wildebill308

You can get a lot of good info on your transmission from the website “my transmission” go to the Allison site and enter your serial number. You can find out lots of good info on your transmission such as part numbers for filter kits and capacities. http://www.allisontr...ioninformation/ I recommend you use the transcend fluid. And go by the General duty cycle. The web site http://www.allisontransmission.com/servlet/DownloadFile?Dir=publications/pubs&FileToGet=SA5429EN.pdf States if *General Vocation: All vocations not classified as Severe. **Severe Vocation: 2000 MH, On/Off Highway, Refuse, City Transit and and Shuttle Transit. You have a 1000MH so it would fall under General Vocation. The Allison Transmission maintenance schedules stipulate that fluid/filters should be changed after the recommended mileage, months, or hours have elapsed, whichever occurs first. Local conditions, severity of operation or duty cycle may require more or less frequent fluid change intervals that differ from the published recommended fluid change intervals of Allison Transmission. Transmission protection and fluid change intervals can be optimized by the use of fluid analysis. I use JG labs http://www.jglubricantservices.com/. Bill

Not knowing your level of expertise I would recommend getting some one down there to check it out for you. Are the service records available? As stated by someone else it might cost a little now but save you lots latter. When you go look the coach over don’t be so in love you can’t walk away if it isn’t right. Get any “promises of repairs in righting”. Once they have your money their hearing gets really bad. I am not talking about PPL in particular I haven’t heard any bad with PPL but a lot of RV dealers make used car salesmen look like saints. Bill

Welcom to the forum and congratulations on your new Mandalay!! Bill

I don’t know about fantastic fan but I doubt if they are that different. I would look at the hinge there are several different aftermarket covers made but the hinges vary. I would measure the node spacing and take a picture for easy reference. I found a local camper store that had several different ones. Bill

The first thing to do is sample aging in say 1000 miles. We want to see if the lead levels in crease or what is going on. I would not change the oil till you get a second sample as what you need is more than one sample on the oil. Oil analysis is basically trend analysis. I wouldn’t get to worried the lead is only 8 ppm over the normal if it was 30 -60 over I would be concerned. I will be interested in what your next report says. When you change your fluid I recommend you use Transend. I use to work in an oil lab doing Spectrometric oil analysis. Bill

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like a good deal. Did they have any maintenance records? You might want to just approach it like nothing has been done for maintained in a long time. The air bag issue may be from not being used or might be a leak. Try this when you have it aired up shut off the engine and see how long it takes to leak down. If it leaks down quickly you problem have a leak. Bill

You are absolutley right. This is from the Allison web site. Using Allison Approved TES 295® fluid the recommended change for the M3000 or M4000 transmission are300,000 Miles (480,000 km) or 6,000 Hours or 48 Months. The Allison Transmission maintenance schedules stipulate that fluid/filters should be changed after the recommended mileage, months, or hours have elapsed, whichever occurs first. Local conditions, severity of operation or duty cycle may require more or less frequent fluid change intervals that differ from the published recommended fluid change intervals of Allison Transmission. Transmission protection and fluid change intervals can be optimized by the use of fluid analysis. You can get a lot of good info on your transmission from the website “my transmission” http://www.allisontransmission.com/myallisontransmission/mytransmissioninformation/ Bill

Brett is right you should not use testing to extend your oil change interval. I also test my transmission to detect any problems. I use JG Lubricants. http://www.jglubricantservices.com/ Tell us more about your motor home. Bill

Thanks for all the replies I am probably going with the Blue Ox set up. Talk about bad deals working out in unexpected ways. I got lightly clipped on the right rear of my Civic. Put it in the shop last week and when I went to rent a car they had a 2013 CRV available. The CRV was on my short list to replace the Civic so guess what car I rented. I have decided that I like it better than I thought I would. Nothing like a 6 day test drive. Now looking to find a good deal on one. Bill

