wildebill308

Yes the wording is different between the owners manual and the transmission manual. The owners manual calls it a compression brake and the switch is labeled "engine brake" while the transmission manual calls it a retarder. I have looked at the exhaust closely when I installed the new muffler there is nothing after the turbo. When I was doing my fluid change I asked and the Allison shop said I had the retarder. I sometimes think I could get better mileage with it turned off as if you lift a little to much it kicks in and starts to slow you. I have gotten use to it and seldom turn it off. I guess I like that extra braking more than the potential mileage. Bill

Don, go have fun. Utah is the only western state I didn't hit this summer. You didn't say if you have the engine brake or the transmission retarder. I have the transmission retarder and when that is turned on and lift on the throttle it will try to down shift to second gear. This is helpful when going down hills or coming up to a stop sign. You don't need to manually downshift going down hill just let the engine slow you down. If it isn't holding enough use your brakes to slow down enough to get into a lower gear. I only had to get down to third a couple of times where it was a very steep grade. You don't have to worry if it starts to go to fast in the lower gear it will up shift to prevent over reving the engine. Then you can apply your brakes to slow it back down. Just do not ride your brakes as they will heat up and you could end up with no brakes. The only negative I have heard about locking it in a lower gear is if it won't hold the speed in that gear and accelerates to where the engine rpm is too high and you can damage the engine. Lots of good advice on climbing. I watch my EGT gauge and if it starts to get to high I will manually downshift or if the water temp starts to go up. lots of people talk about climbing steep hills and having high temps but I found the case where it was a gradual grade and the transmission on cruise could stay in 6th but the boost was running 35psi ( flat land it is 12-15psi) and the water temp and EGT was getting to high. I had to slow and drop to 4th for a while till things cooled off then I was able to pull 5th. You will find what works for you. Bill

Jack try running the dash air on recirculate to help bring down the temperature. I know you have checked your filters and made sure your condenser coils are clean. Bill

Thanks Herman I wasn't aware of the QT card. Bill

What mods have you done to your Honda Odyssey? Bill

I asked at 2 different Loves if they had cards available so I didn't have to keep going inside and they both claimed they didn't know of any. I am going to go look at Provost card. Do you have your Pilot card from Good Sams so you can get the discount? Bill

Well the OP hasn't filled out his profile so no knowledge about his coach. I self insure I have seen too many claims disallowed. By the time you get done with the fine print on deductibles and what they will pay for repairs. I think if you put the money in a savings account you will come out further ahead. Yes you need a roadside assistance plan aka Coach Net. Yes you need to do all your preventive maintenance. Bill

When you run the dash air, run it in the recirculation mode so you don't have to cool the air coming from outside. Also check your air filters they plug up fast and greatly reduce air flow. Bill

I would document everything and start bumping this up the food chain. I have never heard of getting charged to have them figure out warranty work. Bill

“ But one interesting thing in this discussion is mpg vs. safety and law. If you are towing in California, the speed limit is 55. In some states, a vehicle as large as the ones you are discussing should obey the 'truck' speed limit. I know that this discussion is about getting the best fuel mileage, but safety and law should have some place in this discussion.” Cookie, perhaps you need to re read my last post and explain to me what I was doing wrong. I was one of the only people following the 55 speed limit and truckers were in the majority in violating the speed limit laws. You can also explain why you think it is safer to be the rolling road block driving 50-55 in a 65 or 75 mph speed zone rather than maintaining the speed and flow of the rest of the traffic. "Is it 'safe' to drive your coach at 65 miles per hour, even when the auto traffic is traveling at that speed, in congested city traffic, just to get good mileage? It is unfortunate that manufacturers gear their rigs so that the best mileage is achieved above safe and/or legal speeds." I am wondering where you came up with this gem. I can find nowhere in the preceding post where anyone talked about doing this. Bill

I have run the 5% before because it was all that was available. was in Missoula Montana a couple of weeks ago and the Flying J had 4 different diesel fuels on the pump. They were pushing the 50-50 blend as that was price on the big sine. They had red dye diesel for off road diesel numbe1 and 2. I ended up paying $4.35 for straight #2 as I didn't want to run the 50-50. Has any one run the 50-50 blend? Bill

You can take the numbers from the lenses and do a Google search and it should give you the model number and what car it was used on. Bill

DCotton, Welcome to the forum. Diesel fuel will foam much more than gas. You can get foam overflow even on car type pumps. You just have to get use to slowing down the flow or stopping and letting the foam die down then trickle in a little more. I have found some truck pumps that you can't slow down the flow they are 100% or nothing. I also had the experience like Brett pointed out. I had filled up just before parking my coach and later smelled diesel a found it dripping out. I decided to run (exercise) the generator to reduce the level in tank and get some use rather than let it drip on the ground. Bill

