D60 coolant leak followup 2000 lxi

[Gregory OConnor]

Ron, Ruth The prob with using just water in place of the recomended
coolant mix is you will dilute the rust inhibiters and when the
inside of the metal coolant paths rust they get gunky and clog or
rust out. I would think that adding just water is ok for a temp fix
but 4 gal. of 50/50 should buy you 1,000 miles. Dripping coolant has
a salty taste and some pets will lap it up like milk. I lost a pet
dog when I was careless with flushed coolant.

Greg

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "luckyron1"
wrote:
>
> Had it serviced, and the leak checked out in Dallas at the Allison
> Transmission/Detroit for what I thought was going to be just a
loose
> hose clamp. Turned out that the coolant was dripping out from a
> rusted thermostat housing which of course is only accessable thru
the
> AC compressor etc. It was dripping down on the wet hose that I
> could see from underneath. They showed me the leak with a
flashlite
> and it's for real. No one ever said that these bird engines were
> easy to work on. So... they tell me 5 to 7 hrs of labor plus the
> parts, probably obtainable from Detroit Diesel. They did a
pressure
> test and it scored 11 out of a possible 15 psi. It's ok to drive
it
> but I'm to keep a close eye on the coolant level and temperature
> gauge. They say it's not urgent but that the work should be done
in
> the next few months or so. I'd like to wait until we return to the
> midwest, from San Antonio, in late April. Anyone had a similar
> experience and do you think I should rush it or wait until late
> April? It leaks a gallon after driving 250 miles or so.
>
> P.S. Can I get by with topping off with pure distilled water until
> then or should I put in the 50/50 mixture recommended by Detroit?
> And before I forget, thanks to whoever it was that referred me to
> the Dallas shop noted above. A very clean, friendly and well
> organized facility which I would refer to anyone.
>
> Thanks guys!
>
> Ron & Ruth near Galveston
>