I just have to write a rebuttal to these statements. “There is no commercial diesel engine company, Cummins, Detroit, Cat, Max Force, that recommends using 5W-40 SAE oil in temperate North America. You are playing a dangerous game. Synthetic or not.” Engine manufactures recommend using oil that meets certain guide lines. Such as API CJ-4, CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, CH-4/ SM, SL, SJ. They often have a guide to viscosity. I wasn’t able to copy and paste the Cummins chart that can be found on Quick Serve Service bulletin 3810340 04-DEC-2009 titled Cummins engine oil and oil analysis recommendations. The oil reconditions for 0 deg to 120+ was 0-40 5-40 15-40. The only restriction on synthetic was to use the same drain interval as regular oil. “Also even at like viscosity a synthetic oil is thinner than it's counterpart regular oil. This particularly shows up when a hot high mileage engine is idling, with synthetic at idle the oil pressure might drop to 5 PSI lower than recommended, with regular oil also at idle the same engine would show 12-15 Psi on hot engine. More is better when oil pressure is minimal.” When cold a 0-40 or 5-40 will flow faster but when at operating temperatures it will be a 40 weight oil and will show no difference in oil pressure. The fact that a 0-40 or 5-40 will flow faster when cold means it will be protecting your engine faster on start up when most wear occurs. I especially like the fact it gets to the turbo faster. “Most diesel pushers today with intercoolers barely get to 180 degrees, heat is not a problem.” The “intercooler” better called a charge air cooler is in front of the radiator and only cools the air from the turbo before it enters the engine to improve performance. It actually adds to the cooling load of the radiator. The diesel engine operates at much higher internal temps than a gas engine. It is only because they have much bigger cooling systems that they will run at the proper temperatures. You can do a search and find a large number of posts about coaches over heating. Most from dirty radiators. When I see EGT temps 1200 deg + when pulling a long hill I am glad I have oil that will stand up to it. The oil today is not the oil of our youth. 50 years ago I would never run less than a strait 30 weight oil and never one of those new multi grade oils. Bill

This is from the Onan RV Generator Handbook. “Gasoline Engine Oil Quality – Use oil meeting any of the following API Performance categories: SJ, SL or SM where SM is currently the highest quality available. Look for the “Energy Conserving” designation to optimize fuel economy.” NOTE: Multi-grade oils (such as SAE 15W-40) are recommended for year-round use in Cummins Onan I highly recommend Mobil 1 full synthetic oil. You can use what ever viscosity you feel would be best for your application. I would use the 10-40 high mileage. It was developed for cars that have longer oil change intervals but can be changed to meet Onans recommendations and provide better protection. Mobil 1 High Mileage 10W-40 synthetic motor oil meets or exceeds the requirements of: ACEA A3/B3 API SN, SM, SL Mobil 1 High Mileage 10W-40 is of the following quality level: API CF As you can see it meets or exceeds the requirements of the Onan Handbook. Bill

I know this may open a big controversy but what do you think is the best tow bar and base plate and why. Going to tow 2014 CRV. Bill

You didn’t say when you were going so I decided to put in my 2 cents. I would take 985 to 85 north out of Atlanta. 85 to Spartanburg then 26 to 40 get off 40 at exit 440 hiway 73/ 321 folow that to Gatlinburg. Yes it is a little longer but much easier drive. I was there Labor Day weekend. I drove 440 in my toad I could have in the RV but lots of tight turns no shoulder and lots of traffic. They were also doing road work in a couple of places. I prefer the easier rout it is a little longer but not as nerve racking. Bill

I would make a list of all the things that you want to do to your coach. Now find out what all of it will cost you. I would then set down and look at what coach you could by using your trade in and the remodeling budget Keeping in mind that you will only get a small percentage of your remodeling money back if you sell your coach. Bill

The 2014 CR-V is out and still towable 4 down. Bill

I would check the Remco website. They look to me as they only come with an automatic and you will have to get a drive shaft disconnect. http://www.remcoindustries.com/Towing/Store.php Bill

