BCM Community

Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: viking1 on January 29, 2016, 09:02:33 AM

Title: Draining the coolant
Post by: viking1 on January 29, 2016, 09:02:33 AM
What's the best way to drain the coolant so I can replace it with new?
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: luvrbus on January 29, 2016, 09:59:04 AM
What bus make and model of engine are we trying to drain ?
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: Tony LEE on January 30, 2016, 03:02:06 AM
 89 MCI102C3 going by another post by the OP
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: luvrbus on January 30, 2016, 03:10:44 AM
If he has the 92 series remove the plug in the bottom of the oil cooler or open the petcock if equipped it will drain the entire system it is slow but will drain every drop of coolant.If he wants to drain faster just loosen the 4 bolts on the neck on the front of the cooler from the water pump.I use the mortar mixing pans from HD that cost 5 bucks they hold 9 gals ea 
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: buswarrior on January 30, 2016, 07:07:15 AM
luvrbus, is this it?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-Medium-Mixing-Tub-887101A/202086173 (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-Medium-Mixing-Tub-887101A/202086173)

6" high and 27.5" x 20"

Wow, darn near impossible to get a low profile pan of significant volume for le$$!!!!

Great tip!

happy coaching!
buswarrior
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: Lin on January 30, 2016, 07:35:09 AM
Make sure that you get a place lined up to dump the stuff.  Here the only one that will take coolant will do it just on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 9 to 1.
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: luvrbus on January 30, 2016, 09:11:53 AM
Most all radiator shops accept it then they sell to people that recycle the antifreeze.If you read the articles on recycled antifreeze it makes you wonder why we spend 300 bucks + to change it ever so often lol it is a Government study so I don't put a lot of faith in the study
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: sledhead on January 30, 2016, 12:12:34 PM
good timing !
I plan to replace my coolant in the spring as well . after draining and flushing with water to try to get all the old anti freeze out , is there any tricks in refilling with new long term anti freeze with out getting any air trapped in the system . I have the over the road heat , defrost up front .

6v92 ta

thanks   dave  
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: Scott & Heather on January 30, 2016, 04:47:42 PM
Dave, Cliff will tell you to suck it in :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: viking1 on January 31, 2016, 09:01:33 AM
Sorry, forgot to put down the make. It's an 89 MCI102C3 8V92.

If I remember right, there is a drain on the block, is this the drain your referring to?
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: luvrbus on January 31, 2016, 10:21:27 AM
The drain on the block will not completely drain the 8v92 it will still have a couple of gals left unless you drain it from the oil cooler

good luck
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: bottomacher on February 01, 2016, 12:48:39 AM
Dont forget to open the air bleeder valve on the drivers heat core, if you have one, as well as the heater valves at the rear of the coach.
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on February 01, 2016, 04:26:26 AM
Drain Pan? What is that used for?  ;D
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on February 01, 2016, 04:38:34 AM
After I drained my Eagle's Series 60 radiator, I filled it with water and left the petcock open and ran the engine while the fresh water ran thru it. Also as you read in the Aug/Sept issue of BCM, after I flushed out the system, I poured in 1/2 cup of soluble machine oil as per Delbert of Stanton Radiator and ran it a few days with that in there.  Then I drained it and repeated the process for a few more days.  

My system was full of dust and rust so Delbert said this will flush out the crud that the coolant flush stuff will not get out.  I also did not used distilled water, I am not sure Delbert would recommend that, but we always used tap water on the farm and our equipment is still running today. What do you experts recommend?  Tap water, Distilled water, or Gin?

You can contact Delbert at http://dpfmedic.com (http://dpfmedic.com) or call him at (714) 527-5894 for more info.  His family has been doing radiators for 42 years.  He can even mix up some coolant to match the color of your bus.  

How many bus nuts can say their coolant matches the color of their bus?
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: luvrbus on February 01, 2016, 05:07:24 AM
I don't use distilled water because of the acidity of distilled water , the acidity of vinegar is 4 the acidity of distilled water is over 6 so hence comes the chemicals for reduction of the ph.Because of the acidity of distilled water it is good for batteries  ;D   
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on February 01, 2016, 05:12:33 AM
Cliff. What is the acidity level of Gin?
Title: Re: Draining the coolant
Post by: luvrbus on February 01, 2016, 05:16:22 AM
Enough to give you a 3 day headache I would prefer to drink the antifreeze myself  ;D