Coolant Leak

[Mike Shumack]

Jerry,
do you still have a coolant leak? Are you going to replace that short hose on the bottom - or wait until you're a 100 miles from anywhere and let it blow"?
I would at least get a replacement hose and toss it in the tool box.
Enjoy your travels. I have a story to tell you about my PA trip when you get back.

[Jerry Emert]

Jerry,
do you still have a coolant leak? Are you going to replace that short hose on the bottom - or wait until you're a 100 miles from anywhere and let it blow"?
I would at least get a replacement hose and toss it in the tool box.
Enjoy your travels. I have a story to tell you about my PA trip when you get back.

I used the Bars Stop Leak as Dave A. suggested and I still see red in the window, don't see any on the ground, so I'm hopeful that the issue is fixed for now. Last trip even on a long slow pull up to Blowing Rock NC engine stayed under 192.  Transmission was pushing 250 as usual.  Thanks for thinking of me, Ill look at that hose again.  Drive safe. 

[Keith Moffett]

Jerry, I dont know everything but I recall our 4060 Allison and C12 CAT were always close together in temp.  Even on a hot day in mountains the engine might briefly hit 220 and the Allison would be 210 ish....
I would verify the temp sensor info and if those are working right then look into the Tranny cooler.  You sure dont want ELC in your ATF.
Best
Keith

[Jerry Emert]

Jerry, I dont know everything but I recall our 4060 Allison and C12 CAT were always close together in temp.  Even on a hot day in mountains the engine might briefly hit 220 and the Allison would be 210 ish....
I would verify the temp sensor info and if those are working right then look into the Tranny cooler.  You sure dont want ELC in your ATF.
Best
Keith

Keith I have posted over and over again on this forum about my unusual trans temps. since I joined in 2014.  There have been a few suggestions which I followed up on as I could.  In addition I've talked to 3 Allison Reps.  All have told me that the 4000 is used in dump trucks that routinely run at 300 degrees so I should stop worrying.  I still worry and when it hits 240 I downshift to 5th and watch the temps go down.I have had it go over 250 a few times on a long climb where downshifting didn't help and the temp light does not light and I can notice no downgrade in performance.  The engine never goes over 196 and rarely over 192, it usually runs at 186.  I'm debating having an aux cooler installed but everyone who knows the 4000 including all 3 Allison Reps say it's worse for the transmission to run at low temp than high temp.  So the frustration that you can read in this is not directed at you, just the situation.  It worries me even though everyone tells me not to.  Thanks for your concern.  Maybe I'll put the aux cooler on with a valve to regulate the trans fluid going through it or something!  Still worried!

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Jerry,
I've got a similar situation with my C9 and Allison 3000 tranny. The tranny will track engine temp (+0 to 5 degrees) for a short while after startup. However when I climb or have to idle for a long series of stop lights w tranny in D, temp rises to about 220-225. It takes forever to cool down a bit but never approaches engine temp. Allison says don't worry so I don't. Other owners of this year coach report tranny tracks engine temp within a few degrees. Go figure???
Steve

[Jerry Emert]

Jerry,
I've got a similar situation with my C9 and Allison 3000 tranny. The tranny will track engine temp (+0 to 5 degrees) for a short while after startup. However when I climb or have to idle for a long series of stop lights w tranny in D, temp rises to about 220-225. It takes forever to cool down a bit but never approaches engine temp. Allison says don't worry so I don't. Other owners of this year coach report tranny tracks engine temp within a few degrees. Go figure???
Steve

Thanks Steve!  Comments like yours makes me feel better!  Still worry though.  makes me nuts.

[Mike Shumack]

Jerry, your reading temps off the Aladdin screen, right?
My dash water temp and trans temp gauges are way off. Yours are probably off too.

[Jerry Emert]

Jerry, your reading temps off the Aladdin screen, right?
My dash water temp and trans temp gauges are way off. Yours are probably off too.

First thing I did was check the temps on the tranny oil pan with my infrared temp gun.  Unfortunately the aladdin and dash gauge are accurate. I've seen some entries lately about the tranny cooler that is in the pipe kind of thing being updated.  You know the thingamajig that cools the whatchmacallit?  I'll have to explore it when I get back and maybe let you fix a coach using my money instead of yours.  You know I, at least, make a good gofer!!

[Dave Atherton]

Gentleman, my suggestion with the topic heating temperature and instead of worrying or guessing
Take a oil sample of your transmission fluid, your results of oil sample will tell you, if problems are
Starting to surface. On the readout you are same as engine oil sampling creating a base line with particle
count than down the road at engine service period include another oil sample on the transmission
Fluid. Yes Dave over the years was required to take fluid sampling’s to pinpoint problems and many
thousands dollars saved by oil sampling’s. Dave Atherton Retired Cat Mechanic.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Dave,
Thx for reminding me. Had tranny sample taken about 6 mo ago. Came back normal. Will continue to sample at annual service.
Steve

[Jerry Emert]

I sent in a sample about a year ago and they lost it.  I kind of lost track but will do again this winter.  Thanks

[Mike Shumack]

I sent in a sample about a year ago and they lost it.  I kind of lost track but will do again this winter.  Thanks

Jerry, I have some pre-paid oil sample bottles from Blackstone Labs. I'm planning to send in an oil sample. If your still in town, I can come over and get a tranny oil sample from you coach and send it in with my oil sample.

[Jerry Emert]

Thanks Mike, give me a call when you get around to it.

[Hal Grimshaw]

We just went through this on the rolling rally to Branson.  Dave made the same recomendation but the situatin got a lot worse and we were d rating every 50 miles.  Went into Flloyds in ne and got it fixed.  We had 2 leaks in one hose and stop leak wouldn't have helped the holes were tooooo big.  Get the hoses fixed and then get a cover hose of some type so we don't have the same problem again