What are the odds?

Question

The coach: 2015 Itasca Meridian 36M, 4000 miles in 3 months.

Friday 2/6:
Notice generated coolant leak.
Cause: loose clamp on connections just above the coolant drain cap.
Solution: Tighten clamp, no more leak.

Monday 2/9: After a trip to fill up LP tank
Notice automotive coolant leak under front driver's side of coach.
Cause: loose clamp on heater hose junction.
Solution: tighten clamp, no more leak

Friday 2/13:
Noticed automotive coolant leak under driver's side rear. This leak was not there on when parked on Monday, looking at the amount of leakage, it started sometime during the weak, perhaps just after returning home on Monday.
Cause: loose spring clamp on hose to the DEF heater.
Solution: Replace spring clamp with band clamp. No leak this morning.

Until the cold snap arriving this weekend, we've had a mild winter. When this cold snap ends, I'll check all of the clamps I can find.

Tom

jay_pat · Answer

On my 18 wheeler I used to own, clamps were checked after first freeze.So, the odds sound very good.Pat

rjsfishin · Answer

I don't know why there should be any loose clamps on a new rig,.....its just not right !:)

bobbo · Answer

You can't rely on the professionals anymore.

In my S&B house, I had a water leak in the attic that was sporadic. It took me forever to track it down.

When the house was built, the plumber who put in the plumbing vents failed to glue one of the vent connections. When it rained, rain would fall in the 1.5" vent and run down to the unglued connection, where it would drip out. However, it did not do that EVERY time it rained. It only did it when it rained REAL HARD. A moderate rain didn't put enough water in the vent. When I finally found the problem, I glued the joint, but I also put vent covers over all of the roof vents on the house. I can't trust any of the vents to be properly glued. Since putting vent caps on, no more problems.

matt_colie · Answer

This is why the USCG requires double constant pressure clamps in all critical places.

What you saw is very common. All elastomers (rubber like) creep (try to unload when loaded and new). You may have to do this once more before the leaks stop, but they will.

Matt

allegrod · Answer

Clamps loose on a new rig? Nah! Can't happen!

We sure found out that that is so wrong. On our shakedown voyage we had a sudden loss of pressure and the engine shut down. Not complete shutdown but no power. Check engine light and high temp came on. We were fortunately at an exit so coasted off the highway. Found antifreeze everywhere, including the front of the frog. Called roadside assistance who arranged for a tow. Fortunately the tow company had a mechanic/driver. He got up under the doghouse and found a hose clamp still in the locked open position. Pressure had finally blown the hose loose. He put hose and clamp back on, closed and locked the hose clamp and refilled the antifreeze. Back to normal.

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What are the odds?

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