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The Coolant Disapearance Caper
The caper started with adding a gallon or2 ELC Exrended Life Coolant.. Then the next trip needed 6-8 gallons added. An investigation of all likelyspots for traces indicated traces of possible seepage from the stems of the two gate valves on 1 1/4 copper pipes sending and returning heated fluid to the front of the coach.The valves were swetted in to the copper pipe running along the bulkhead behind the drivers side tag tire, in the area above the Webasto compartment. Attemps to re-pack the valve stems resulted in greater leaks. Upon removing the center sections of the valve fom the valve body and examining both 16 year old valve stems a repacking the worn out valves would not be the answer. The location of the valve bodies sweat soldered in their un accessable spot was not the way to go. We found two NIBCO gate valves of the same model. So simple just screw in the new valve parts into the existing valve parts because they looked identical, Whhops the new valve center section would not fit. We measured both and the new part was a silly millimeter larger. So to the machine shop to turn down the exterior and re=thread them and wallah we have two working new valves.
Where the two gate valves came from I;m not sure. All of the other valves on the adjoining systems including Webasto piping all have great NIBCO Ball Valves. Maybe Prevost had that system in place with the shell and Liberty added the good stuff with their systems.
If you are loosing antifreeze. take a look under these valves.
Not fun, but done right
Harry
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2 Replies
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Good post Harry, Peter just had a similar problem, I’m sure he’ll jump in here.
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I had a leak just out of water pump at copper elbow leaking for coolant to go to hot water tank and heat exchanger, we replaced the copper 1/2 inch pipe with 3/4 inch pipe and put gate valve on bottom before elbow going to top side of motor and a bracket to help keep it from shaking loose, it had a ball valve on top ,I do not like those type of valves for the coolant
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