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Major engine issues. Need advice
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I think it’s at DD Mark..
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reading this i have to say my shop doing collant hoses talked about recharging coolant to avoid acid build up eating cylinder liners coolant management a big deal i’m sure 60 series same deal great read this is what will keep you up at nite hope for a happy ending TAG1
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Jeff picked it up from the second DD shop Saturday. They claimed that it was “damaged” radiator caps (Jeff had already replaced both with new Prevost caps) that would not hold pressure. They claimed to have checked it head to toe and could not get any coolant to show up. Jeff and I knew it was BS. Jeff picked it up yesterday to test drive it. Within 20 miles it was spilling coolant as expected. Looks like Freightliner of Knoxville will be refunding $1,000!
Jeff is now checking with his contacts to determine the next step and who to do the work. Obviously there is a serious problem but we need to find a quality DD shop to figure it out and do whatever work is needed.
Again my thanks to Jeff Rowe who has gone above and beyond in trying to get things done right without me being ripped off by the big commercial DD shops.
More information to come next week. Hope I get it fixed before it’s too late to use it this year for my planned September trip.
Chris
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Hang in there Chris, Jeff will get it figured out and a bunch of us behind the scenes are making suggestions, for whatever that’s worth.
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And what we charge is a lot less than what you have been charged so far.
Seriously, we have been trying to come up with potential causes and ways to rule them in or out. Do you know the history of the coach or engine? Do you know if it has had the required coolant services? Has anyone put pressure gauges on the coolant system to see if the coolant is being pushed out as a result of the pressure of combustion?
These are some of the things being discussed with Jeff.
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There is another bus around with a history of having engine problems. Phone contact with Jeff, I wondered if this might be this bus. It has been ruled out after discussing logged mileage.
One of the questions I asked about if there had been a charge air cooler CAC replaced ? Yes, there had been about 1 1/2 years ago.
My question…. were cushion pads in place on the bottom of radiator ? these pads are very important so there is no metal to metal contact on the bottom of radiator with housing supports. With this area having been apart maybe under the right circumstances this might be where hot red coolant finds an escape after running temp reaches 207 deg.
Jeff, is on a mission there is no question he will solve this problem.
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Thanks for the support and suggestions. History on the coach appears to be nothing unusual. I have the service records from delivery on that show routine coolant services and frequent routine preventive service. All work done by Prevost or Marathon. It did have the CAC cooler replaced a few years ago. Called the guy I bought it from who said there had been no issues in the past and no overheating episodes.
Jeff confirmed today with another run that the coolant is leaking from the overflow tube once the coach is driven and put under load. He spoke to the shop foreman and it goes back to DD Thursday. Sounds like the cooling system is getting pressure build up from engine compression. I expect getting into the head and engine is next. Guess Harley Davidson HD stands for hundred dollars and Prevost stands for pretty damn expensive.Thanks again to everyone. I look forward to meeting many of you, just not at Jeff’s all summer.
Chris
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Well, no diagnosis so far. The DD shop finally agrees there is a problem. Their test showed the coolant spills when the engine is under load and high turbo boost. They are now consulting with Prevost and DD engineers to try and figure something out. Not inspiring too much confidence right now. Hope it doesn’t take all summer to figure out. Guess the money I’m saving on fuel can go to pay for whatever is wrong.
this experience shows me how lucky we are to have Jeff Rowe for most of our stuff. Hope his business continues to grow so his shop can expand to big engine work.
Chris
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Chris,
please keep us informed. I’m having trouble with coolant in my bus, coolant low but can’t find where it’s going.
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
Greg,
Your engine has fewer potential issues. But they are not necessarily cheap.
Is your oil OK? Have you seen anything from your air box drains? How much are you losing and are you losing it while sitting or driving?
All this assumes you have no signs of coolant leaking on the floor or at the radiator or a hose.
Anything leaking in the house such as at a heat exchanger, or near the A/C evaporator? Usually if it is associated with the house you might smell it.
On your coach if it is engine related it could be a liner seal, head gasket, or cracked head.
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After talking to the Prevost reps and engineers Jeff is pretty confident that the problem is in the head, gasket or sleeve somewhere. We considered driving it to Prevost Nashville however Jeff is concerned that the leak seems to be worse with every drive and we don’t want to risk blowing the head and trashing the engine. So barring any other discoveries the engine comes out tomorrow. Hope once it’s out they can quickly find out what is wrong. At least I have a $1000 credit from the first visit when they diagnosed it as a bad radiator cap. That should pay for “shop supplies.”
Just keeping my head up thinking that the fuel I am not buying since I am off the road will pay the cost (only if diesel was $20/gallon LOL) of the repairs.
Good of luck to all at the seminar this weekend. I’ll let everyone know what happens next.
Chris
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Just a thought, could be liner counter bore crack. I have a 12.7 at my brothers with same. Common on Cummins also. I have had the counter bore over sized, a new sleve, a new cyl kit and back togerher.
Good Luck
Ed
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Checked today. The DD people reported they test drove the coach again and surprise, it was fine (even though all they had done was bypass a heater air valve in the dash that Jeff had told them could not be the problem). They called Jeff who went and drove it with them and he again showed it was not fine and was spilling coolant. Jeff and I discussed moving it to Prevost but, surprise, Prevost does not service DD anymore since everything is now Volvo. The shop they use can’t get to it for at least 2 weeks. So now finally the current DD shop is pulling the engine Tuesday to check the head, gasket etc.
This is has been a nightmare (First started 5/31). Thank god I have Jeff to help deal with these idiots. Otherwise I would be at their mercy and may have driven the coach and done more damage to it. Can’t wait to argue over the bill for diagnosis and the test drives (4 or 5) that they said were normal as coolant spilled out rather liberally. Hopefully we will find out next week what the actual issue is and get it fixed post haste. I have a trip out west 9/1 that I have been planning for almost a year. Makes me nervous that either the coach won’t be fixed, they will tear up some of the conversion equipment or it will be unreliable.
Maybe PC can start to compile a list of regional service centers that have been used by members and found to be tops in service and support; especially now that Prevost does not service our coaches that have DD engines. If there already is one I have missed it.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Answers hopefully to come next week.
Chris
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I really feel bad for you Chris and wish I had an answer. There are good DD shops out there, but sounds like you’re stuck with what you have. I know Jeff has been doing everything possible to help.
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Thanks for the moral support. PC has been a savior with information and also telling me about Jeff. By now Jeff might be wishing I hadn’t found PC and ETLC. He has gone above and beyond what I would expect anyone to do in helping me get to the bottom of this especially since it is not at his shop now.
I’ve signed up for the next class so I can meet several members, get smarter about my coach and share my painful story LOL.
What doesn’t kill (or bankrupt) me will make me stronger LOL!
Chris
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