wildebill308

The first thing is to (from your description) is check the blower fans for something like mud dauber nest that would throw it out of balance. Bill

When looking at replacement refrigerators look at the "counter depth" models as they will not stick out as far. I wanted the SamSung but it was 6" to hi to fit in the slide. Bill

What more test? Bill

Nan, I feel your pain. I found a used blue ox tow bar and Break buddy from some people who had sold their coach and were no longer able to travel. I had Blue ox go through/refurbish and inspect the tow bar at the first Rally I went to. I think it was about $30.00. I would recommend to get a 10,000# rated tow bar as you can tow a heavier toad if you change toads and you won't need to buy a different tow bar + a little extra capacity never hurt on the safety side. Bill

Thanks for thee report. You have to be aware of what is going on around you when on the road. Bill

What is hard to understand? For example Valvoline is partnered with Cummins if Cummins didn't want you to use a 5-40 why would they endorse it for use. Valvoline’s Premium Blue Extreme Engine Oil is endorsed by Cummins Engine Company and is approved against the CES 20081 specification. https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/sites/default/files/pdf_archive/pdfs/product_lit/americas_brochures/CF-2296.pdf Well that is all the time I am going to waste. You can run recycled drain oil for all I care. My oil analysis reports show good numbers and that is all I care about. What do your numbers show? Why yes I can tell the difference as I have worked in a oil analysis lab. Bill

Welcome to the forum. Yes there are lots of places in that area. Where did you live before? I like the Yuma area but some find it to dry and stark. You might spend some time exploring the Rio Grande Valley including the lower Texas gulf coast. Bill

Perhaps if you read the test information I was talking about "API CK-4 and OEM Wear Test Parameters" Where it states "Shell ROTELLA® T6 5W-40 full synthetic (CK-4) provides excellent protection against harmful engine wear. In 30 API CK-4 and OEM wear test parameters and 10 separate passing engine tests, the average result for Shell ROTELLA® T6 5W-40 was 50% of the respective limit." This is the same argument that people had when multigrade oils first came out. You can't use that because it isn't 40 weight all the time and won't protect your engine. I think it would be extremely hard to deny a warranty because you used an oil that Met or exceeded the requirements and was approved buy CES 20081 or CES 20086. By the way you might want to double check but I think you are out of warranty on your bus. Bill

Glad you got it fixed. Bill

The conventional oil of today is as good as some of the early synthetic oil. The 3000 mile oil change went out the window years ago. 5000, 7500 and 10,000 miles are more the norm now. Jiffy lube and places like that are in the business of selling oil and still promote the 3000 mile change. https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/tips-advice/stop-changing-your-oil.html Yes but a oil analysis will tell you how a particular oil is doing in dealing with soot contamination + it will tell you how much of the TBN you have used/left in the oil. Did you know Cummins has had a change of hart about doing oil analisis to extend oil changes? They are working on a program to extend X15 engine oil changes to 80,000 miles. Ok what part of meets or exceeds is hard? If you are right how did the T6 score so well in the weare test? I will repost the link. http://rotella.shell.com/products/full-synthetic-and-blend-oil/t6-full-synthetic/_jcr_content/productDetails.stream/1506811860834/b1efec99b9e83f216e38df79c5353f4c43d17a2677da8dd08400c13d51318343/t6-5w-40.pdf The 5W flowers faster to all areas of the engine on startup espechiley to critical areas like the turbo. What were the results of your last oil sample what was the soot %? How did the wearmetals look?

