When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Well, on a short camping trip just one and half hour drive. Temps were warm but fan was working well. Got out of the truck to register at the camp grounds and smelled antifreeze. Popped the hood and:
My first though was radiator being it seem to be on the passenger side of center but I can't see any problem at all. Coolant filter lines look good also. A pressure check will show the problem I guess. Not really lookin to wrench on the truck at the camp. Coolant level is just visible in the bottom of the degas bottle so I'm thinking I can top it off and get home ok. Anybody seen one fail like this? Other considerations or possibilities I'm missing? I'm thinking I'm about to do business with Mr. Mishimoto...
Well, on a short camping trip just one and half hour drive. Temps were warm but fan was working well. Got out of the truck to register at the camp grounds and smelled antifreeze. Popped the hood and:
My first though was radiator being it seem to be on the passenger side of center but I can't see any problem at all. Coolant filter lines look good also. A pressure check will show the problem I guess. Not really lookin to wrench on the truck at the camp. Coolant level is just visible in the bottom of the degas bottle so I'm thinking I can top it off and get home ok. Anybody seen one fail like this? Other considerations or possibilities I'm missing? I'm thinking I'm about to do business with Mr. Mishimoto...
That sucks Rusty. Due to the location ( I just opened my hood to compare where the coolant was on the underneath side of your hood with mine ) I would think it would have to be the radiator, or perhaps one of the lines from your coolant filter are leaking. You could start it with the hood open and get it hot and see where it is coming from.
Thanks guys. The pics were taken shortly after a 45min pull at 65-70mph. It was pretty hot still and the only clue was the puddles. Common ECT/EOT was 214/218 and climbing a little from there on the hills but the fan would ramp up to 2500-2900 for a few seconds and temps would come right down. So I was feeling pretty good about how things were going.
I'm thinking like you guys, the plastic tank or it's seal has failed. It only lost a quart or two and nothing lower on the radiator looked wet. No puddle on the ground. I did notice another advantage to the red ELC is it has a strong smell, no ignoring there was an issue .
My Father-in-law just came over and offered me a can of Stop Leak, think I should try it?
Oh, I almost forgot. STUPID POS 6.0! MONEY EATING P@$? Of $#!. I'M GUNNA BLOW THS #¥@&er UP! AND BURN THE PIECES...FIRE AND SMOKE! FROM THE SULPHUROUS BOWELS OF HELL! ARRGGHHH! (On my knees, clenched fists raised toward the sky)
Oh, I almost forgot. STUPID POS 6.0! MONEY EATING P@$? Of $#!. I'M GUNNA BLOW THS #¥@&er UP! AND BURN THE PIECES...FIRE AND SMOKE! FROM THE SULPHUROUS BOWELS OF HELL! ARRGGHHH! (On my knees, clenched fists raised toward the sky)
Hmm, maybe that did help a little
Hey your degas bottle looks good though--no puking there
Oh, I almost forgot. STUPID POS 6.0! MONEY EATING P@$? Of $#!. I'M GUNNA BLOW THS #¥@&er UP! AND BURN THE PIECES...FIRE AND SMOKE! FROM THE SULPHUROUS BOWELS OF HELL! ARRGGHHH! (On my knees, clenched fists raised toward the sky)
Hmm, maybe that did help a little
Yup, it's time for a Cummins transplant!
Seriously, that sucks on vacation....Maybe you could keep the cap on the degas bottle loose, to help keep pressure low, and less leakage on the way home?
Thanks guys. The pics were taken shortly after a 45min pull at 65-70mph. It was pretty hot still and the only clue was the puddles. Common ECT/EOT was 214/218 and climbing a little from there on the hills but the fan would ramp up to 2500-2900 for a few seconds and temps would come right down. So I was feeling pretty good about how things were going.
I'm thinking like you guys, the plastic tank or it's seal has failed. It only lost a quart or two and nothing lower on the radiator looked wet. No puddle on the ground. I did notice another advantage to the red ELC is it has a strong smell, no ignoring there was an issue .
