| Reinstalling Radiator [message #119707] |
Wed, 23 March 2011 17:39  |
Steamway1
Messages: 4
Registered: June 2009
Location: Sevierville, TN
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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I'm reinstall my radiator and just wondered if there are any suggestions or warnings. Also just a few questions.
Is there any antifreeze for this old coach that would be better than any other? Any I should avoid?
How much should the cooling system hold, given all that extra hose going to the water heater?
Any tips on avoiding trapping air in the system? Or is that even a problem?
I've already ordered my new Robertshaw 195 high flow thermostat (thanks Jim K.!) and I bought a new 9lb. cap to replace the 13lb. the po had on there. Then I'll just need to top off the oil and tranny fluid.
Thanks for the help!
Randy
1977 Eleganza II (Ellie)
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| Re: [GMCnet] Reinstalling Radiator [message #119721 is a reply to message #119707] |
Wed, 23 March 2011 18:27  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Randy,
Any good quality Ethylene Glycol (EG) antifreeze (Prestone, Peak, etc)
should be OK. Do NOT use Dexcool -- even those vehicles for which it is
specified have trouble and it's not compatible with residual EG.
I don't recall the cooling system capacity but it should be in the shop
manual.
Here's how I fill the cooling system to eliminate most air at the same time:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4278
<http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4278>Without such a
system, the air trapped in the high-mounted heater core is troublesome. It
will take at least two or three heat/cool cycles for the air to be purged.
That is, you'll have to fill the radiator and the overflow tank then warm
the engine to normal operating temperature. Some air will be expelled
through the overflow tank. When the system cools down, the expelled air
will be replaced with coolant drawn from the overflow tank, which you'll
have to refill. After a few such cycles, the overflow tank level will no
longer fall, indicating that no more air was in the system to be expelled.
My technique eliminates that procedure by forcing air from the system as
it's filled. It also eliminates the need to fill the radiator through its
poorly located cap. Doing it the "old" way, I always spill enough
antifreeze to cause a week's wondering if the drips are residual spillage or
leaks.
HTH,
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com
On Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 6:39 PM, Randy Hansen <hansensteamway@yahoo.com>wrote:
>
>
> I'm reinstall my radiator and just wondered if there are any suggestions or
> warnings. Also just a few questions.
>
> Is there any antifreeze for this old coach that would be better than any
> other? Any I should avoid?
> How much should the cooling system hold, given all that extra hose going to
> the water heater?
> Any tips on avoiding trapping air in the system? Or is that even a problem?
> ...
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Reinstalling Radiator [message #119722 is a reply to message #119707] |
Wed, 23 March 2011 18:35 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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G'day,
Here's a link to Gene Fishers websites Radiator Section:
http://gmcmotorhome.info/radiator.html
If you haven't cut the radiator support as pictured below it's a good mod to
make the radiator easier to remove.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=3850
Don't use Dexcool - do a Google search and you'll find out why.
If you want to keep the hoses down to the water heater it would be a good
idea to replace them and add two shutoff valves on the lines in the engine
compartment. That way if they do develop a leak you can shut them off.
According to the Maintenance Manual the cooling system takes 21 quarts, I do
not know if that includes the hoses back to the water heater.
I don't remember having any problems refilling the system when Ken H. and I
replaced the radiator in Double Trouble.
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Randy Hansen
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 9:40 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] Reinstalling Radiator
I'm reinstall my radiator and just wondered if there are any suggestions or
warnings. Also just a few questions.
Is there any antifreeze for this old coach that would be better than any
other? Any I should avoid?
How much should the cooling system hold, given all that extra hose going to
the water heater?
Any tips on avoiding trapping air in the system? Or is that even a problem?
I've already ordered my new Robertshaw 195 high flow thermostat (thanks Jim
K.!) and I bought a new 9lb. cap to replace the 13lb. the po had on there.
Then I'll just need to top off the oil and tranny fluid.
Thanks for the help!
Randy
--
1977 Eleganza II (Ellie)
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Reinstalling Radiator [message #119731 is a reply to message #119721] |
Wed, 23 March 2011 19:29 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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"" Do NOT use Dexcool -- even those vehicles for which it is
specified have trouble and it's not compatible with residual EG.
""
Although there's no compelling reason to use it, Dexcool was reformulated quite a while ago to fix that problem.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Reinstalling Radiator [message #119742 is a reply to message #119707] |
Wed, 23 March 2011 21:40 |
powerjon
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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When you replace the coolant use any good brand and only the full strength version. Add a bottle of water pump lube and only use distilled water when filling the cooling system. That keeps any bad mineral in your water out of your cooling system. I have run the 185 thermostat for years without problem.
JR Wright
On Mar 23, 2011, at 6:39 PM, Randy Hansen wrote:
>
>
> I'm reinstall my radiator and just wondered if there are any suggestions or warnings. Also just a few questions.
>
> Is there any antifreeze for this old coach that would be better than any other? Any I should avoid?
> How much should the cooling system hold, given all that extra hose going to the water heater?
> Any tips on avoiding trapping air in the system? Or is that even a problem?
>
>
> I've already ordered my new Robertshaw 195 high flow thermostat (thanks Jim K.!) and I bought a new 9lb. cap to replace the 13lb. the po had on there. Then I'll just need to top off the oil and tranny fluid.
>
> Thanks for the help!
>
> Randy
>
>
> --
> 1977 Eleganza II (Ellie)
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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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