Most oils have Zinc it is the question of how much is in the oil. What does your oil analisis say? That is true, however it was the outer way around. Mobile didn't like people calling their oil synthetic when it wasn't, but they lost. Not shure what you are saying /asking? Zinc is just one of the components in the additive package. Below is a excerpt from the link I posted earlier to a Shell website. It would appear the new T6 reduced wear by 50%. Improved Wear Performance Shell ROTELLA® T6 5W-40 full synthetic (CK-4) provides excellent protection against harmful engine wear. In 30 API CK-4 and OEM wear test parameters and 10 separate passing engine tests, the average result for Shell ROTELLA® T6 5W-40 was 50% of the respective limit. Now if you want a true full synthetic you can run a Mobile 1 oil. https://www.mobil.com/en/mobil-delvac/products/engine-oils/mobil-delvac-1/mobil-delvac-1-esp I am geting excellent reports from my oil lab running T6. The difference now is not as great as it was between the base stocks. Bill

I would take Ernie Ekberg up on that offer. Ernie = job done right at a fair price. Bill

I don't see me going back to "no slides" I have lived in coaches full time with no slides. My current coach has 3 and I realey appreciate the room. Bill

Yes it is like running additives to make up for the lack of lead in gas for older hi compression engins. You can add aditives to your oil such as this one from Red Line. https://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/red-line-engine-oil-break-in-additive?SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending&tw=OIL BREAK&sw=Red Line Engine Oil Break-In Additive You might find this interesting. https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2012/10/18/tech-101-zinc-in-oil-and-its-effects-on-older-engines/ Your friendly government took most of the zinc and phosphorus out of the oil quite a while back now. Hi we are from the government and we are here to help you. Bill

Carl, it was probably Valvoline. That is the main brand that they recommend because they sell it. Joe I run T6 not because of the cold as I try to stay out of running in the real cold weather. I want the maximum protection when it is hot. Especially for protecting the turbo. Bill

Yes some of the lower weight oils are for specific applications, oils like the 5-40 T6 are for general use. Shell makes a T6 0-40 for cold applications. One outher thing I see is a change in Cummins attitude about extending oil change intervals using oil analysis/testing. They have a program in place on new X15 engins using CK oil that extend oil changes to 85,000 miles. But that is for over the road applications. Bill

More on the Shell oil. http://rotella.shell.com/products/full-synthetic-and-blend-oil/t6-full-synthetic/_jcr_content/productDetails.stream/1506811860834/b1efec99b9e83f216e38df79c5353f4c43d17a2677da8dd08400c13d51318343/t6-5w-40.pdf As Brett said, "And, I would strictly adhere to the viscosity recommendations for YOUR engine. I follow this on both gasoline and diesel powered vehicles." Brett, Here is the latest approved oil list from Cummins. So apparently I am using a approved oil. http://lubritecinc.com/PDF/CES 20086(2).pdf Bill

But it was interesting and his advice was right on the money. So was Carl's. I won't remind him of the times he has raged on me for doing that. Bill

Where was it leaking? Bill

I do think "tinning" the ends and using a drop of loctite blue (removable) would be a good way to slow the problem. The vibration is why in aircraft they use a terminal swaged on the end of the wire or tined and swaged or with a soldered pin in a canon plug. I have seen few problems with properly installed and safety wired cannon plugs. They could do something like that on an RV for less than maybe $1000.00 maybe 1/2 of that. Bill

The only thing I could think that might be a problem would be in some of the Cat engines where they use the engine oil to drive the injector pumps. Maybe Joe will have something or mister Cat, Brett. I run T6 5-40 and don't have any problems. Bill

Nice looking bus. I am to lazy to drive standard any more. Have you looked at one of the Bus Nut Chapters in your area? Bill

Without seeing the mechanism I would guess a couple of rubber wedges and a couple of bungee cords to keep them in place.Think wheel chocks for your rocker. Bill

True, I have sample reports back to the first time I changed the oil on this engine. I am a firm believer in a full synthetic oil I am now running Shell Rotella T-6 5-40 to ensure good oil flow on start up. My last report showed fuel 0.2% and Blackstone shows an average number of 2.0%. Bill

I know Joe knows this but we don't explain it is when you start your diesel and it is cold you should watch the oil preshure and when it comes up go to "fast idle". The reason is your cold engine (below operating temp) will not burn all the fuel and it can cause problems by washing the oil off the cylinder walls and contaminating the oil. Bill