[Flydrifter]

For the past month, I have been loosing coolant, about a gallon every 300 miles. Newell pressure tested the system at 16 psi for 24 hours, no leaks. Then problem continued, reading on the diesel boards, it appears that the Detroit 60 series have had a history of blown head gasket problems. Early talks with Newell indicated that they prefer not to do major engine work, contacted locat Detroit Repair here in Tulsa. Their recommendation to check for coolant in the oil, sound like blown head gasket or even cracked head, cost could run $4,000 to $9,000 depending on what it needed including possible rebuilt head and maybe even sleeves, if they had to rework the bottom end could even be as high as $14,000. Gulp, this million mile engine only has 115,000 miles on it.

Anyway talked to Newell again, this time to Mike Evans, Service Manager, his recommendation was to call Trace Helm, Cabin Diesel Service, Big Cabin, OK, just down the turnpike from Miami. Trace listened to the whole story, and the first thing he ask was. "Have you checked the radiator cap", well DUH no, they pressure tested the system, but that did not test the cap. Pulled it, took it to the local O'Rileys, it wouldn't even hold 1 psi, when it is supposed to be a 16 psi cap. The one they had on the shelf, marked 16 psi, would only hold 9, so off I go to local NAPA dealer, he had one, but no tester.

I bought it, took it home and filled up the coolant, ran it up to 150 degrees, everything holdiing, couple of inches gain in the coolant reservoir, looking good.

Took it out and drove it, temp up to about 190 degrees checked it, level up to about the warm line, took it out on the freeway, pushed it up to 200 degrees, which is about where the thermostat must be, because it never would get over that, coolant up to the Hot line on the reservoir, man am I a "happy camper" if you can call a Newell a camper. Anyways. let it set overnight to cool, and just checked it, back down to the low side on the reservoir.

Looks like a $5.90 radaitor cap has solved my problem. Next time I will change that first. It is printed right on the cap to change it out when coolant is replaced. What an economical, but in my case overlooked fix.

Thought it might save someone alot of headache and worry to post this.

Ray Penick
1996 Newell #420
Tulsa, OK