So I took the LR3 on a second trip this past week. Last minute - not really ideal as I wanted to get an LR4 before I did anything too crazy.

1100 miles round-trip from VA to KY through I-64, WV mountains, 95 degrees, 6-7% grades, etc. Trailer is about 6000lbs, 30' lots of drag (semi-flat nose).

I have an 06 with 126k miles on it. Really zero major issues except basic maintenance stuff.

Anyways, trip down was perfect, even with the steeper grades going westbound.

The trip back was great, but I heard a slight squeak (thought it was the radio) coming out of a toll plaza. Didn't think much, but I was in hyper sensitive mode driving the rig already, so it was all I could think about..

About 10 min later we hit another steep grade and I heard the squeak again - belt squeal sounded like. Turned everything off (radio / AC) and could hear the fan kicking on with each squeak. That was odd, since I've only heard the fan turn on in slow traffic w/ AC. Never for engine cooling.

About 20 seconds later it started to lock up the fan almost full-time. I was starting to get really nervous (hazards in the truck hill-climb lane anyways, horrible timing) staring at the temp gauge. Sure enough, a few seconds later, the temp gauge started to move (first time I've EVER seen that thing move, it stays below middle always).

Pulled over on this crazy blind right hand turn with a cliff wall next to us and tractor trailers blowing up the mountain trying to keep momentum in the truck lane.

Opened hood and theres coolant EVERYWHERE! Till then I was thinking belt issue, fan issue, tstat issue, etc.. GF and dog started freaking out.

Managed to get engine cover off (rear hex heads are a PITA) still couldn't figure out WTF was going on. I threw my battery Ryobi fan on there since heads / valve covers were sizzling (even though I shut it down the second it bounced past middle).

Took intake hoses off, maf etc. Finally I decided to pour cold water in to see if steam would show me the leak, and sure enough - right in front of my face was a little 3/8" hose with a 1/2" hole punched through it.

That was actually a huge relief as it wasn't something crazy like a waterpump, tstat housing, etc.

I still didn't have any hose though. I was about to rip apart the RV plumbing to hijack some hose so I could get to the closest autoparts store. Then I realized what I was looking at. The STUPID TB heat plate system. If there's a hose going out, there has to be a hose going in. Sure enough that was the other 3/8 one zig-zagging around the TB. I just ripped that out of the other TB hose barb and stuck it on the tstat housing where the busted hose came from, and bypassed the whole thing. Bled the cooling system, closed the hood, and checked temps for about 5 min. Everything seemed fine.

Then, I had to merge into the truck climb lane 6% grade totally blind in a turn w/ a 30' trailer as my "test drive"

Sure enough, everything was fine, and 5 hours later we made it home.

ANYWAYS in all of my scouring the forums, I don't recall ever hearing about these hoses.

FWIW the second (longer) TB heater hose had a large nick/crease crack forming at its 90 degree bend, which looked like it was about to bust. I cut that part off when I stuck it back on.

I would check BOTH hoses immediately, as the 90 degree short hose that actually broke was incredibly soft. Seemed as if the coolant stream shot up and internally weakened the "bend" and kinda punched through after nearly 12yr.

It's my own fault for not inspecting the hoses before a huge trip, but you all should probably check these hoses ASAP.

 

Hmmm....glad you made it home safe.

I had changed all the "coolant system hoses" about 3 years ago....I don't know if that specific one was included but I'd think so. I have the old ones in a box, maybe later I'll go look at them and see if I can find that one.

Good PSA!

 

Thanx Estoril!!

 

Sounds like a bad time you had when this thing broke. Glad to hear you were able to fix it. Thanks much for sharing. Will check mine and likely just replace those hoses.