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Charge Air Cooler hoses
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Parts sales really tell you whats going on. I think you’re getting a little work directed at you Jon. Prevost knows how many Oem and Duralite CAC’s have been sold.
With just a little part number recall all that information is available. Evaluate the problem…that’s a good one. I was told by pretty good sources Prevost knew of this CAC issue pretty much from the get go. When Prevost put out the bid package for cooling packages they took the low bid which included a CAC of very poor quality.
Jon, if you built buses with poor quality CAC’s and you also installed blue hose all the way around. Prevost saved thousands by using blue which will work and half the cost of red hoses.
In all fairness to Prevost I do believe they never knowingly could see the CAC problem years down the road by using the low price cooling package containing a poor quality CAC. BTW…truck manufactures have same problem.
Here is the silver bullet……
Actually the leaking CAC have actually helped the service life of blue hoses as less pressure ( leaking CAC ) helped prolong the life with no action needed.
Now, we have a choice to have red hoses installed on our dollar.
Active PC members are now informed that there is a better hose on the hot side,
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Mine has blue on both sides too.
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MCI puts red hoses on both sides. My engine is pre-EGR.
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The primary issue is associated with EGR coaches, and specifically those that have had the CAC replaced and then had a failure of the blue hoses installed on the “hot” side, from the turbo to the CAC.
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Jerry, Your set up is probably like mine. CAC mounted on top of radiator. When I had my radiator replaced requested new red hoses on hot side knowing I had no EGR. There were blue on the hot side from factory. Another thing back around 2000 I don’t think anyone paid much attention to inspection of CAC. Unless the customer complained of no power. In looking at my CAC it’s built heavy duty compared to ones in EGR engines.
Jon’s ..comment about EGR engines changed the whole landscape of this issue. Heat …when temps were raised to meet engine certification.
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Ours has all(4) red hoses. What worries me is the lack of anti-ballon rings on 3 of the 4 hoses.
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Al, Mine is like yours. I haven’t had a problem with mine (Knock on wood). I have the original radiator and CAC.
What happened to your radiator?
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I never measured the output from the turbo on my previous non-EGR coach, but when my CAC failed I started hooking up my DDEC reader and looking at the information available. It was eye opening to say the least.
When the EGR is not engaged the maximum boost I saw was in the 28 to 30 PSI range and that corresponds to the turbo boost gauge reading. I neglected to note the typical temps downstream from the turbo to the CAC. When the EGR engages hot exhaust gas is directed toward the intake manifold after first going through the EGR cooler. To compensate for the introduction of exhaust into the engine the turbo boost increases to as high as 49 to 50 PSI. That is not shown on the turbo boost gauge. Addition fuel and air is consumed to compensate for the fact the exhaust gas is choking the engine, and that added boost pressure is reflected in the air temps downstream from the turbo, which on my coach reached 500 degrees.
The first component those hot exhaust gases reach is the flex hose and the pipe immediately downstream from the turbo. The air temps after the CAC are down to 200 degrees.
I do not believe a non-EGR engine is going to develop the pressures or heat so without measuring temps and pressures I would guess there is going to be a lot less risk of hose failure, regardless of hose temperature limit.
I would be very concerned if there were no anti ballooning rings on an EGR engine because of the 50 PSI pressures.
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In July of 2010 I had a blue hose that was on the turbo outlet rip,it did not totally rip in to 2 pieces so I could still limp home as I was almost home.I had my local Detroit Diesel service center replace the hose and they installed a blue one also.When I had the CAC replaced a couple years ago I had Prevost Jacksonville install all red ones as I then knew that the blue ones were not rated for the higher temperatures.
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Just an FYI — Prevost is running both the OEM and Duralight CAC as their monthly special if anyone is in need of replacement. -
I saw that ad and I don’t know if others noticed but Prevost charges more for a CAC that we all know (including Prevost) that is doesn’t come close to the Duralite in quality. Then to add insult to injury we get to pay for Prevost’s error in judgement by having to buy an new CAC on our dime because they opt to use the crappy one..
Very disappointing.
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Something else for the Newell-gloaters to latch onto. I say that because I have just been reading thru a few threads on the N Guru’s site and as some of you know, some posters are so anti-Prevost it’s untrue. I believe none are actually ex-Prevost owners (unlike some ex-Newell owners on PC) so I’ll take their opinions with some serious amounts of salt.
Not it knocking their choice of coach by any stretch, but childish is the only thing I can thing of.
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The Newell is a nice coach. So are Bluebirds, Foretravel, Monaco Signature, etc, etc, etc.
It makes no sense to bash any brand. Nothing built is bullet proof so from time to time issues will arise. If it makes someone happy to gloat about another brand’s needed repairs that is kind of petty. I think by discussing issues openly on a forum everyone gets a heads up and can take whatever action they deem necessary to prevent what might be an interruption of a trip or vacation.
I know we have owners of SOBs (some other brands) on our forum and we not only welcome them, we encourage them to join with us in enjoying the discounts we are all sharing and the benefits that come from being together. They are welcome at our rallies, they are welcome to participate on our forum, and it would be great if during some of our discussions if their coaches that have some features that are better than ours it would be great to learn about them.
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Jon, again well said. I agree 100%
Bill
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Looks to me the 550deg silicone hoses are available and the cost is not much. I found them at
http://www.hps-siliconehoses.com A 4″ X 7″ long red silicone hose 550 degrees List at $800.
If there is any doubt……… Change them. Who wants to be on the side of the road……
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