Results for "carbon buildup"

Engine Easy N/A 1,662 👍 0

Ford V10 Triton Engine Maintenance Guide: EGR Delete vs Regular Service Tips

Spent years doing regular EGR maintenance on my old gas motorhome without issues — but this 2007 Fleetwood 31' Tioga with Ford V10 Triton has me second-guessing everything. I keep reading conflicting information about EGR delete procedures on V10 engines, and I'm worried I might make things worse if I mess with it.

Is the EGR delete modification actually necessary on this 2007 3-valve V10, or am I overthinking this? I don't want to void any warranties or create problems that weren't there before. Would I be better off just sticking to regular maintenance instead of modifications? I'm looking for reassurance that I'm taking the right approach to keep this engine running reliably for years to come. …more

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Engine Medium 3-4 hours 376 👍 0

Cummins ISL Code 1896: EGR Valve Controller Gaskets & Repair

About to drop $2,800 on my Cummins ISL throwing code 1896 for EGR valve controller out of calibration and wondering if I can tackle this myself. Planning to pull and clean the EGR valve controller to see if that clears it up.

Do I need to order replacement gaskets before I start this job? Want to make sure I have everything on hand before I tear into it. …more

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Propane Medium 30-60 minutes 268 👍 1

Atwood AFMD35 Furnace Playing Peek-a-Boo - How to Clean Flame Sensor & Fix Short Cycling

Staring at my Atwood AFMD35 manual that claims it should stay running once lit, but mine keeps shutting off every few minutes like it's playing peek-a-boo. It fires up beautifully for about 5-10 seconds, gets my hopes up that I won't freeze tonight, then promptly shuts off like it's having second thoughts about this whole "heating the RV" thing.

I've ruled out the sail switch and high temp limit since it actually lights (small victories in RV life, right?). I'm pretty sure the flame sensor is the culprit here, but I've never cleaned one before. How do I clean this mysterious little part, and what's the best way to access it on this model? Because apparently my furnace thinks playing hard-to-get is charming! …more

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Best RV Water Heaters

4.4 (6,800 reviews)

Engine Medium 1 hour 232 👍 0

How to Diagnose RV Hard Starting Problems: Fuel System Troubleshooting Guide

RV cranks for 10-15 seconds before finally firing up, and it's getting worse each week. Used to start on the first crank every time. Fuel pressure seems low at the rail but I'm not sure if it's the pump, filter, injectors, or something else entirely in the fuel system. …more

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Electrical Easy N/A - planning 210 👍 0

RV Battery Charging: Underhood Generators vs Engine Idling Guide

Since my neighbor can boondock for weeks with perfect battery power while mine die after just a few days, what charging method am I missing? I came across this interesting information from a New York City perspective (original link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/ar...S&cvid=f9f9617373f147cba291498b28b099b4&ei=17).

I've been thinking about either just idling my engine to let the alternator do its thing, or maybe installing one of those underhood generators I keep hearing about.

My buddy says idling is fine and super easy, but I'm wondering if there are any downsides I should know about - like regulations or whether it's actually efficient. Are underhood generators worth the investment, or should I be looking at completely different options? What's the real deal here? …more

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Engine Medium 2 hours 210 👍 0

Ford V-10 Misfire Codes P0305 & P0307: Complete RV Engine Repair Guide for Motorhomes

Turned my compression tester on cylinders 5 and 7 and got 150 PSI readings, but I'm still pulling P0305 and P0307 misfire codes on my 2001 Ford E350 V-10. The engine runs smoothly overall, but the diagnostic codes are persistent.

I have replacement spark plugs and ignition coils available but want to ensure I'm following the proper troubleshooting sequence before investing time and effort. What is the recommended diagnostic approach for simultaneous misfires on cylinders 5 and 7?

Given that multiple cylinders are affected, should I prioritize certain components over others, or is there a systematic order that typically yields the most efficient resolution for this engine configuration? …more

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Plumbing Easy 4-12 hours for sanitization 203 👍 0

RV Fresh Water Tank Safety: Complete Guide to Preventing Contamination Risks

Between the horror stories about brain-eating amoebas and my complete cluelessness about RV water systems, I'm terrified I'm going to poison myself with my own fresh water tank. I've been RVing for years and never really thought twice about our fresh water tank - we'd fill up wherever, use it for drinking, cooking, even my wife's neti pot rinses.

Now I'm second-guessing everything! How often should I actually be sanitizing our tank? Are there specific water sources I should avoid? And what about activities like nasal irrigation - I keep seeing conflicting advice about what water is actually safe to use. I really want to keep my family safe but also don't want to become completely neurotic about every drop of water we use. What are the real best practices here? …more

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Propane Medium 1-2 hours for diagnosis 188 👍 0

AquaHot 450D Frequent Cycling: Troubleshooting Guide & Solutions

Since my 8-year-old AquaHot 450D started firing up every 15 minutes with zero hot water or heating demand, should I repair or replace it? It's more frequent at night when temps drop. No fault codes showing.

Is this normal cycling behavior? I'm thinking something might be causing heat loss or keeping the system active when it should be idle. …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 186 👍 0

Cummins 400 Throttle Power Loss: ECM and Other Causes

Standing here looking at my first RV with a Cummins 400 that loses power whenever I hit the throttle, leaving me crawling up hills at 35mph while everyone flies past! My Cummins 400 has developed this charming habit of suddenly losing all throttle response. One minute I'm cruising along just fine, the next minute the pedal might as well be connected to my hopes and dreams - completely useless.

