Remove radiator

[PSchw]

My SkyDeck developed an oil leak on the G7 engine crankshaft belt pulley. The Freightliner Shop in Waco TX quoted me $24k labor to remove the engine and transmission.
They could not figure out how to remove the radiator.
Anybody here had to remove his radiator?
Let me know.
Thanks
Peter

[bobmiller1]

I'll do it for $20,000.00 .....save you $4,000.00 but with Biden in office the fuel will probably run you the $4,000.00 round trip. BIG JOB.....got to have a lift, the engine does not have to come out. You have the Cat 330 engine....might consider the Cummings upgrade at that price. Regards, Bob

[PSchw]

Originally Posted by bobmiller1

I'll do it for $20,000.00 .....save you $4,000.00 but with Biden in office the fuel will probably run you the $4,000.00 round trip. BIG JOB.....got to have a lift, the engine does not have to come out. You have the Cat 330 engine....might consider the Cummings upgrade at that price. Regards, Bob

Thanks for the replay and the hint that the motor does not have to come out and I may wait 4 years. I would not mind spending the $20k if somebody works on it who knows what he is doing. Unfortunately, I been in the last 5 years in many shops who have no clue and don't have the courtesy to ask for help either. One shop removed the exhaust to change the air filter.
This is what I was thinking. I believe the frame lower extensions under the radiator can be removed which then would allow the radiator to come out toward the bottom.
The G7 engine is doing OK and I wonder why would I upgrade to a Cummins?
$20k buys a lot of oil to keep it going.
Thanks again and always enjoy your posts.
Peter

[bobmiller1]

I had the 330 Cat in my 01 390XL.....extreme pig ! No power, always overheated going up long grades. If you look at the difference between the exterior grills between 04 where there is one to the 05,06, and 07 models where there is 2. In any event, how a bulldozer engine ended up in the 390/396XL platforms is beyond me.....must have been cheaper for Airstream to order them that way. If I can be of any additional help feel free to PM me. Regards, Bob

[PSchw]

Originally Posted by bobmiller1

I had the 330 Cat in my 01 390XL.....extreme pig ! No power, always overheated going up long grades. If you look at the difference between the exterior grills between 04 where there is one to the 05,06, and 07 models where there is 2. In any event, how a bulldozer engine ended up in the 390/396XL platforms is beyond me.....must have been cheaper for Airstream to order them that way. If I can be of any additional help feel free to PM me. Regards, Bob

Yes, you right about the change in opening in the back. Mine has the extra opening and I still had overheating until I extended the breather tube be one the radiator as it got always clogged up.

Here the Airstream support response:
I asked my National Service manager who has been with Airstream for over 20 years. He did not have an answer for me on radiator removal. He agreed that if Freightliner says the engine and transmission need dropped then that's probably what needs to happen. I'm sorry that I can't give you the answer that you are wanting.

Freightliner was not much help either I hope to find an independent Diesel mechanic with a lift.
Would be a shame to reduce the SkyDeck to a stationary weekend home.

Thanks again for reinforcing my thinking about the radiator coming out at the bottom.

Peter

[PSchw]

Originally Posted by bobmiller1

I'll do it for $20,000.00 .....save you $4,000.00 but with Biden in office the fuel will probably run you the $4,000.00 round trip. BIG JOB.....got to have a lift, the engine does not have to come out. You have the Cat 330 engine....might consider the Cummings upgrade at that price. Regards, Bob

Does the radiator goes out between the chassis and the body or does it go through the lower opening in the body.
Let me know.
Thanks
Peter

[baldwinh]

Peter, what did you figure out finally on your Skydeck radiator rrmoval? Our 02 365XC is a CAT 3126 and we are not having a problem now, but just making mental notes for the future.

You may recall, we parked next to one another a few years ago at Texas Air Rally in Brownwood TX.

Regards, Herb and Kathy
www.herbnkathy.com

[ger84]

Mine chews oil when going on hills…. Had it checked out and the engine place told me I have high pressure in crankcase and that I need a new engine. 20-30g. I will just add oil! I don’t see any leaks and no black smoke when driving Just weird. Other than replacing a my coolant pump on engine today…. It’s still running and driving 40,000 miles now. :-)

I also asked bout a Cummings engine replacement instead of a cat engine and they said there wasn’t any replacements to work with the harness etc. :/

[israndy]

Well now I am nervous, I do get black smoke going down steep grades... hmm...

[ger84]

I don’t see black when I am going down a hill nor up a hill but when I get home I check my oil level and I have lost a lot. 4-6 quarts from Virginia to nj. Bc of the hills. I can’t pin point what is making the engine do this tho because when I did the oil change I drove from nj to key west flordia and I didn’t burn anything. When I came home I burned nothing from flordia to Virginia and then checked it after it sat for 5-6 hours and it was fine but from Virginia to nj 5 quarts because of the mountains…. I have tried running in eco mode and non eco and still burns about the same…. I donno. I just make sure there is oil in it. And yes I am running descent oil and proper weight. I even tried some Lucas oil and no change. I just roll with oil now. Hahaha

[PSchw]

Originally Posted by baldwinh

Peter, what did you figure out finally on your Skydeck radiator rrmoval? Our 02 365XC is a CAT 3126 and we are not having a problem now, but just making mental notes for the future.



You may recall, we parked next to one another a few years ago at Texas Air Rally in Brownwood TX.



Regards, Herb and Kathy

www.herbnkathy.com

Hi Herb and Kathy, yes I remember you. I had a shop replace some seals say said they can do it without removing the radiator. I look at it from different angles and I believe the radiator can be removed. The member on here he did it would not give any explanations when I ask.
My oil leak returned not as much as before and I keep an eye on the level.
Another thing I learned is that many different oil pans are available for the same engine which changes the amount of oil to be filled mine has 19 quarts. One of the earlier places over filled it which may also leads to high crank case pressure over time it just blows it out and covered the tow vehicle as well as the radiator which I was almost every year if I don’t it will overheat.

Peter