BAC Forum
General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Bob Jae on September 05, 2013, 09:36:04 PM
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I went out to check out the coach for a Sunday departure. Fired up the hydro hot and had coolant dripping from around the exhaust and down the air intake. Took off the cover and under the pumps are flooded. Talked to Roger Burke and he thinks it is the plastic drain assembly. So I will replace that with brass.
Does anyone have any tricks on how to catch the coolant so it can be reused. I guess I will try to connect something? to the stub on the drain after the valve. I understand about 5 gallons will be coming out. Thanks
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Bob,
It is hard to keep it all clean. If you reuse it you may want to pour it through an automotive paint filter. These pumps are expensive and you would not want any grit flowing in the system. When I drained and worked on mine it was an opportunity to change the coolant so I did. Yours may be just too new but something to think about....
Later Ed
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I had that replaced on mine and the person doing the draining hooked a hose with a quarter turn valve onto the plastic drain valve. I'm not sure what the total amount was but I do remember several 5 gallon buckets were used. He also replaced a plastic float in the tank with a brass one. He stated the floats also have a history of going bad. Ours was actually an aqua hot system. Good Luck!!
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I also had to replace that drain valve and the tech was able to hook up some sort of hose. Was advised NOT to try to reuse the coolant and it took about 18 gallons to refill. If you are doing this work yourself, be sure to refill with BOILER anti freeze not with the "normal" auto antifreeze coolant.
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Thanks Neil I have been adding Camco coolant for a while, I am thinking the old radiator cap was not building much pressure as I changed that today also and it is leaking pretty bad now so am hoping it is the drain
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Bob
There is 2 kinds of Camco Brand coolant, Be careful, BOILER type -100 degree ONLY
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Thats what I have Orman Thanks for the heads up.
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So I drained the coolant by hooking up some 5/8 tubing and catching it in 1 gal water jugs. I got about 4 gallons and put about 5 gallons back in. I removed the old plastic drain after I removed the burner to make room to work. I used pipe dope and installed the new brass drain. Filled the boiler and fired it up. And it still leaks I have checked everywhere I can see. I am now in the process of calling the shops to see who can work on it. All the fittings look dry so I am afraid it is something major. I have an extended warranty so will put it to the test for the first time. At least the problem plastic drain has been replaced.
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Bob,
Some places that can have leaks that are tough to find:
Look/feel very closely around the pressure cap. It can leak there but the antifreeze runs down the inside of the case. You might be able to feel wet insulation at the rear of the unit.
Pull the back off the unit and be sure you don't have any leaks around the proportioning valve or any other of the copper fittings.
Steve
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Bob,
Our Hydro Hot was only two years old when we had a reservoir which would no longer hold fluid. We couldn't figure out what was wrong and noted the tank did not leak. There were also no leaks in the unit or around the unit. I took it into a RV repair shop and they pulled the unit from the coach and found out there were leaks in the pipes inside the sealed unit. They called Hydro Hot and were told the whole unit had to be replaced. Apparently the tubing inside the unit was leaking and we were drinking and using the water with the boiler anti-freeze in it. Hopefully this is not your problem.
Roy
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Thanks Roy no ours is Running out dripping now even when cool. So I think it is near the bottom of the boiler or at least part way down. All the shops are booked till the end of September but I am taking it and leaving it at the dealer on Monday. They will work it in. I think we will do most of the traveling we had planned just now in the car. We can be home in a day or two if they fix it and resume the trip in the coach.
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Possible internal crack,
Pull the burner, check for internal leak.
Sorry
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I did watch the exhaust and it is clean to black or white smoke. I will post what it turns out to be
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Here is a picture of what leaked out in about an hour
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Orman once I get the hydro hot repaired how do I verify that the coolant is mixed properly to protect the boiler this winter?
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Most use a 50/50 mix, but it is more than enough.
It's more important to keep regular water (for hot water use, not coach heating) from freezing inside the exchanger coil. If the coach is overwinter stored, you should at least pump RV potable water antifreeze until it comes out the hot water taps; that will protect the AquaHot, but pump through the cold water taps, toilet, washer, and icemaker also, and a cup in each drain trap, to protect everything. If the coach is in use in cold country, simply keep the AquaHot on.