My Father-in-law just came over and offered me a can of Stop Leak, think I should try it?
Seriously, that sucks on vacation....Maybe you could keep the cap on the degas bottle loose, to help keep pressure low, and less leakage on the way home?
Not a bad idea. Think I could get away with that while towing? Temps, and I'm guessing pressure, will be higher than just cruising unloaded.
Not a bad idea. Think I could get away with that while towing? Temps, and I'm guessing pressure, will be higher than just cruising unloaded.
Rusty. I don't know where you are camping, but in in gulf state park campground. If you are 1.5 hours from home, we may be close. This will sound silly because I suspect you have all your tools with you and you know more about the 6.0 than I, but I have my tool box and am willing to help you break it more if you want to try. I'm here till Monday.
I'll even help you put the Cummings in it in the campground. We just have to figure a way to pull the cab. If you are in the park too, let me know what site and I'll come see you. I've even got the gage and tubing to check your coolant stem pressure with me if you want to bum it for the ride home.
As stated by others I would get it warmed up for the return trip, then loosen the cap to relieve the pressure, and put her in the wind. Mine will not build any pressure after I relieve the pressure after it is warm.
Rusty. I don't know where you are camping, but in in gulf state park campground. If you are 1.5 hours from home, we may be close. This will sound silly because I suspect you have all your tools with you and you know more about the 6.0 than I, but I have my tool box and am willing to help you break it more if you want to try. I'm here till Monday.
I'll even help you put the Cummings in it in the campground. We just have to figure a way to pull the cab. If you are in the park too, let me know what site and I'll come see you. I've even got the gage and tubing to check your coolant stem pressure with me if you want to bum it for the ride home.
As stated by others I would get it warmed up for the return trip, then loosen the cap to relieve the pressure, and put her in the wind. Mine will not build any pressure after I relieve the pressure after it is warm.
Thanks for the offer Bryan! We do have a nice tree over the campsite that should work for pullin the cab . I'm afraid the swap would take too much time and beer to complete here though. Not sure where you are but I'm at White Oak on the Alabama side of lake Eufaula. There is a place to get Cummings parts here in town but no Cat dealer to get ELC. Guess I'll use distilled but if I loose much coolant it's gonna get diluted. Oh well, I might try the stuff from napa after radiator fix anyway.
Hey Tim, have you tried recrimping a radiator like that before? Any luck doing that? I was thinking of pliers and squeezing but metallurgy can be puzzling and particular methods are important sometimes. Maybe a dolly under the crimp and light taps across the top? If that proves to be the problem, I'll replace the radiator anyway but that might get me by until it's order/shipped and I find time to install it.
Ahh Man sorry to hear this Eric , I would not put stop leak in unless you want a new oil cooler, is that a OEM radiator, hope the rest of the Vacation goes well
Thanks for the offer Bryan! We do have a nice tree over the campsite that should work for pullin the cab . I'm afraid the swap would take too much time and beer to complete here though. Not sure where you are but I'm at White Oak on the Alabama side of lake Eufaula. There is a place to get Cummings parts here in town but no Cat dealer to get ELC. Guess I'll use distilled but if I loose much coolant it's gonna get diluted. Oh well, I might try the stuff from napa after radiator fix anyway.
Hey Tim, have you tried recrimping a radiator like that before? Any luck doing that? I was thinking of pliers and squeezing but metallurgy can be puzzling and particular methods are important sometimes. Maybe a dolly under the crimp and light taps across the top? If that proves to be the problem, I'll replace the radiator anyway but that might get me by until it's order/shipped and I find time to install it.
I suggest after you get home because the aluminum crimps can be flaky anyway. They can and do repair those radiators as the tanks are available but I wouldn't personally do it. I've seen new radiators with the tabs around the tank fractured from manufacturing and radiators aren't that expensive. I would only do it on the road in an emergency.
FWIW--my tank cracked for absolutely no good reason at all. I just came home from work one day and it puked in the driveway. It hadn't been touched in months.
.
)
