Forum Discussion

tinkerer's avatar
tinkerer
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014

Freightliner radiator hose clamps again

Just an update on my 2007 Discovery with a Freighliner chassis. All of the radiator hose clamps have failed within 6 months. I replaced 6 of them but missed 2 more on the other side and lost all of my coolant last week again for the 3rd time. I now have replaced 8 and hope I got all of them. Because of the faulty clamps i now have overheated the engine 3 times so far everything seems to be ok but it really irritates me that they would put junk clamps on an expensive machine. If you have this vintage and model chassis I would replace all 8 clamps at once as they are going to fail and potentially leading to engine damage:R
Class A
  • ferndaleflyer's avatar
    ferndaleflyer
    Explorer III
    Jul 31, 2014
    I was talking to a Cummins mechanic yesterday and he said that no matter how tight they are they will rotate around the hose over time. Reason for the explanation was I noticed that all of my hoses are double clamped (2 clamps instead of one at each end of the hose)and he said he does that as insurance. He goes over my DP at least once a year.
  • J-Rooster's avatar
    J-Rooster
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    tinkerer wrote:
    The spring loaded clamps are the way to go but the original ones had a stainless steel insert but the outside where the screw takes the slack up was poor quality plain metal that just rotted away making for catastrophic failure where in some instance the hose would completely separate from the connection leading to overheating. I posted this so other people can have them inspected before this happens. I suspect some bean counter who only knew figures found a cheaper source of clamps.
    Thanks for the info and sorry to hear about your engine heating up because of a bean counter! Can you imagine those Space Shuttle Astronauts blasting off into outer space and the complete make up of the rocket ship was done by "Lowest Bidders"?
  • xctraveler's avatar
    xctraveler
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    I guess we can assume it is a Cummins engine. Which one would be a help. Or given the year it could be a Cat.
  • hooligan's avatar
    hooligan
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    Constant tension clamps from Gates keep the hoses from leaking as the system cools. A little more expensive but seem well worth it. Local truck parts had in stock. Recommend the Green stripe hoses also
    Gates clamps.
  • tinkerer's avatar
    tinkerer
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    The spring loaded clamps are the way to go but the original ones had a stainless steel insert but the outside where the screw takes the slack up was poor quality plain metal that just rotted away making for catastrophic failure where in some instance the hose would completely separate from the connection leading to overheating. I posted this so other people can have them inspected before this happens. I suspect some bean counter who only knew figures found a cheaper source of clamps.
  • artguys's avatar
    artguys
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    For the larger diesel engines it's known as cold water/coolant leaks. Usually happens during the cooler months...so if this is your engine type you have to periodically give your clamps a twist. Also it helps to monitor any leak situation by just looking under the vehicle.
  • Groover's avatar
    Groover
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2014
    My 2013 model came with spring loaded clamps. While none have failed catestrophically they did leak leading to a low coolant alarm. I tightened them up and the leaks seem to have gone away. I was surpised by how little torque was required to compress the springs.

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