Need some help with Coolant issue in 2002 Tiffin Allegro

[dpfitch]

Bought this bus in June of 2015 in Phoenix. We live in Twin Cities of Minnesota. No problems with bus this year. It was a good buy.

Putting storage cover on bus last week and it dawned on me that checking the coolant protection for low temps was something that I needed to do. The engine radiator coolant is only good down to zero F which is not good here in the land of subzero temps.

I have, without success, tried to determine what to do to add coolant into system to get it down to -35 to -40. I read that I need to remove lower radiator hose to drain the system and honestly I don't know what I am looking for. I am not a neophyte around car engines but this diesel engine (Cat 330 HP model 3126) and the radiator don't look at all familiar. The only possibility is a hose into the the back of the radiator housing about 8 inches above the bottom of the radiator that goes down into a a rectangular stainless steel box that has a how on the other end that looks like it goes to the engine.

My Goal is not to flush out the whole system, that can be done next spring. I just want to get enough non diluted antifreeze into the system to prevent freeze up this winter.

HELP! THANK YOU.

David

Here are some pictures they are in order

http://screencast.com/t/a6veAx2f
http://screencast.com/t/HnltNvEdL
http://screencast.com/t/xtlbNfJsqh4

[Mr_Mark1]

dpfitch wrote:
Appreciate all the insight. Have an appointment at a Frieghtliner facility to do it right, flush and refill with the "red" high $ stuff. After reading the responses and my own gut reaction to the situation, I decided to get it done right and by a facility that knows what is required. There is too much at risk for me to be guessing.

Thanks again. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

David

I'm so glad that you are going that route since you would be doing it anyway in a few months.

Safe travels,
MM.

[wolfe10]

And, if you do have a COOLANT FILTER, make sure they install a new one-- called a BLANK. It is a filter only with no SCA.

[dpfitch]

Appreciate all the insight. Have an appointment at a Frieghtliner facility to do it right, flush and refill with the "red" high $ stuff. After reading the responses and my own gut reaction to the situation, I decided to get it done right and by a facility that knows what is required. There is too much at risk for me to be guessing.

Thanks again. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

David

[11178adm]

don't mess with adding antifreeze drain the system there should be a drain on the bottom of the radiator there is a block drain near where the turbo oil drain goes into the block it is a bolt with a copper washer (don't drop the washer it can be reused refill with EIC anti freeze run the engine to operating temp to purge the air also turn the dash heater to full heat to get the weak antifreeze properly mixed

[Ed_Manifold]

On my Phaeton I only use coolant from Caterpillar and I have had it changed about three times If you have a Caterpillar service facility close I would yse them. Don't forget your generator, I assume that's its an Onan and it has its own separate cooling system.

[2bzy2c]

[jorbill2or]

I think the point is he winterized it and covered it and just wanted a quick fix rather than going through the whole uncover and redo it now. Looks like he's out of luck. I had green coolant in my older 03 and dumped green HD diesel coolant in for a month until I had it refilled and had no problems but YMMV

[wolfe10]

RayChez wrote:
Make sure it is the same type you already have in it now. Either green for the less expensive or red for the very expensive coolant.

And, THAT is the problem. Color alone does not tell you the coolant chemistry. Sadly, no industry standards here.

IMO, if going to change coolant anyway in a few months, do NOT take a chance on mixing coolant chemistries. And, if the standard diesel coolant, if you are even thinking about using it over the winter, check the pH with test strips. Poor economy to wait and have the radiator eaten by acidic coolant!

[RayChez]

The hose you are referring to is not a radiator hose that carries anti freeze. That big hose attaches to the CAC and there is nothing in that hose. I had one replaced and that is how I found out that there is no coolant in that hose, only air.

If you want to drain some anti freeze, there should be a pet **** on the bottom of your radiator. Drain what ever you want, then just add the pure anti freeze at the top of the radiator, not the reserve tank, but directly into the radiator. Make sure it is the same type you already have in it now. Either green for the less expensive or red for the very expensive coolant.

[Johno02]

sorry, duplicate. Please delete

[wolfe10]

David,

Reality-- very unlikely you will know what coolant is in there unless there is a receipt for changing it. Worse, it could be OE and 13+ years old.

The ONLY rational thing to do is flush and go back with new coolant.

Make sure you use one made for diesels. Either the "low silicate for diesel with added SCA" or the newer no-maintenance OAT-based coolant.

[Johno02]

Need to add /img tags to your post so the pictures will show.