Bill, What I think they are trying to say is if you don't drive it you will still have a fixed cost. Say you only drive 1500 miles a year you still have to change the oil, filters and tiers as they age out. If you drive 15,000 miles you have a lower cost per mile because you have traveled more miles. Yes things do wear out and break you just budget for the un expected. I have found most diesel coaches are extremely robust and have few problems if you do your maintenance as required. Did you mean 40,000 in 1 year verses 40,000 in 3 years? All that would cost me is 2 extra oil changes at 15,000 intervals. Bill

Well just a little update. I am camped on the banks of the little Bighorn river tonight. My last post was leaving Yosemite. I spent about a month in California where the max speed when towing is 55. I decided to drive at 55 or slower just to see if it made a improvement in mileage. As I have posted before I can't shift into 6th till 65 so I never got out of 5th gear in California. I got around 8.8. I since have driven 101 to Washington then back East to Yellowstone and now at the little Bighorn river tonight. after LEAVING Washington my mileage has gone up to 9.829. I have crossed lots of high passes and have tried to cruse at 65-66. I don't get any benefit from running 55 in 5th gear as my time in California proved. Bill

How many coaches have you driven? You might want to drive a couple of other coaches as a comparison. There are rattles and noise in new coaches unless you are careful in how you load pots and pans it he racks in the oven and microwave can make lots of noise. We use rubber shelf mats in-between pans and dishes where we can. There are roads in CA that will make any coach rattle try to find a smoother area to test drive. Bill

Tucking in behind a truck is not a good practice, What if your stopping distance is 20 feet more than the truck? Always leave a safe margin in inclement weather. If it is bad get off the road. Bill

Not sure why you feel the need to lube them every time you put them in. I lube mine annually or if it slows down I will re do it. Always use a dry film lube to prevent attracting dirt. See what the manufacture has to say. Bill

Going back to the OPs question I think Brett has the best answer. I certainly would like to see some oil pressure before firing off an engine that has set for a year. Like I posted earlier I would run a rich mix of biocide and run the generator assuming it is a diesel per the manufacturer's recommended exercise program. Question of filling the oil filter you don't have to worry about contaminates in the new oil if you fill the filter properly the oil will pass through the filter medium just like it came from the pan. I will continue to fill my filter before installing. Bill

Ann and Larry, welcome to the forum, We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park last month great park. then was able to move to the Trailer Village in the park. Trailer Village is the only Recreational Vehicle (RV) facility inside of Grand Canyon National Park. Trailer Village offers pull-through paved sites with full hookups for RVs up to 50 feet in length. Trailer Village is conveniently located near the Canyon Village Market Place and Camper Services, and is just a half a mile from the canyon rim. The free bus service stops in the park and will allow you to see places that are not accessible by car. Did I mention the FREE shuttle service. Definitely call before driving up with your RV. When there visit the EL TOVAR hotel get something cold to drink and sit out on the porch In a rocker and watch the tourist. Bill

ObedB, Welcome to the forum. Lots of good info but I can't drive 55. Well I have been doing that while in California just to see and it is the speed limit if towing. I haven't done my mileage yet and I may not do to good. I have been running lots of hills like going up to Yosemite on 120 and another road with lots of hills Ca.154. I normally (where I can) drive 65 at 1600 rpm in 6th. At 55 I am running 1600 in 5th. almost always run cruise and econ mode. Bill

"Are you using any of that BioDiesel added fuel? Biodiesel has much less BTU content than regular diesel fuel. When they add biodiesel to fuel to make it "green", it mostly just adds green to their bank account. You will actually burn more fuel per mile, so any "over all" pollution mitigation or "green" aspects are highly questionable." I agree but you won't be going very far. I don't think I have found a station that didn't sell Bio of one level or another. I think if you do a little research you find this is a Federal mandate brought to you by your friendly EPA. Bill

I think the best answer is to keep the majority of your supply's in a storage compartment. I use one that is not connected to a slide. Just keep what you need in the coach. I have a couple of clear plastic storage boxes to protect the stuff in the storage bay. Bill

You will get other responses but I bet the final mileage will be between 5 an 9 mpg. there are so many variables but I bet that is close. As they say your results may vary. Bill

Why am I always going uphill into the wind? Just got down from Yosemite. I am not complaining 8.88 mpg towing my new CRV. Bill