burnt spark plug wires

I have an 06 Winnebago Adventurer 8.1 on workhorse chassis bought it new, and when I first got it I went through about 3 sets of plug wires, then I found out it was due to not enough air flowing to the back side if the engine. It was while it was still under warranty I bought the equipment to duct the air back to the last 2 plug wires on each side of the engine. They installed the duct work for free.
It was told to me that when the coach was placed on the Workhorse chassis they did not allow enough space to let the air get all the way back to the back plug wires. Since then I have not had any problem with the wires.

"rgatijnet1".....Yes I see where you were directing toward two others. I actually neglected to put 8.1 in my post since that is the engine that the OP was talking about and was/is in many motor homes. I still think my statement and the other two are correct. The 8.1 engine is the engine that was commonly having that problem in many motor homes on that chassis. Saying it wasn't caused by the engine being an 8.1 is semantics.

The 8.1 equipped GMC and Chevy pickups burned wires also. They did not kill them as fast as a motorhome but they still burned wires. It is a fact that some RV manufacturers restricted airflow to the exhaust sides of the engine and those RVs burned wires faster than their competitors but if you own a GM 8.1L powered product you will be putting plug wires on it after the OEs burn up.
Randy

DSDP Don wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Not a known problem with 8.1L engines. It is a problem with some motor home brands that did not follow the design specs and created a front cap for their coaches that does not allow enough air flow.
Many coaches with the 8.1L engine do not have this problem. The Taylor Extreme plug wires is the cheapest cure.

Okay....let me correct my post and be more exact....it's a known problem with the 8.1 in SOME motor homes.:S Helping out on this forum never goes unpunished!

I was nice... Rgatijnet1 is correct... I simply said that the only wires I have burned were on a Dodge NEON.. I'm sitting atop a workhorse with proper air circulation.

Still.. Workhorse did produce an air flow kit to address it and there are high temp (Ceramic) wires that are more resistant to burning.

DSDP Don wrote:

DSDP Don wrote:
That chassis was known for doing that. Go with the quality wires and then try and direct some airflow toward the wires as others have done. Something like dryer hose from the grill toward the plugs/headers.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Not a known problem with 8.1L engines. It is a problem with some motor home brands that did not follow the design specs and created a front cap for their coaches that does not allow enough air flow.
Many coaches with the 8.1L engine do not have this problem. The Taylor Extreme plug wires is the cheapest cure.

Okay....let me correct my post and be more exact....it's a known problem with the 8.1 in SOME motor homes.:S Helping out on this forum never goes unpunished!

Did you read the posts in order? The two posts right above mine said that this was a known problem with the 8.1L engine. I was responding to those posts, NOT YOURS. You never said anything about the 8.1L you just mentioned chassis. Not sure why you thought I was targeting your post. :h

More To See wrote:
Whatever high quality wire set you use be sure to also have them protected near the manifold with something like these Wire Protectors that reflect heat away from the plugs and wires.

This set of Taylor Extreme Wires for RV/Towing has insulators already installed.

From reading the 8.1 non RV forums and IRV forums, it happens to many 8.1s that run at WOT for long stretches. Back east, no problems. Out west, lots of problems over many brands. The 4WD crowd and boat people talk a lot about it too.

Up long grades at low speeds there isn't isn't great air velocity; good ducting or not, manifolds red hot.

DSDP Don wrote:
That chassis was known for doing that. Go with the quality wires and then try and direct some airflow toward the wires as others have done. Something like dryer hose from the grill toward the plugs/headers.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Not a known problem with 8.1L engines. It is a problem with some motor home brands that did not follow the design specs and created a front cap for their coaches that does not allow enough air flow.
Many coaches with the 8.1L engine do not have this problem. The Taylor Extreme plug wires is the cheapest cure.

Okay....let me correct my post and be more exact....it's a known problem with the 8.1 in SOME motor homes.:S Helping out on this forum never goes unpunished!

Whatever high quality wire set you use be sure to also have them protected near the manifold with something like these Wire Protectors that reflect heat away from the plugs and wires.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Not a known problem with 8.1L engines. It is a problem with some motor home brands that did not follow the design specs and created a front cap for their coaches that does not allow enough air flow.
Many coaches with the 8.1L engine do not have this problem. The Taylor Extreme plug wires is the cheapest cure.

I struggled with this overheating problem with my 454 on a 1996 GBM until I built some air dams to redirect air through the radiator and installed headers. Air takes the path of least resistance and in my case went under and around the radiator. Headers added another 80 HP on the older 454's I think they add about 50 hp to the 8.1. I would start with the air dams first,and see how you do. What temps does your gauge show when climbing a hill vs on a flat road?