Changing Antifreeze

[Jeff Bayley]

This doesn't look good. Looks more like a dark beer than coolant. No test strips here but I'm saving some to test later but expect to test out with zero additive protection. Wonder if it would do any good to send it to a lab to test just to see how bad it is. Anyone know the lab to use ?

Needless to say I think I need to run the bus a few thousand miles and then change it again.

How important is it to use distilled water especially if I'm going to change it out again shortly ? I guess for $10 for 10 gallons of water I might as well run to the store.

[Jeff Bayley]

James, I can tell you that you did not experience an isolated incident..............I asked if it was pre-mix, he indicated it was, I asked if I could see the container. he became agitated, and eventually agreed. I examined the container, and it was straight Power Cool that was supposed to be diluted 50%. I then went to the shop manager, and was told I did not know what I was talking about. We then pulled out the container, and I showed him the instructions. .................I can tell you some stories that you would not believe on what we have witnessed.

Add me to the list of coolant changing stories. I went out the bus to check on the progress and found the mechanic just about to start pouring. I had already called Detroit the day before to ask if the stuff the shop was going to be picking up was concentrate or ready to use and they said it was concentrated. I ask the mechanic if he thought I should run to the store and splurge on $10 worth of distilled water and he said "What for, it's already pre-mixed with water". I took one of the gallons into the bus to read the instructions which said to dilute the Cool Power (from DD we got it) with tap water. So ok, no distilled water specified but it said to dilute it. I took the jug back out to show the mechanic (Juuuuust like the other stories here) and even in the face of showing him the instructions he insisted it was pre-mixed. It does use the word "Premixed" or similar somehwere in the description and this is confusing. What that means to say is that it is preloaded with the additives. Not with water. So back and forth we went and he was getting aggitated and finally said "I'll call Detroit to make sure if it will mak you happy" and he called Detroit right in front of me. They told him it was concentrated and it needed to be mixed.

The notion of doing the work yourself to make sure it's done right............ truer words never spoken. I want to say that I'm happy with the shop I'm at and they have been very nice and hospitable including the owner and I will not hestiate to come back here again (if they'll have me) but chaulk this up to another case of making sure your ass is out there and your observing the work.

Incidentley, most you probalbey already know this but 100% antifreeze freezes before a 50/50 mixture does. I reacall that 70% antifreeze and 30% water is the optimum mixture for the freeze point and I don't know when any of us would ever need that kind of protection unless you could drive to the North Pole.

[Donnie_M]

Add me to the list of coolant changing stories. I went out the bus to check on the progress and found the mechanic just about to start pouring. I had already called Detroit the day before to ask if the stuff the shop was going to be picking up was concentrate or ready to use and they said it was concentrated. I ask the mechanic if he thought I should run to the store and splurge on $10 worth of distilled water and he said "What for, it's already pre-mixed with water". I took one of the gallons into the bus to read the instructions which said to dilute the Cool Power (from DD we got it) with tap water. So ok, no distilled water specified but it said to dilute it. I took the jug back out to show the mechanic (Juuuuust like the other stories here) and even in the face of showing him the instructions he insisted it was pre-mixed. It does use the word "Premixed" or similar somehwere in the description and this is confusing. What that means to say is that it is preloaded with the additives. Not with water. So back and forth we went and he was getting aggitated and finally said "I'll call Detroit to make sure if it will mak you happy" and he called Detroit right in front of me. They told him it was concentrated and it needed to be mixed.

The notion of doing the work yourself to make sure it's done right............ truer words never spoken. I want to say that I'm happy with the shop I'm at and they have been very nice and hospitable including the owner and I will not hestiate to come back here again (if they'll have me) but chaulk this up to another case of making sure your ass is out there and your observing the work.

Incidentley, most you probalbey already know this but 100% antifreeze freezes before a 50/50 mixture does. I reacall that 70% antifreeze and 30% water is the optimum mixture for the freeze point and I don't know when any of us would ever need that kind of protection unless you could drive to the North Pole.

I had that problem until I switched to the 55 gal drum. Notice it says it has "deionized water" in it.

[Jeff Bayley]

Donnie- There might be two kinds of Cool Power as there are with typical anti-freezes. One that is Concentrate and one that is already diluted. After calling Detroit in front of me and finding out the stuff they sent over was concentrated he said that the last coolant they sent was pre-diluted.