This is from the 2012 owners manuel on Hondas web site. Towing Your Vehicle Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information. 2 Emergency Towing P. 417 417 says NOTICE NOTICE Improper towing such as towing behind a motorhome or other motor vehicle can damage the transmission. Never tow your vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous, since ropes or chains may shift from side to side or break. 2012 Call a professional towing service if you need to tow your vehicle. ■ Flat bed equipment The operator loads your vehicle on the back of a truck. This is the best way to transport your vehicle. ■ Wheel lift equipment The tow truck uses two pivoting arms that go under the front tires and lift them off the ground. The rear tires remain on the ground. This is an acceptable way to tow your vehicle. 1Emergency Towing NOTICE Trying to lift or tow your vehicle by the bumpers will cause serious damage. The bumpers are not designed to support the vehicle's weight. NOTICE Improper towing such as towing behind a motorhome or other motor vehicle can damage the transmission. Never tow your vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous, since ropes or chains may shift from side to side or break. 2012 Odyss I ran into the same thing with my 2012 Civic. Bill

Casuall454, welcome to the forum. “1.Replace your paper air filter with a cotton / oil filter there are several suppliers including (K&N, Pro-Guard, Summit and many more) these filters allow more air to flow through with less restriction. The use of cotton-oil filters can void your warranty, you will have to ask your mechanic or check your state laws.” I would never recommend a cotton this is a link to the filter test. You might want to read it if you are using a K&N filter. This is the only test that I have seen that used lab test equipment to do a test that is repeatable and to a given standard ISO 5011 test standard was used. http://www.billswebs...rFilterTest.htm / oil filter. The problem is they flow way too much dirt. Bill

Well, running 60 to 65 on I 40 today from the east side of Nashville to Little Rock AK today my tyranny temp was between 150-180 depending on conditions. It was about 85-90 degrees outside.

I changed the surge protector and the control board on mine and it has been working great. I also think you should check the vent hose at least annually or before going on a long trip where it will be used often. I found twigs where a bird had started to build a nest. Perhaps a cover or plug would work when not in use. Bill

What size is your exaust pipe? You may want to look at one of the aftermarket brands. Bill

Cat does not say it will improve mileage but that their additives will "restore" to original mileage. Bill

I have used Diesel Kleen when I didn’t have the Cummins additive http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/html/en/products/fuel/additives/additives.html Turbo Diesel is OEM Approved. I am not at home but I do have a link to the cat site where they list their approved fuel conditioner. I did find this after a little looking. 246-4968 is Cat Diesel Fuel Conditioner . It contains a variety of additives to improve the fuel cetane number, provide corrosion protection, improve fuel stability, and a variety of other benefits. It is intended primarily for areas using diesel fuel that does not meet quality specifications or for customers who want higher cetane or more stable fuel. 343-6210 is Cat Diesel Fuel System Cleaner that was recently released. It is a very effective detergent additive that cleans fuel system deposits. In field testing of this product, Caterpillar did see restored fuel economy from the standpoint of removing injector deposits that were adversely affecting injector performance. In caterpillars view they have not seen a fuel additive that truly improves fuel economy, they at best can restore fuel economy to like-new, which is what we have seen in applications using the Cat Diesel Fuel System Cleaner. But this can be a very significant benefit to an end customer who has fuel system deposits affecting performance. Bill

Glad they are making progress on getting you back on the road. Just a note. You should be able to see the tops of the pistons if you pull the injectors and use a bore scope. Jumping right to pulling the head should not be the first thing I would do. If the tops of the cylinders did look bad then it may be necessary. Bill

I would guess you have an Alison transmission. You can go to Allison web site and get all the info for your transmission. http://www.allisontransmission.com/myallisontransmission/mytransmissioninformation/ You will need the serial number to get the right filter kit. Changing the transmission fluid is as easy as or easier than changing the engine oil. I bought the fluid; Transcend is the recommended fluid, at Inland truck parts. Here is a link there may be one near you as you don’t have your location in your profile or signature. http://www.inlandtruck.com/locations/ftworth-tx.php You should start building a library of part numbers and serial numbers. When you get the right part numbers you can save a little by buying from places on line like Filter barn. http://www.filterbarn.com/ Bill