'93 Monaco Dynasty blowing spin-on inline hyd filters
Hi everyone, I'm looking for some help tracking down an issue with my 1993 Monaco Dynasty. It has a Cummins C8.3 with Allison 3060 transmission.
I've having a "new" problem over the past year where on longer road trips I'm having my spin-on (like an oil filter but bigger) hydraulic filters rupture and spray hydraulic fluid all over my engine compartment. The first time I figured it was just a bad filter and it didn't recur for about 1000 miles. Since then it's been blowing out filters at an increasing rate. It doesn't seem to happen in-town or in traffic where my vehicle speed varies and has a chance to reset or return to idle.
When I'm on the highway for min 2.5 hours or longer cruising at 70 with engine RPMs around 2200 I think it seems pressure builds over time until the filter fails. Then I have to pull over and replace the filter and replenish fluid in the reservoir.
My regular mechanic doesn't troubleshoot hydraulics enough to want to tackle it. He suggested removing the belt-driven hydraulic pump and taking it to a hydraulic specialist shop here in Abilene, TX and have them test it.
My questions are:
1) Whether there's any other ideas as to cause of failure?
2) Are there any pressure bypass points elsewhere outside of the pump itself that could be failing?
3)Is there any better way to troubleshoot this? Is there anywhere in the system Monaco might have installed a pressure port or open connection I could put a pressure gauge on to monitor hydraulic pressure and any changes.
4) Now that hydraulic fluid has been sprayed all over my engine and exposed electronics repeatedly everything is still "wet" even months since my last episode. I had hoped the fluid would evaporate or dry up over time but it's soaked through and destroyed the heat barrier on the lid/bed bottom board. How best to clean the electronics and wiring in the engine area and should I replace the heat shield and if so what should I use?
Lastly, my wife now refuses to take trips in the motor home after many long-term issues. For years we had repeated alternator failures until I myself identified and replaced the voltage sense wire. The original wire must have a weak spot which would cause (at random rare times and intervals) for the alternator to either spike to 16+ voltage output or turn itself off entirely. No shop could ever offer a solution beyond replacing alternators and ruined batteries.
So I'm asking here about this hydraulic problem and once fixed this 1993 34' Dynasty will be up for sale. Best offer gets it or it'll go to auction in springtime.
Thanks!
Erik (near Abilene, TX)
I've having a "new" problem over the past year where on longer road trips I'm having my spin-on (like an oil filter but bigger) hydraulic filters rupture and spray hydraulic fluid all over my engine compartment. The first time I figured it was just a bad filter and it didn't recur for about 1000 miles. Since then it's been blowing out filters at an increasing rate. It doesn't seem to happen in-town or in traffic where my vehicle speed varies and has a chance to reset or return to idle.
When I'm on the highway for min 2.5 hours or longer cruising at 70 with engine RPMs around 2200 I think it seems pressure builds over time until the filter fails. Then I have to pull over and replace the filter and replenish fluid in the reservoir.
My regular mechanic doesn't troubleshoot hydraulics enough to want to tackle it. He suggested removing the belt-driven hydraulic pump and taking it to a hydraulic specialist shop here in Abilene, TX and have them test it.
My questions are:
1) Whether there's any other ideas as to cause of failure?
2) Are there any pressure bypass points elsewhere outside of the pump itself that could be failing?
3)Is there any better way to troubleshoot this? Is there anywhere in the system Monaco might have installed a pressure port or open connection I could put a pressure gauge on to monitor hydraulic pressure and any changes.
4) Now that hydraulic fluid has been sprayed all over my engine and exposed electronics repeatedly everything is still "wet" even months since my last episode. I had hoped the fluid would evaporate or dry up over time but it's soaked through and destroyed the heat barrier on the lid/bed bottom board. How best to clean the electronics and wiring in the engine area and should I replace the heat shield and if so what should I use?
Lastly, my wife now refuses to take trips in the motor home after many long-term issues. For years we had repeated alternator failures until I myself identified and replaced the voltage sense wire. The original wire must have a weak spot which would cause (at random rare times and intervals) for the alternator to either spike to 16+ voltage output or turn itself off entirely. No shop could ever offer a solution beyond replacing alternators and ruined batteries.
So I'm asking here about this hydraulic problem and once fixed this 1993 34' Dynasty will be up for sale. Best offer gets it or it'll go to auction in springtime.
Thanks!
Erik (near Abilene, TX)