That picture of my coolant is not accurate. I scooped it out of the catch pan the guy used which I found out later (and should have known to being with) was also used for oil. So I failed to catch a sample of what was really in there. I'm still planning on changing it out again after a few thousand miles or at least testing it.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Jeff, failure to change coolant on a regular basis or to maintain the chemistry can have serious consequences so your plan to make sure the system is clean and contains the right coolant is definitely the correct way to go.

I have not seen or heard the issues that were somewhat common with the two cycle engine such as plugged radiators or silicon drop out, but because of the emphasis on proper coolant maintenance I suspect we still have those concerns, but most importantly the biggest concern is the failure of the cylinder liners due to improper coolant chemistry. The liners can literally become perforated.

Protect that new engine. and the old one as well.

[Jeff Bayley]

Jon- Thanks. I really wish I had captured some of the old coolant to see just how bad off it was before it all dumpted into the oil pan. Another reaosn to do things yourself. I could have done it myself. I should have done it myself. About 10 gallons out of what, 15 total (if it's not mixed with the Aqua Hot and Dan at Phoenix Royal confirmed mine is not mixed)......they got about 10 gallons out. I could try testing the coolant again when I change it again in a couple thousand miles for good measure. I'd have cobbled up test results I guess though..

By the way, this engine is not the one that blew up. It was the Angola engine. And I didn't put a new one or factory refurbished one in, just a used one. I belive it was defective wrist pins in the early series 60 (1994 chassis) that got that engine and not neglect of maintainence but having been kicked in the balls once I should really be more diligent so I don't suffer needlessly again. I printed out your maintaince sheet that is on here and filled it out and taped it to the back of one of the overhead drivers cabinets. Got a new air filter and fuel filer today, changed the generator oil out at 85 hours and put a new fule filter on it also. I got most of the stuff on your check list "checked" except for a few things. You going to Maine so you can help me fix the rest ? he,he

Going to try to hit up a Motosat dealer in Canton Ohio tommorow and get the sattalite straignted out. Place is called www.CloudCasters.com Anybody ever used them ?

[kenrobertson]

Jeff - You have two separate systems with a heat exchanger only - You can share a heat source, but you don't share fluid -

Ken

[dreamchasers]

I had that problem until I switched to the 55 gal drum. Notice it says it has "deionized water" in it.

Donnie, Where do you purchase Power Cool in 55 gallon drum quantities.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Hector

[rahangman]

Jon- Thanks. I really wish I had captured some of the old coolant to see just how bad off it was before it all dumpted into the oil pan. Another reaosn to do things yourself. I could have done it myself. I should have done it myself. About 10 gallons out of what, 15 total (if it's not mixed with the Aqua Hot and Dan at Phoenix Royal confirmed mine is not mixed)......they got about 10 gallons out. I could try testing the coolant again when I change it again in a couple thousand miles for good measure. I'd have cobbled up test results I guess though..

By the way, this engine is not the one that blew up. It was the Angola engine. And I didn't put a new one or factory refurbished one in, just a used one. I belive it was defective wrist pins in the early series 60 (1994 chassis) that got that engine and not neglect of maintainence but having been kicked in the balls once I should really be more diligent so I don't suffer needlessly again. I printed out your maintaince sheet that is on here and filled it out and taped it to the back of one of the overhead drivers cabinets. Got a new air filter and fuel filer today, changed the generator oil out at 85 hours and put a new fule filter on it also. I got most of the stuff on your check list "checked" except for a few things. You going to Maine so you can help me fix the rest ? he,he

Going to try to hit up a Motosat dealer in Canton Ohio tommorow and get the sattalite straignted out. Place is called www.CloudCasters.com Anybody ever used them ?

Jeff, what is wrong with the MotoSat? I just had a problem (2nd time) and MotoSat was VERY helpful, and I am happy happy again. Their support was great.

[Donnie_M]

Donnie, Where do you purchase Power Cool in 55 gallon drum quantities.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Hector

I buy the Power Cool and Detroit Diesel oil (rebranded Delvac) in 55 gals. straight from Florida Detroit Diesel in Orlando. I also buy genuine Detroit Diesel filters.