Coolant Change Costs

[cmillsap]

Here's a good example of periodic maintenance costs associated with owning a Wanderlodge. New or prospective owners of one of these behemoths should take note. If you can do most of these maintenance items yourselves; you can save a lot of the cost. In my opinion, coolant changes are a PIA when trying to do them yourself. Consequently, I usually hire this done.

The coolant system capacity on an LXi is 25 gallons. This is due to the long runs to and from the heater core up front and the coolant circuit on the AquaHot system. The system will need to be flushed with water at least a couple of times to assure the old coolant has been totally removed. Dealing with that quantity of used coolant requires several large containers. This is the biggest reason why I have it done at a repair facility as they can handle this kind of volume.

It is a good idea to flush the radiator with a radiator flush product during the process. I would also recommend changing the thermostat too. BTY, the DD S60 has 2 thermostats.

The proper filter for the type of coolant you use to refill the system is important. Some extended life coolants will require a non-sca dispensing filter while the use of other coolants will require a sca dispensing filter that will need to be changed every year.

It is not cheap to have the coolant changed in a Wanderlodge. Here is an example of the costs.

1) Power Cool Plus Coolant= 24 gal. @ $18.95 = $454
2) Radiator Flush 2 @ 13.00 = 26
3) New Thermostats 2 @ 42.00 = 84
4) Thermostat Gaskets 2 @ 4.00 = 8
5) Coolant Filter 1 @ 20.00= 20
6) Labor to Flush/Change coolant = 192
7) Labor to change (2) Thermostats = 64
8) Hazardous Waste Fee = 20

As you can see, it's pretty easy to spend between $800 & $900 on just a coolant change......

Chuck

[davidbrady]

Good going Chuck. With your choice of PowerCool Plus Extended Life Coolant you should be protected for 600,000 miles without the need for Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCAs). All that's required is the addition of Final Charge Extender at approximately 300,000 to 400,000 miles.

Next time, a few dollars can be saved by buying the coolant directly from Old World Industries. As you know, OWI supplies it's Final Charge coolant to Detroit Diesel for re-branding under the PowerCool name. This place sells it for about $10 per gallon.

[timetravelers]

You also need to use a plain (non CCA) filter, Detroit Diesel 23524403 (or Fleetguard WF 2123 Blank) and change it every two years. When I tried to get it at a DD dealer, they didn't have it in stock and had to order it.

[cmillsap]

(08-29-2013 21:22)timetravelers Wrote:  You also need to use a plain (non CCA) filter, Detroit Diesel 23524403 (or Fleetguard WF 2123 Blank) and change it every two years. When I tried to get it at a DD dealer, they didn't have it in stock and had to order it.

Morey,

A coolant filter # DDF60 was installed on my engine with PowerCool Plus. It is supposed to be a blank (N0 SCA) filter?

Chuck

[timetravelers]

Chuck,

My invoice from Florida Detroit Diesel from last spring says:

PIC (Prefix) 23524403 (part no.) DD 2999 NON-CHARGED (Description)

Maybe they've changed the item #.

Morey