Cummins ISX coolant loss

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by 4x4_Welder, Sep 17, 2014.

  1. 4x4_Welder

    4x4_Welder Medium Load Member

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    Sep 16, 2014
    Eastern Orygun
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    Ok guys, first post and it's a challenge- I've gotten some pretty good info off this site before but this one is a bit odd.
    In the fleet here, there is a 2008 Peterbilt 388 with a Cummins ISX that is losing coolant at about a gallon a day (around 350miles). There is not an external leak anymore, it previously had a leak at the coolant filter, filter valve o-rings, and then the fill cap on the surge tank. Now it's losing more coolant. There isn't any white smoke. The EGR cooler is not original, but I don't have any info on when that was changed.
    So far I have:
    Changed coolant filter, changed surge tank (old one was cracked, replaced with Dorman), coolant filter valve o-rings, new surge tank fill cap (genuine Paccar), put a hose from the pressure cap nipple to the frame so i can see any evidence of water loss- None so far. Today I added a catch bottle so if there is stuff coming out and drying up maybe I'll see it now. There is more coolant on the secondary side of the surge tank than on the other trucks, I don't know if that indicates a defect or is just a design thing.
    I did pull the EGR venturi tube off the intake tube, and found liquid in it. The tubes were all fairly clean, just a light coat of soot, but the liquid was odd. I dumped it and then rinsed the venturi tube out with water into a bowl. There was no sheen on the water in the bowl, just the soot swirling around in it, so it may be possible that this is my missing coolant, but is it possible to ingest that much coolant and not have any smoke?
    This truck has been an ongoing headache for me, I only started here three months ago but this truck has spent more time in the shop than the others by far. It is fittingly numbered 13, I just refer to it as my unlucky 13.
     
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  3. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    EGR cooler is your problem. Venturi pipe would be bone dry if the cooler is ok. Yes, your engine will burn coolant and not produce any smoke as the DPF will actually collect the vaporized coolant.
     
    4x4_Welder, 25(2)+2 and X-Country Thank this.
  4. 4x4_Welder

    4x4_Welder Medium Load Member

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    Sep 16, 2014
    Eastern Orygun
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    Thanks, the A team van of knowledge strikes again-
    I was figuring that might be the issue, and what I have read about these blocks "settling" makes sense as far as the timing of this failure. The guy who was driving this truck for a short time was extremely abusive to the trucks, he blew multiple sets of motor mounts bolts out of another Kenworth here, and I guess when you run a truck harder it can cause the block to move around and break the cooler internally.
    It does make me wonder if the external leaks were a symptom of the issue all along, if the higher pressure of the exhaust gasses was pushing beyond what the pressure cap could vent and was just finding all the weak points.

    These emissions systems have a pretty steep learning curve to them, I finished school when the 3406E was the latest and greatest and EGR on big engines was just a campfire story to scare the young mechanics. I had about six months on early C15s, but this is the first place I've had to deal with 2007+ engines. Can't say I'm impressed, but maybe I should thank the EPA for the job security?
     
    D.Tibbitt and Heavyd Thank this.
  5. X-Country

    X-Country Medium Load Member

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    Mar 27, 2014
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    my first truck was a Pete 386 and it had this same problem and turned out to be the EGR cooler.

    thats where I'd start looking.
     
  6. MazelTruck

    MazelTruck Light Load Member

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    Apr 16, 2012
    Jersey Shore
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    Do you see any steam coming out of the oil breather? if not that's good news. Have the EGR cooler pressure tested for leaks, that may be the problem.
    Good luck.




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  7. dmkberger

    dmkberger Bobtail Member

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    Sep 26, 2018
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    Is there a campaign or bulletin about the coolant loss on the ISX engine at this time?
     
  8. dmkberger

    dmkberger Bobtail Member

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    Sep 26, 2018
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    I am asking as someone who has family at a Fire District that is having coolant loss issues with a 2010 KME with an ISX for power, about two gallons a week is what they've been going through. I haven't found any kind of bulletin or campaign on this issue. But the local repair facility says this is a known issue with this engine. Just trying to be of help to the Fire District. I am a retired technician and have been working on Cummins engines since the early seventies. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
  9. MuthaTruc'n Geno

    MuthaTruc'n Geno Bobtail Member

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    Dec 30, 2019
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    My 20' international LT X15 (Cummins) has been consuming alot of antifreeze in the winter season but has been preforming well under no leaking nor visible damage...I have 74k on the engine as of right now and it uses Red extended life OAT (organic fluid) antifreeze...please fill me in on this matter, ty kindly and Happy New Year!!
     
  10. Rana003

    Rana003 Bobtail Member

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    Jul 9, 2021
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    I have kenworth t680 with cummins isx 2016 i have to refill 50-100ml coolant every week or every two weeks and when i drive it on hill or it got heated engine light with a ranch comes on and goes off when engine cool down what can be the problm please help me
     
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