South Florida - Class A Maintenance shop advice.

tourusa wrote:
Wolfe last question do I do this from inside the coach with hose going out or can I get the same result from outside cleaning inwards from outside the coach thanks , I don’t have space at home so will be in storage or on a trip

Very likely it is easier/cleaner from above (inside coach) as access to the fan shroud is generally a little better and you are not lying in greasy water under the coach. But, it does depend on access from above.

I route a hose through a bedroom window and down into the engine room from above.

WEAR OLD CLOTHES (or at least clothes you don't care about).

Start by looking at the center of the CAC. It will be clean, as the fan blades sling the dirt and debris to the perimeter. You need to make sure the perimeter, particularly lower perimeter is as clean as the center.

Wolfe last question do I do this from inside the coach with hose going out or can I get the same result from outside cleaning inwards from outside the coach thanks , I don’t have space at home so will be in storage or on a trip

Very easy for you to verify that you have a SANDWICHED cooling package (CAC in front of the radiator). Suspect this is exactly what you have.

VS

STACKED cooling package with the CAC on top of the radiator (cooling package only one layer thick).

And, certainly you can do it. Buy a gallon of SIMPLE GREEN EXTREME, and use a hose with regular garden nozzle. Be prepared to flush out a lot of greasy water, particularly if the crankcase breather exhausts in front of the fan intake.

Hi Wolfe can I clean the rear radiator cac on my rig, I read the below article and attach picture of my actual class a , I just noticed it’s your original article awesome what a coincidence.

“ . The radiator is behind that the CAC (back of coach). Yes, there are a few coaches with stacked radiator/after-cooler and these can be cleaned from the back (back of coach).”

https://community.fmca.com/topic/288-cleaning-the-radiator-cac/

Will ask the old owner if the valve adjustment has ever been performed , how often does this adjustment need doing ? I’ll check online for cleaning cac. And crankshaft breather hose. Thanks again

tourusa wrote:
.... and listen at start up for any tap....

Not sure "listening for any tap" on start up is a good indicator of whether valves are out of adjustment.

If a valve is tight, it will make no noise at all.

Better to verify that the initial valve adjustment has been done, or have it done.

Other suggestion-- clean the front of the CAC. This should be done annually.

Also verify that the crankcase breather (aka slobber tube) has been extended to behind the intake for the fan shroud.

Thanks Wolfe, will do as suggested and listen at start up for any tap, appreciate the knowledge sharing, any other pointers.

tourusa wrote:
Thanks Wolfe is the valve adjustment a big job, do I need to get the engine number from the block under the bed or somewhere easy accessible, if your in Texas and know a shop around you send me the info thanks much, first class a , only had c class and travel trailers so want to learn as much as possible

Not much more complicated to adjust the valves than on any other solid lifter engine. But, you don't want to pay someone to do it who is just learning.

Sorry, don't know of a shop-- I did valve adjustments myself.

On a 3126, the engine serial number is on the valve cover-- access from bedroom/closet. On the C7 it is on the timing gear cover.

Thanks mr Wolfe
Great advice, the first class a I’ve owned and gone for c class , the last time I was checking valve clearance was an. Old mg in the uk. Appreciate all your advise, do you know a good place in Texas as the trip is going to Houston and area thanks again

Thanks Wolfe is the valve adjustment a big job, do I need to get the engine number from the block under the bed or somewhere easy accessible, if your in Texas and know a shop around you send me the info thanks much, first class a , only had c class and travel trailers so want to learn as much as possible