It just sits there maintaining 50mph no matter how much I stomp on it. Occasionally the RPMs will jump to 2000 and I get a brief taste of actual power before it drops back down like my expectations for this rig. The worst was climbing out of Death Valley at a blazing 15mph - I'm pretty sure I saw a tortoise give me a dirty look as it passed.

My kid thinks it might be the ECM, but honestly at this point I'm open to suggestions that don't involve selling a kidney. Anyone dealt with similar power loss and throttle issues on a Cummins 400? …more

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Propane Easy N/A - informational 184 👍 0

RV Tankless Water Heater Problems at High Altitude: Performance & Efficiency Guide

Already followed my RV tankless water heater manual's high altitude instructions, but I'm still getting terrible performance and efficiency issues at mountain campgrounds between 5,000 and 8,000 feet. My travel trailer came equipped with a tankless on-demand water heater from the factory, and I'm concerned about how it will perform at these higher altitudes.

I've heard that propane appliances can have issues with combustion efficiency when there's less oxygen available in the thin mountain air. Specifically, I'm wondering about quantifiable performance losses - like what percentage of heating capacity I might lose per thousand feet of elevation gain. I'm also concerned about potential operational problems like flame failure or the unit shutting down completely at certain altitudes.

For context, most of my regular camping is done below 2,000 feet where the water heater works fine, but these upcoming mountain trips will be well above 4,500 feet elevation. Should I be worried about the tankless system's reliability at these altitudes, or am I overthinking this? Would I be better off considering a replacement with a traditional tank-style water heater if I plan to do more high-altitude camping in the future? …more

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Electrical Easy 30 minutes 184 👍 0

How to Test and Replace RV Propane Gas Detectors: Complete Safety Guide for RV Owners

Since I moved into my 21 year old RV, I discovered the previous owner left the propane gas detectors in terrible shape and now I'm paranoid about potential leaks. I've updated my RV with a new hardwired 12-volt combination carbon monoxide/gas detector with battery backup in the bedroom, but I want to be extra sure.

My detector seems to work when I hit the test button, but honestly I'm not 100% sure that's really testing if it would catch actual propane.

Is there a safe way to test these things with actual gas? And while I'm asking - how often should I be replacing the detector itself? Mine's probably ancient and I have no idea if these things go bad over time. Also wondering if where I mounted it matters - seen some people put them up high, others down low. …more

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Best RV Propane Accessories

4.5 (11,200 reviews)

Engine Medium 3-4 hours 181 👍 0

Ford F53 Chassis Misfire Problems: Early Spark Plug & Coil Failure Solutions

Walked out to my 2021 Class A motorhome this morning facing the third Ford F53 chassis misfire this year and I'm done throwing parts at it blindly. We've got less than 20,000 miles on the odometer, but recently experienced rough running and got a check engine light. When I took it to a Ford dealer that services Class A rigs, they diagnosed misfires in two cylinders and recommended servicing the entire fuel system. I ended up having them replace all eight spark plugs, plug wires, and ignition coils since we were already dealing with failures.

The coach now runs better than it ever has since new, which makes me think the original components may have been subpar from the factory. What's really bothering me is that we shouldn't need major ignition system work this early in the vehicle's life. I'm curious if other owners of 2021 or newer F53 chassis motorhomes have experienced similar premature failures with their spark plugs, ignition coils, and plug wires? Is this pointing to some kind of quality control issue with Ford's ignition components on these newer chassis, and should I expect better reliability from aftermarket replacements going forward? …more

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Electrical Medium 30-60 minutes 180 👍 0

Surge Guard 40250-RVC vs 40350-RVC Transfer Switch: Complete Comparison Guide

This 8-year-old transfer switch is getting sluggish during power transfers — worth repairing or should I just upgrade to a newer Surge Guard model? I currently have a Surge Guard 40250-RVC in my 2013 motorhome, but I'm having trouble finding that exact model for replacement. All I can seem to find available is the 40350-RVC model.

My current unit has started making a buzzing sound when connected to shore power. Everything still seems to work fine, but I've heard this might indicate the contacts are starting to fail. I'd rather replace it before it completely goes out and leaves me without power.

Can anyone tell me if the 40250-RVC and 40350-RVC are interchangeable? And should I be concerned about the buzzing, or is there anything I can check before replacing the whole unit? …more

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Engine Medium Decision process 179 👍 0

Onan Generator Won't Stay Running: Repair vs Replace

Three distinct sputtering sounds keep coming from my Onan generator that fires up perfectly but dies out after running for a while. Multiple service calls and repairs have been attempted, but the problems persist intermittently, making diagnosis challenging.

The repair costs are accumulating significantly, and I'm reaching a decision point regarding whether to continue troubleshooting or consider replacement options. What criteria should I use to determine when total repair investment justifies switching to a replacement unit? Are refurbished Onan generators a viable alternative, and what factors should guide this repair-versus-replace analysis for intermittent generator failures?

(Note: This is specifically about my RV's Onan generator, which I'm referring to as my 'Jenny'.) …more

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Engine Easy Informational 175 👍 0

AGS Starting RV Generator with AC Load: Modern Systems vs Old Rules

I noticed I'm getting wildly different advice about whether my AGS should start the generator when AC kicks on—some say it'll fry contacts, others say it's fine?

I'm wondering if modern AGS systems have addressed these older concerns about generator startup under load. Is starting the generator directly through AGS when the AC demands cooling safe for the system? Would it be better to manually start the generator before leaving to allow a warm-up period, or is the current automatic load engagement fine with contemporary RV generator technology? …more

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