Radiator Coolant

[chockwald]

I was talking to a friend who recently purchased a 1984 1/2 Bluebird Wanderlodge with the Detroit Diesel Silver 6V92, just like the engine I have. The prior owner told him he needed to watch the nitrate levels in the coolant to prevent damage to the engine. Is this true, and if so how do I do that?

Thanks in advance for your anticipated help!

[Richard and Rhonda]

Clarke,

Here is a good place to start. http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=47234

To quickly answer your question, you can buy test strips at your local truck supply place to check the nitrate levels. If they are low, there are two ways to raise them. One is to change the coolant filter, and replace with a filter that contains a nitrate booster. The other is to buy the concentrated nitrates from the truck supply house.

[chockwald]

Richard......thank you very much for the info...I'll check out that link.

[khpaladin]

Richard,

That was a great site for information, however can anyone tell me the difference of the 'green' and 'red' coolant other than the formula. What I have found is that when we had an 'inframe' overhaul done to our 6V92TA about 1999-2000 the shop put in 'green' coolant. Not knowing anything about these types of diesel engines, and the shop being a major DD/Allison listed shop, I figured they knew what they were doing. Recently, we had the radiator flushed and coolant replaced and we were asked if we wanted 'green' or 'red'? I told them to put what was originally in the radiator, which was 'green'. In doing research, I found DD recommends 'Power Cool', which is 'red'. Now, I am wondering if I have 'screwed the pooch' in trusting a DD shop instead of doing my due diligence before hand.

[chockwald]

I'm being told that Power Cool is no longer available...is that true?

[Richard and Rhonda]

I am not going to try to condense what is in these two excellent reference articles direct from Detriot Diesel. Happy reading.
http://www.ddcsn.com/cps/rde/xbcr/ddcsn/DDC-SVC-BRO-0002.pdf
http://www.detroitdiesel.com/Support/On-Highway/Manuals/Lubricants_Fuels_Coolants/Power_Guard_Oils/index4print_93K217.asp

And Wyn, I don't think you did any damage if the the coolant used with the rebuild had the right additive package. It's a decent assumption that a shop with enough know how to build the engine knew enough to put the right coolant in it.

Again, all of the coolants are ethylene glycol, regardless of color. There are different additive packages used to protect the diesel engine. The manufacturers dyed the coolants different colors to hopefully prevent mixing of additive packages.

Clarke, many of the truck shops are stocking only Power Cool Plus. It's an extended life version of Power Cool. Power Cool was the original nitrate additive package and Power Cool Plus is the new Organic Acid package. They are not truly mix and match.

[leobess]

Hi
I'm new at all the ins and outs of owning a,"Newell". I have a leak in my radiator, removed the radiator and took it to the shop, was told that radiator was ok.Was also told to check out the blower, since I dont have any knowledge how this works, can the blower be started manualley to test it.I have a 1984 Newell,with a, janmar generator motor.Any help you can give me is well appricated.I'm going to try to submit this again, for the forth time I hope it goes through. thanks leobess

[Richard and Rhonda]

Welcome,

Your post went through. Do you mind some additional questions? What makes you say you have a leak in the radiator? Are you losing coolant, or you saw a puddle? I assumed you are talking about the chassis engine since you mentioned blower, but you also threw in the generator motor. Which engine has the leak? the coach engine or the generator engine?

You said you had the radiator leak tested. Is it safe to assume pressure tested? Did you also have the intercooler tested?

[fulltiming]

Based on your comments about the blower being started manually, I presumed you were talking about the generator blower but I thought the Classics, at least up to about 1987 had an open grill in the front rather than using the side blower. As Richard points out, there is a blower on the main engine if you have a Detroit Diesel (6V92 or 8V92) which is causing some of the confusion for us.

The answer to some of Richard's questions would certainly help us, but to answer your last question, if you are talking about a generator blower, it is powered, at least on the 1990 and new models, by a 240 volt motor typically mounted above the generator blower. It is fed power directly from the generator. When the generator starts, the blower will run. You could disconnect the wires to the blower motor and plug them into a 240 volt source but it would be best to just start the generator and see if the blower starts spinning.

Is the reason for the suspected leak a loss of coolant or an overheating issue? My generator does not lose coolant. Every time I have checked it, it is full. My generator does not overheat either. It sits on 180 virtually all the time. If I am driving fast in very hot weather (over 105 degrees) with 3 or 4 basement airs on, it may move up slightly (190). Sitting still, even in 117 degree weather, it still sits on 180.

Now, if they were talking about the main engine blower, 1) it would have no impact on cooling, 2) it can not be turned manual without engine disassembly, and 3) the main engine will not start if it is not working.

[leobess]

Hi in answer to some of the question, let me say that the problems I have pertain to the generator motor, the make of the motor,"janmar" with a," martin diesel gen set," The blower I was refering to was the one mouted on the side of gen. motor, in a blower compartment. The white smoke coming from under the coach, and losing coolant made me belive that the radiator was leaking, after i had it pressured tested, it tested ok. Now I'm back to square one,Again thanks for any info you supplyed. I'm trying to get this bus on the road so I can visit Miami, O.K. leobess

[encantotom]

hi leobess,

i sent you a private message on how to contact me. i have just bought a new blower and have that compartment apart so am pretty knowlegable about it. give me a call if you want.

tom

[fulltiming]

The white smoke coming from under the coach, and losing coolant made me belive that the radiator was leaking, after i had it pressured tested, it tested ok.
leobess
leobess, you have provided some very good additional information. I would suspect either a hole in a radiator hose or a blown head gasket in the generator engine with more likelihood to the latter.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Leo,

Forgive my ignorance of that model coach, but can you run your generator outside of the coach? On mine, I can slide the gennie out and run it.

I too would guess something is simple as a leaking hose or more ominous such as freeze plug leaking, head gasket, or worse.

The fact that you say white smoke, meaning steam, really points to it directly coming from the engine and not a hose. If you look around the engine do you see any areas that look clean? That may be a clue where the steam is originating.

If you can't get it out to run it, I have used a simple remote technique with any digital camera that will record video. Put it in the area and turn it on. Amazing what you can see, and if you download the video to your computer, you can advance it frame by frame.

[leobess]

Hi Tom
I must admit, I dont know how to reply to a private message. You must forgive me for being stupid about the workings of the computer. I wood love to talk to you about the problems I'm having with my generater. leo

[chockwald]

In the upper right hand corner of your screen you will see a box with the word "Welcome...(your username)". 2 lines below that it will show the words "Private Messages", and will show how many you have. Click on "Private Messages" and it will take you to the message(s) so you can read them, and reply to them.

Hope this helps.