Diesel repair shop recommendations (East County)

D-n-Tyke

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Looks like the head gasket on our motorhome decided it wanted to start leaking coolant. Looking for a good reputable shop/person I can have take a look at it and give me a quote.  Anyone got any recommendations for someone that does good work and won't charge a arm and a leg for the job?

1998 Fleetwood Discovery with a 5.9 Cummin ISB in it.

 
If you don’t get any suggestions I would call Discount RV Center. They used to be in Lakeside but moved to Romona this year. (They bought a big shop) The owners are awesome people. Not sure how much engine work they do? But he knows a network of people and being this engines is in a coach, I’m sure he can refer you to the right person or shop. 
 

+1 (619) 448-6242

Of anyone in the San Diego needs RV service, repairs paint & body. I can’t say enough good things about DRVC. The owners Barney & Tori are super people. 
 

 
Just a few questions and rvs are not in my wheelhouse but.... Where is leaking, where do you see coolant dripping? This is a simple engine. Rare for a head gasket to put coolant in the oil on these.

 
Just a few questions and rvs are not in my wheelhouse but.... Where is leaking, where do you see coolant dripping? This is a simple engine. Rare for a head gasket to put coolant in the oil on these.
I can see water coming out of the front of the motor. Can see it running out under the headgasket between the head and the block. Leak is at the front of the motor on the exhaust side of the motor (pass side in a truck, driverside in my motorhome).

I filled up the radiator with water and before I could even get back into the motorhome where I could see the motor that side of the motor was completly wet. I don't think this is a wepping/dripping issue. I think the headgasket has conpletly failied in that area.

You do bring up a good point though. I haven't checked the dipstick or oil cap for evidence of water in the oil. I will check that in the morning but don't think I havd any water in the oil.

 
If you don’t get any suggestions I would call Discount RV Center. They used to be in Lakeside but moved to Romona this year. (They bought a big shop) The owners are awesome people. Not sure how much engine work they do? But he knows a network of people and being this engines is in a coach, I’m sure he can refer you to the right person or shop. 
 

+1 (619) 448-6242

Of anyone in the San Diego needs RV service, repairs paint & body. I can’t say enough good things about DRVC. The owners Barney & Tori are super people. 
 
I have used Disount RV in the past. Great guy. I had actually called and tried to get in contact with him before our last trip to so a coolant flush on the MH but could never get a call back. Kind of assumed he got mor in the retirement mode. Bummer cause he was a very helpful honest guy. I will tey hom again on monday.

Im sure the folks @ NTG could take care of it, but they dont have much room in their parking lot for an RV.........

(619) 449-2758 10969 Wheatlands Ave # B, Santee, CA 92071, https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057238038283&ref=page_internal&_rdr

I have a list of places I would not goto again.......... 
Thanks for the lead I will give them a call on Monday and see what they say.

I have used MDS Diesel in Ramona a few times on my 7.3.  760-789-7470 Wayne 
Thanks D. I will give him a call on Monday and see what he says fod motorhomes.

 
I have used Disount RV in the past. Great guy. I had actually called and tried to get in contact with him before our last trip to so a coolant flush on the MH but could never get a call back. Kind of assumed he got mor in the retirement mode. Bummer cause he was a very helpful honest guy. I will tey hom again on monday.
No retirement, he’s busy as can be. Even trying to hire more employees, but has struggled to find more that want to work and do the quality that he expects. They have a “automated voice “ phone system as they struggle to answer phones.  Just call, hit 1 for Tori and if she does not answer leave a message. Tell her in your message you’ve called before and did not get a call back. They will call you back. 
 

True story; earlier this year they had done a bunch of work to my RV. One item was new front brakes. About a month after getting it back we had a 3 day Silver Strand beach trip planned. While getting ready during the week I noticed some oil looked to have dripped on the inside of the front wheel. Look like a wheel seal was leaking a little bit? 
 