Joel
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Yep Joel we always do that, thanks. I am just figuring the dealer will use water to test and find the leak which will fill the heat exchangers with water also. I want to get the right mix of boiler coolant back into the system when it is finally repaired.
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Bob,
The repair facility should have a hydrometer to test the specific gravity of your boiler fluid. The specific gravity reading will enable them to determine the concentration of the boiler fluid and therefore the freezing point.
Gerald
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Bob
The best way is to drain and discard all coolant
Purchase 3 gal, Camco -100 deg Boiler, 3 gal, Distilled water, mix 50/50 assuring proper mix.
you will have $75-$100. invested
Call if you need to discuss anything.
Safe travels
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Thanks I will ask them if they measured the coolant and what temperature I am protected to. The coach is at the dealer now. First call from them said it did not look good for and easy fix, but they still have not found the source of the leak.
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Bob
Where are you and who is doing the work?
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I am in Western NY and Colman RV is doing the work, they are the dealer that sold me the Beaver. They were a Holiday Rambler and Monaco Dealer for years. I just do not know the technicians working on the coach. Wish I was close to you.
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Bob
Looks like Coleman Rv is not an Aqua-Hot Authorized service center,
Just be carefull, Don't let them Rape you.
Sometimes they use a trial and error method.
Call me if you need.
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Orman: Is six gallons all the aqua hot takes to fill from empty? I was under the impression it took quite a bit more?
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Neil
No, THe Monterey has a model HH unit, which takes between 5-6 gal. coolant water mix.
The larger unit Model AH will hold 16-20 gals coolant water mix,
all depending on size of coach ,number of heater register, length of coach, etc.
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Bob
Have them to pressureize the system,very easy to do. check the coolant fill neck, under the cap. even the cap.The rear of the system also has several locations for possible leaks
Keep us posted
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Thanks Orman, Buffalo RV is the Authorized service center in Buffalo but they have a horrible reputation. My daughter used to work at Colton and we have a relationship there. They tell me they have worked on a lot of units. I believe the leak is down low as most of the coolant appears to have run out. I did look at the back of the unit through the access panel and did not see any leaks. Will keep you posted when I know more. We left on the trip we had planned and are staying in hotels and with family. We shortened the trip but are doing a lot of what we wanted to do.
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I highly recommend Colton Truck Service. They did a very fine job for us a few years ago and we were quite happy with their work and professionalism.
Roy
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Well the adjuster came today submitted his report and now the company wants the unit removed from the coach, so they can open up the sheet metal and take more pictures. The shop did not find a remanufactured unit like the ext war people wanted but evidently Aqua Hot has one HHE-200-9E unit left in stock. I asked them to price the 450D also. I authorized them to remove the unit, it has to be fixed one way or the other.
I have told the shop I want the old unit for spare parts.
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Bob,
You will likely be billed for the removal & opening of system,
Seems the repair shop showing where the coolant was leaking from would be enough. Go Figure 8)
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Finally today we got approval for the replacement of our hydro hot unit. Roger Berke had a remanufactured HHE-500 that is an exact replacement except they have to move the preheat pump from the old unit. So that is shipping tomorrow and should arrive and be installed next week. We may get in one more trip before the snow flys.
The warranty company is treating me right. I did use the claims specialist at Wholesale Warranties to help put pressure on the company. Will post once everything is up and running.
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Well its 10 months later and we are having Hydro Hot issues again. This time I get steam and coolant running out of the exhaust pipe. I pulled the burner and it is wet and corroded looking inside the combustion chamber. I contacted Roger Berke and he worked with Aqua Hot and I now have a brand new AHE-450-DE4 unit sitting in the garage. The HH remanufactured unit had a one year warranty and the Aqua hot was supplied as a no extra cost replacement. No Hassle this time like with the extended warranty company. I am very impressed. Roger has also supplied the tools and fittings that are needed to install the new unit. Tomorrow is the big day as I have help coming to lift and put the new unit in the coach. I spent a few hours yesterday prepping the new unit and disconnecting what I could on the old unit. The new Aqua Hot should slip right in as the fittings are all in the same general location as the old. So wish me luck and I hope to have a working unit by tomorrow night.
Here is the prepped unit ready to install