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Time to talk radiator
Well I made the mistake of taking off the radiator compartment door just to check things out. What I found was a 4 X 6 inch section where the first portion of the fins have disappeared. Touching the fins further back between the cooling tubes causes them to crumble as well. It also looks like the residue from the now invisible fins have filled this section of the radiator. There are no leaks in the tubes and based on what other Prevost owners tell me my temps are normal. It runs 195 until a long mountain climb and then will get as high as 210 on an 80 degree day, but will immediately go back to 195 or below at the crest of the mountain. Should the radiator be changed now or will this last for a while longer. I do not want to have problems on the road but I do not want to spend $2000 that is not needed either. The joys of a 21 year old coach!!!
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25 Replies
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Tom,
Your post is just what I went through a year ago. I had noticed my temps going up over the years, they had reached 215 or so on hills so I knew that it was time for a new radiator. I just ordered a new one (2700) from Prevost and got it done. I took my old one in to my local shop and he told me to buy the new one, he didn’t want to put the time into redoing the old one.
ps, I did have my engine temp light and buzzer go on two times so that helped me to know too.
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Tom,
I forgot the good part, the old one brought over 200 at salvage.
Also, I did the work myself so I saved the labor.
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Dale,
Thanks for the info. I will do the labor myself as well. It is the $2700 part that gets me!! By the way, what did the new radiator do for your temps??? -
Tom
You should be able to buy just a new core. I think there are few companies
that build cores, here’s a place to start.http://detroitradiatorcorp.com/catalog/maker/cores/truck
I know prices are up but the last time I heard it was about $1500 for a
core. If you spec out an after market core the dimple fin design would probably
work best in a bus. Be sure to get at least as many rows of flues as the
original. 8V’s and Allison’s make a lot of heat.Ken
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The temps are running at 180-190. I’m pulling a loaded trailer that weights 9000 lbs. We came into Phoenix on Hwy. 60 and you have to go through the salt river canyon, 7% +/- grades for 5 miles, temp never got above 200. There are times between our house elev.1875 and Phoenix elev. 1300 that we have to climb to 7000 to 8000 several times and I would just keep the pedal to the floor until the tach went to 1600 rpms and then I would shift down to see where the temp would go, 195-200 degrees.
On the core replace, I looked into it and decided to just get the complete radiator. My bottom steel base was rusting, I twisted all the bolts off taking the bottom mounting brackets off.
On a side note; mark the top of the shroud with tape, It looks square but there is a top and bottom, I had to take my radiator back out and take off the shroud and do a 180 with it.
I put in a new fan blade while at it also.
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Tom,
Dale brings up a good point with the fan, if your metal fan hasn’t
been changed out, now would be the time.
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All great points and good information. I did call Prevost parts and Prevost does not have this radiator in stock. John in Nashville is calling Canada to see about getting one. Also checking with a local radiator shop about replacement. All of my brackets and bolts are rusty as well so I think I need to replace the whole unit. I would love to do just the core but not sure if that will work. Good tip about the fan as well. I need to get my temps down to were Dale’s are.
Thanks again!! -
When I had to “do the radiator” 2 yrs ago, Prevost Parts said the entire Radiator Assy could only come out of Canada and I would have to pay shipping. The tanks on mine were in good shape, so a re-core was done and I have not looked back since. Temps running good. I had the job done for me at a small bus company in Joblin, and while the re-core was done locally (with warranty), we were able to do some clean up in the engine compartment. Another case of a bus company with Mech’s still well educated on the 8V.
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I guess this is called the joys of bus ownership, but time plays on everything including the owners of these fine machines. Gary
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Well I got a price from Prevost this morning of $3583 for a new radiator and will have to wait at least 30 days while it is being built. I will take out the old one and take it to a local radiator shop that has been in business for a long time.
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That is just amazing how the price has gone up. Did you talk to the guys in Chicago? That is hard to believe.
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Actually talked with John in Nashville, TN. Since my coach is 21 years old the radiator is made to order by the vendor.
I got the coolant drained and everything unhooked last night after work woo hoo!!! I am ready to slide the radiator out and put on the the truck and take to the shop!! It really was not that bad to take it out. I am going to order new thermostats and replace them at the same time. -
Great opportunity to deal with any corrosion that might be in that area that is easily accessible. Also the exhaust should be given a good inspection, looking for any signs of future failure. Easy to deal with that also. Take a hard look at the exhaust manifold and look for any sooting around the mainfold. The gaskets on the 8V92 exhaust mainfold tend to fail and the cast manifold also is prone to cracking. It will never be easier to deal with them than now. When replacing a gasket or manifold it is almost impossible to do without having some studs come out and with the coolant out it makes the job a snap.
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Thanks Jon. I will check everything while open.
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Tom, mine is a 86 and I always call Chicago for my parts. When I called just this past January they said it was in stock at Nashville, so it shipped out of there.
If I were you, I’d call them and ask them about Dale Juranek just ordering a radiator for 2700. He did give me little off, I think it list for 2895 or so.
Just an option if a recore goes like mine and the guys says he doesn’t want to touch your old one.
I’ll be back home at the end of next week if I can help you with part numbers or anything.
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