I called and left a message and a few hours later I get a call back from Barney. I explained it and he tells me he & wife are out of town for a wedding, and the shop was closed this week. But that he would call his son, to order & pick up new seals, then called an employee and told him to open the shop the next morning and replace the seals. Barney said get the coach to the shop at 7am and they will fix it so I can go camping later that day.  I told him it does not look that bad? He said nope get it to my shop in the morning. Who does that? He could have said sorry, but drop it off Monday when I’m back and we are open. 

 
No retirement, he’s busy as can be. Even trying to hire more employees, but has struggled to find more that want to work and do the quality that he expects. They have a “automated voice “ phone system as they struggle to answer phones.  Just call, hit 1 for Tori and if she does not answer leave a message. Tell her in your message you’ve called before and did not get a call back. They will call you back. 
 

True story; earlier this year they had done a bunch of work to my RV. One item was new front brakes. About a month after getting it back we had a 3 day Silver Strand beach trip planned. While getting ready during the week I noticed some oil looked to have dripped on the inside of the front wheel. Look like a wheel seal was leaking a little bit? 
 

I called and left a message and a few hours later I get a call back from Barney. I explained it and he tells me he & wife are out of town for a wedding, and the shop was closed this week. But that he would call his son, to order & pick up new seals, then called an employee and told him to open the shop the next morning and replace the seals. Barney said get the coach to the shop at 7am and they will fix it so I can go camping later that day.  I told him it does not look that bad? He said nope get it to my shop in the morning. Who does that? He could have said sorry, but drop it off Monday when I’m back and we are open. 
That’s some great customer service and seems very rare anymore! 

 
Andy at diesel power in alpine across from viejas. He has a shop there or will go mobile. I do believe this era cummins has issues with thin waterjacket leaking

 
I can see water coming out of the front of the motor. Can see it running out under the headgasket between the head and the block. Leak is at the front of the motor on the exhaust side of the motor (pass side in a truck, driverside in my motorhome).

I filled up the radiator with water and before I could even get back into the motorhome where I could see the motor that side of the motor was completly wet. I don't think this is a wepping/dripping issue. I think the headgasket has conpletly failied in that area.

You do bring up a good point though. I haven't checked the dipstick or oil cap for evidence of water in the oil. I will check that in the morning but don't think I havd any water in the oil.
That corner is always suspect and the weakest corner of the head gasket. It is also right where the thermostat housing seals to the side of the cylinder head.  50/50 on it either way. 

 
Just a few questions and rvs are not in my wheelhouse but.... Where is leaking, where do you see coolant dripping? This is a simple engine. Rare for a head gasket to put coolant in the oil on these.
Cummins ISB engines will often get an external coolant leak from the head gasket right at the front on the passenger side. Maybe a defect in the gasket, castings or engineering but I've seen a lot of them leak and done a lot of them. Sometimes people will just put some stop leak in the cooling system and that usually works pretty good too.

 
X2 what @Rorschachsaid about stop leak.  Bars liquid in the bottle with 2 colors that mix together when pouring.  

 
Iirc this is the stuff I was recommended.  

image.png

 
Iirc this is the stuff I was recommended.  

View attachment 41268


Cummins ISB engines will often get an external coolant leak from the head gasket right at the front on the passenger side. Maybe a defect in the gasket, castings or engineering but I've seen a lot of them leak and done a lot of them. Sometimes people will just put some stop leak in the cooling system and that usually works pretty good too.
Thanks for the suggestion.

I was always warned away from stop leak, with the theory that if it plugs the hole you want it to plug, what stops it from plugging other internal small passages? 

 
Thanks for the suggestion.

I was always warned away from stop leak, with the theory that if it plugs the hole you want it to plug, what stops it from plugging other internal small passages? 
A good stop leak should stay suspended in the coolant until it's exposed to the ambient conditions outside of the cooling system. I have heard of the pellet type stop leak getting stuck in the tubes of oil coolers so I like to stay away from pellets but otherwise I've seen stop leak do some miraculous things.

 
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