeler – December 07, 2023, 01:33:16 pm

Anybody know how many gallons of coolant I will get from the radiator and associated plumbing to do the job, and can I. Get most of it from the petcock, my thought is to drain into 1 gallon jug then transfer to a 5 gallon, I want to minimize spillage as there are a lot of critters around here
Thanks
Mike

I think the system capacity is around 15 gallons, unlikely that it'll all drain out. Residue coolant in hoses leading to the front and heater core will remain, most likely you'll get about 10 to 11 gallons.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #8 – December 08, 2023, 09:11:37 am

As Doug said. The whole system holds about 17 gallons including hot water heater and dash heat. I collected mine in a bucket and transferred it to a large rubber maid tote with lid.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #9 – December 08, 2023, 09:38:38 am

Put the bars leak in and see what it does and go to Q,if your getting a recore anyway it won't hurt and it will not get gummed up in the engine,read a while back that Foretravel used to put bars leak in the new coaches.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #10 – December 08, 2023, 09:44:26 am

If you're antifreeze is twenty five years old it maybe a good idea to replace it. you can have it recycled but antifreeze has improved over the years and if any rad stop leak has been added to the antifreeze the system is contaminated too much stop leak will plug a rad and coolers the previous owner of my coach use to add two bottles of stop leak at every oil change.its a bandage not a solution I had to replace my radiator shortly after purchasing the coach .I don't believe that it was good for the cooling system. we change are oil and hydraulic oil are water filters but you will have to properly dispose of it keep away from animals they find it sweet and will drink it it is poison will kill.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #11 – December 08, 2023, 09:56:37 am

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – December 08, 2023, 09:44:26 am

...... but you will have to properly dispose of it keep away from animals they find it sweet and will drink it it is poison will kill.

Most cities have facilities for recyling old coolant.

Call the city vehicle maintenance department. Very likely they will accept used coolant, as it is much better for them to recycle it that take a chance that someone (idiot) will dump it down a storm drain.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #12 – December 08, 2023, 12:39:37 pm

Here's an interesting side note.
Some idiot told me ( also an idiot for doing it ) that modern antifreeze was harmless. NOT.
SO I dumped about a gallon in the yard.... Well guess what, the grass not only died but it refused to come back for years. At least 3. I had a dead spot in my front yard about the size of an upside down wheelbarrow.
Sure I could have grubbed out the dirt and replaced it but then I just kept thinking it will come back. Not so much. The stuff kills better than any grass killer.

I have also come to realize that you expect hand lotion to soak in to your hands but don't expect other things to. Gas, oil, chemicals going to also. Wearing lots more gloves these days. Sometimes it takes longer for common sense to catch up to me.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #13 – December 08, 2023, 12:43:49 pm

Which system has antifreeze in the hot water heater?

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #14 – December 08, 2023, 01:03:39 pm

Quote from: John44 – December 08, 2023, 12:43:49 pm

Which system has antifreeze in the hot water heater?

Motor-Aid hot water tank an option on U270's of our vintage. I think it is a welded pipe on the bottom of tank that circulates engines coolant on it's way to the front. Usually has a valve to shut off if you desire hotter air up front faster.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #15 – December 09, 2023, 01:29:27 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – December 08, 2023, 09:56:37 am

Most cities have facilities for recyling old coolant.

Call the city vehicle maintenance department. Very likely they will accept used coolant, as it is much better for them to recycle it that take a chance that someone (idiot) will dump it down a storm drain.

It may not be as easy as you might think to dispose of used antifreeze. I carried several gallons around for over a year, looking for a place to recycle it. I checked all the auto parts stores, big chains like Walmart, and municipal waste disposal sites in a number of cities in several states. Nobody wanted it. A few times I was told that they would take it on a special hazardous waste collection date, but those usually are once or twice a year and not when I was asking. I finally got rid of it, but it was not easy. I found a city that takes it at their recycling center. It was the most well traveled used antifreeze in history.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #16 – December 09, 2023, 08:00:05 am

Quote from: John44 – December 08, 2023, 12:43:49 pm

Which system has antifreeze in the hot water heater?

Aquahot, all the heating coils, radiators inside coach. 15 to 16 gallons. GRAS boiler fluid in later coaches, coolant in earlier.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #17 – December 09, 2023, 09:58:59 am

I think my anti freeze was flushed and changed about 4 years ago, by PO, and switched to fleet, so I should be able to reuse? Is there a way to filter antifreeze?
Thanks
Mike

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #18 – December 09, 2023, 10:02:04 am

Mike,

Exactly which Fleet coolant was used. They sell several and with different chemistries/"care and feeding"/suggest change interval.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #19 – December 09, 2023, 11:30:13 am

Looks as though they used a system flush, RTO cooling system flush, then drained an filled followed by 12 gallons of Fleet Guard cc36077, says it's a long life coolant

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #20 – December 09, 2023, 11:46:24 am

I used Fleet Guard premixed Red long life

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #21 – December 09, 2023, 01:51:18 pm

Quote from: dbennett9 – December 09, 2023, 01:29:27 am

It may not be as easy as you might think to dispose of used antifreeze

I called my city dpw, water department and a dozen or so auto parts stores that take used motor oil and all of them were clueless on what to do with antifreeze. I did get referred to one auto parts store that would take it but they were a 45 minute drive. I found a radiator shop (duh!) close to home that was happy to take it. I just had to dump it into a recycling tank at the back of their shop. Very nice female owned business. She also works on automotive air conditioning so when I'm ready that's where I'm going.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #22 – December 09, 2023, 02:10:42 pm

Quote from: Geodmann – December 09, 2023, 01:51:18 pm

It may not be as easy as you might think to dispose of used antifreeze

I called my city dpw, water department and a dozen or so auto parts stores that take used motor oil and all of them were clueless on what to do with antifreeze. I did get referred to one auto parts store that would take it but they were a 45 minute drive. I found a radiator shop (duh!) close to home that was happy to take it. I just had to dump it into a recycling tank at the back of there shop. Very nice female owned business. She also works on automotive air conditioning so when I'm ready that's where I'm going.

Ya, unlikely the water department would deal with used coolant. The city/county vehicle maintenance department (police, fire, ambulance) does absolutely deal with used coolant as they service their vehicles. And, unless they are stump stupid, they would rather have you bring your used coolant to them for recycling than to even slightly risk someone dumping it in a storm drain, etc.

I have a 100% success ratio by taking with the head of several city's maintenance departments. And, if that did not work, my next call would to the mayor to ask for his intervention. Again, in 50 years of vehicle maintenance in multiple cities, I have never had to resort to an appeal to "do the right thing".

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #23 – December 09, 2023, 09:55:07 pm

Thanks Brett. In McKinney a Chevrolet dealer was the only place that I could find. He was a good citizen but limited it to five gallons per event. I would have paid a modest fee to do it all in one shot. After changing over to Fleetguard OAT, I twice captured and reused my antifreeze - once when replacing block heater and once replacing water pump. I used a paint filter to filter my coolant as I emptied my carefully cleaned Rubber Maid tote of the last gallon or so.

Re: Radiator woes

Reply #24 – December 14, 2023, 02:43:16 pm

Looks like I had an air leak as well CAC to manifold inlet pipe

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