2001 American Coach Tradition 8.3 Cummins Spartan ChassisHolds 10 1/2 gallons of coolant.I am looking for help to locate a good service center for this item. Or really good instructions on how to get it done and where to put all that fluid if I do it myself. I am thinking of "Final Charge" due to availability everywhere.How much should I expect to spend?Thanks!

If the procedure isn't done completely and perfectly, you can end up with an expensive gunky mess. If you've got the green then I would stick with it as it will serve you just as well.

I have been told that it has lasted the three years and should be flushed if I change it, or just drain and put same type back into RV. Same stuff requires the monitoring of SILICA I believe its called and I would rather go with what I perceive as being better. If I get most of it out draining and the filling with water and then draining again, won't it be ok to then put the new type coolant in?

Be very very careful to only use a Cummins certified product. Otherwise besides a gunky mess you could end up with an expensive engine repair job.

I took mine to a local Cummins Coach Care shop and had them do a drain, flush and refill with Fleetguard ES Compleat OAT coolant, similar to Final Charge. If you elect to DIY, it is not difficult but time consuming to do it right. You need to know the total coolant capacity of your coach and not just the capacity of the engine and radiator. You will need a lot of distilled water for your final flush before you start adding new coolant.

Iirc, I paid $20-25 per gallon for the final charge concentrate. Pre-mixed is quite a bit cheaper, but all the recommendations I saw suggested the concentrate and distilled water for mine.Edit: just found the receipt: $25.99/gal at O'Reilly.

Change coolant from the green to the extended...

Snomas
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
robertbenita wrote:
Thanks again for all the help! I have ordered (2) gallons of concentrate from O'Reilly's and the rest in 50/50 from Pepboys (Pepboys has a great sale for 25% off internet sales) and I can pick them both up after work. Now to get the water filter with no additive and a new thermostat and new radiator hoses. I'll keep you posted!

Don't forget the heater hoses especially the long front to back hoses if you have a DP, I just had mine replaced after a breakdown for a broken heater hose on I-10 near YUMA,AZ!
robertbenita
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
Thanks again for all the help! I have ordered (2) gallons of concentrate from O'Reilly's and the rest in 50/50 from Pepboys (Pepboys has a great sale for 25% off internet sales) and I can pick them both up after work. Now to get the water filter with no additive and a new thermostat and new radiator hoses. I'll keep you posted!
Sully2
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
Go straight to Cummins. Tell them what you want and what you want installed and let them handle it. You might also think about a new thermostat at the same time..!!

Thats what I did and Im glad of it.
BobGed
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
For anyone that has changed to Fleetguard ES Compleat OAT coolant, I have a supply of stickers as shown HERE. If you would PM me with your name and address, I will send you three of them.
brirene
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
lbligh wrote:
Additionally, one comment was that pre-mix Final Charge was less expensive. NOT TRUE. Not when you consider that you get two for one with the concentrate.

I was referring to cost per gallon, but of course you're right about the two for one. Still, my area was 25.99 for concentrate, 9.99 for the mix, so close, but still somewhat less expensive for the mix, especially when adding the cost of distilled water. That said, I would get the concentrate. Fwiw.
Trumpet_Player
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
robertbenita wrote:
Thank you all for the responses. Would anyone know if Final Charge is ok for the Cummins 8.3? I am in southern California and a local Cummins place said it would be 800-1000 for the conversion. Does it really have to be the Cummins product EAS Complete? And the portion on preventing an "air lock" how does that work exactly? Should I just remove the thermostat and do the flushing with distilled and flush cleaner (which one recommended), or is there a better way?

And gatorcq, I am unable to open that link.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Final Charge...

http://www.peakhd.com/product-lines/final-charge/

Go to the FAQS section to see the question "Q: Besides Cat EC-1, what other OEM Specifications does FINAL CHARGE Coolant/Antifreeze meet?"

Also, changing over to final charge is not difficult. Time consuming, but not at all difficult. Additionally, one comment was that pre-mix Final Charge was less expensive. NOT TRUE. Not when you consider that you get two for one with the concentrate.

Safe travels.
robertbenita
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
Thank you all for the responses. Would anyone know if Final Charge is ok for the Cummins 8.3? I am in southern California and a local Cummins place said it would be 800-1000 for the conversion. Does it really have to be the Cummins product EAS Complete? And the portion on preventing an "air lock" how does that work exactly? Refill cooling system with tap water. IMPORTANT: Be sure to remove any air lock from the thermostat housing. Some systems have a hose set up for this—on ours I just loosen the coolant line to the air pump and bleed the air out. Should I just remove the thermostat and do the flushing with distilled and flush cleaner (which one recommended), or is there a better way?

And gatorcq, I am unable to open that link.
gatorcq
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
Here is the information I received from Camp Freightliner for Cummings and CAT engines

Link - Press Here
fcooper
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
If you want to do it yourself, it's not hard but it is time consuming.

Look at this thread linked below...and read the 3rd post by Wolfe10. It has a great description of how to flush and refill.

link regarding changing coolant

Although it talks about Cat coolant, the procedure will be the same for your Cummins...just use the recommended Cummins coolant.

Fred
crasster
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2014
I'd be careful with that as you'd need a good flush out. I'd go with the suggestion above with Caterpillar fluid.