Oil Changes and Overheating- A Cautionary Tale
Last year I began experiencing persistent overheating of the 6.8 liter V10 on my '99 Southwind 36Z. My mechanic, himself a motorhome owner, started by replacing the least expensive component first - the thermostat, then flushed the coolant. No joy. We advanced through a new water pump and fan clutch, and still there was no improvement. Finally, in desperation, I ordered a new radiator and as soon as the mechanics dropped the old radiator out the bottom of the coach the cause became immediately apparent.
The less than stellar diagnostic skills of my mechanic aside, my main reason for posting this tale is to save other owners from a similar, expensive experience.
Because I have always done my own oil changes, ultimately, I was the cause of this problem, with a some help from the designer of the ridiculous placement of the oil filler tube in the F53 chassis. It is hard against the firewall with only about six inches of overhead clearance from the horizontal overhead. It is almost impossible to get a funnel into the tube and pour quarts of oil into it without slopping a little oil over the side. After discovering this, I made it SOP to d**** an old towel below the filler tube to prevent the inevitable spills from falling on the radiator, transmission cooler, or air conditioner condensor. But over the last 16 years, since we bought our coach new, it's obvious from the thoroughly caked radiator that my preventive measure was ineffective, to say the least! I should add that the radiator is well hidden behind the aforementioned components and is extremely difficult to inspect. The visible portions of the radiator looked fine.
To protect my shiny new radiator from a repeat performance I bought a funnel emptying into a hose that can be shoved well down the filler tube, and long enough that the funnel itself can be filled outside the coach. The one I have was purchased at Walmart and is shaped like a large measuring cup. It holds a full quart of oil, has a built-in filter screen, and a twist valve to stop the flow. The plastic tube it came with was too short and so thin that it tended to kink, so I replaced that with a four foot length of nylon-braided, clear vinyl water hose from the plumbing department of Home Depot.
Now, with the funnel's handle shock-corded to the windshield wiper base, which puts it higher than the top of the filler tube outside the coach, I can pour from a 5 quart oil jug. Care must be taken when removing the hose from the filler tube as there will still be some oil in the hose where it hangs below the filler and funnel, but a rag over the end takes care of that until it's out from under the hood and can be drained back into the oil jug.
If you trust someone else to do your oil changes, beware. I doubt if he'll be very cautious about a few drips of oil. After all, in most vehicles the filler tube isn't in such a treacherous position, and a rag will take care of a little spillage.
Now, go forth, my brothers and sisters of the road, and drip no more.
The less than stellar diagnostic skills of my mechanic aside, my main reason for posting this tale is to save other owners from a similar, expensive experience.
Because I have always done my own oil changes, ultimately, I was the cause of this problem, with a some help from the designer of the ridiculous placement of the oil filler tube in the F53 chassis. It is hard against the firewall with only about six inches of overhead clearance from the horizontal overhead. It is almost impossible to get a funnel into the tube and pour quarts of oil into it without slopping a little oil over the side. After discovering this, I made it SOP to d**** an old towel below the filler tube to prevent the inevitable spills from falling on the radiator, transmission cooler, or air conditioner condensor. But over the last 16 years, since we bought our coach new, it's obvious from the thoroughly caked radiator that my preventive measure was ineffective, to say the least! I should add that the radiator is well hidden behind the aforementioned components and is extremely difficult to inspect. The visible portions of the radiator looked fine.
To protect my shiny new radiator from a repeat performance I bought a funnel emptying into a hose that can be shoved well down the filler tube, and long enough that the funnel itself can be filled outside the coach. The one I have was purchased at Walmart and is shaped like a large measuring cup. It holds a full quart of oil, has a built-in filter screen, and a twist valve to stop the flow. The plastic tube it came with was too short and so thin that it tended to kink, so I replaced that with a four foot length of nylon-braided, clear vinyl water hose from the plumbing department of Home Depot.
Now, with the funnel's handle shock-corded to the windshield wiper base, which puts it higher than the top of the filler tube outside the coach, I can pour from a 5 quart oil jug. Care must be taken when removing the hose from the filler tube as there will still be some oil in the hose where it hangs below the filler and funnel, but a rag over the end takes care of that until it's out from under the hood and can be drained back into the oil jug.
If you trust someone else to do your oil changes, beware. I doubt if he'll be very cautious about a few drips of oil. After all, in most vehicles the filler tube isn't in such a treacherous position, and a rag will take care of a little spillage.
Now, go forth, my brothers and sisters of the road, and drip no more.
