Results for "coolant"

Engine Hard 2-3 hours for diagnosis 172 👍 0

1999 F53 V10 Oil in Coolant: Complete Head Gasket Diagnosis & Repair Guide

Called three dealerships about warranty coverage for oil contamination in my 1999 Ford F53 V10's coolant system — before I tackle this head gasket nightmare myself. The unit overheated after the oil level dropped significantly, though it still starts and runs without throwing any codes.

Based on the symptoms, I suspect a blown head gasket, but I want to perform proper diagnostic testing before committing to a major repair. What specific diagnostic procedures should I run to confirm whether this is actually a head gasket failure versus other potential causes like a cracked head or block issue?

Looking for a systematic approach to pinpoint the exact problem before I start tearing into this engine. …more

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Engine Hard Not recommended 158 👍 0

Ford V10 Turbo Kit for Motorhomes: Cost, Risks & Better Alternatives

Before every camping season rolls around, I face the same dreaded reality with my Ford V10 motorhome crawling up mountain passes like a wounded turtle. What are the realistic costs involved? Are there major risks to the engine I should know about? Is this actually worth doing or should I look at other options? …more

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Engine Easy 1-2 hours inspection 148 👍 0

Ford E450 V10 Reliability: Expected Mileage and Longevity Guide for RV Owners

Nobody prepared me for staring at this 2018 Jayco Greyhawk 29MVP with Ford E450 chassis showing 54,000 miles and wondering if I'm looking at a money pit. The unit appears well-maintained with quality features including auto-leveling, fiberglass roof and nose, plus J-ride suspension. However, the odometer shows 54,000 miles, which exceeds my initial target range.

I need to assess whether this mileage represents significant wear on the E450/V10 drivetrain combination. What is the typical service life expectation for these engines when properly maintained? At what point should mileage become a primary concern versus overall mechanical condition? …more

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Engine Easy N/A 132 👍 0

Ford E-350 vs E-450 Chassis: RV Fuel Economy, Power & Weight Capacity

Last weekend I felt this awful engine strain and heard sluggish acceleration sounds while test-driving a 2017 Phoenix Cruiser #2351 with its E-350 chassis and V10 engine. I'll be doing extensive western touring through mountain and plains regions, which means substantial mountain grades and wind challenges. I'm comfortable driving slowly and want to understand two key things: 1) Will this E-350 chassis handle mountain grades without major issues, and 2) What's the real-world fuel consumption like? I plan to do an initial inspection this weekend, followed by a third-party mechanical review. I'm not overly concerned about fuel economy but want to understand the actual performance limitations. I'd appreciate insights from owners who have experience with similar touring conditions on an E-350 chassis. …more

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General Medium Research and decision process: 2-4 weeks 112 👍 0

Prevost vs Newell vs Foretravel vs King Aire: Which to Buy?

My wife and I are drowning in luxury coach research with our $500k-$1M budget and honestly have zero clue what separates Prevost, Newell, Foretravel, and King Aire for full-time living. Primary evaluation criteria include depreciation mitigation over 2-3 year ownership cycle and maintenance reliability metrics.

Specific units under consideration: 2017 Prevost Emerald at $850k with 60k miles, and 2016 Foretravel Realm K3 with low miles at approximately $400k. Also exploring 2021 King Aire and Newell models.

Seeking technical assessment comparing driving performance, interior quality, and reliability across Prevost, Foretravel K3/K4, Newell, and King Aire models. Concerned about potential maintenance requirements on older coaches, preferring newer models with resolved initial manufacturing issues.

Require detailed insights into value retention projections, drivetrain performance, and long-term operational dependability for these luxury coach manufacturers and specific model years. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours research 107 👍 0

How to Find Discontinued Generac 75D Coolant Hose C4845 for 2003 Newmar Dutch Star RV

Generac generator in my 2003 Dutch Star needs a specific coolant hose — part number C4845 — and it's been discontinued everywhere I look. Called six RV parts suppliers and checked every online dealer. Need to find a compatible replacement before this thing overheats on our summer trip. …more

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Plumbing Medium 1-2 hours 101 👍 0

RV Heater Lines Reversed: How to Diagnose and Fix Hot Dashboard Air

Dashboard vents are blowing hot air even with the heater off and the AC running. Drove three hours in 95-degree heat with hot air hitting my face the whole time. Mechanic says the heater hose lines might be reversed from a previous repair job. …more

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Engine Easy 5 minutes setup 89 👍 0

Best OBD2 Scanner for Ford E450 V10 Motorhome: Top 3 Diagnostic Tools

Three different OBD2 scanners are showing 6 active codes on my 2015 Ford E450 V10 motorhome but every manual says this engine should only throw 2-3 max. I've been dealing with intermittent check engine lights and some transmission quirks, but my basic code reader just gives me generic codes that don't tell me much.

I keep hearing about tools like BlueDriver and some Ford-specific software, but I'm not sure what actually works well with these motorhome chassis. I need something that can give me real Ford-specific diagnostics, not just the basic OBD2 stuff. Has anyone found a scanner or diagnostic tool that actually works properly with the E450 V10 setup? I'm willing to learn something new if it means getting better diagnostic capability. …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 86 👍 0

Why Your RV Generac Diesel Generator Shuts Off After 2 Minutes Under Load: Troubleshooting Guide

Found that ever since those heavy rains last month hit, my 2007 Alfa's Generac 7.5kw diesel generator shuts down exactly 2 minutes after firing up the basement AC.

Just did a full service (oil, filters, the works) so it's not basic maintenance stuff. I can restart it right after it shuts off, but if the AC is still calling for power, it dies immediately again. No error codes or blinking lights to give me a clue.

Is this a fuel delivery issue where it can't keep up with the AC load? Or am I looking at something else entirely? Really hoping someone's dealt with this exact same 2-minute thing before! …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 86 👍 0

Ford E450 V10 Spark Plug Replacement: Easy Access to Cylinders 1 & 2

The second my wife mentioned that my E450 V10's engine bay "looks like it was designed by someone who hates mechanics," I couldn't stop thinking about these impossible spark plugs. I need to change the spark plugs on cylinders 1 and 2, but it looks like Ford's engineers were having a laugh when they buried these babies behind what appears to be half the engine's wiring harness.

I'm hoping there's some secret RV mechanic wisdom out there before I start disconnecting every wire harness bracket in sight. Please tell me there's a way to get to these plugs without performing major surgery on my engine bay. My back is already protesting just thinking about the contortions required! …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 85 👍 0

Ford F53 V10 Thermostat Replacement: 180°F vs 195°F Temperature Guide

Replacing the thermostat on my F53 V10 and can't decide between the factory 195°F and dropping to a 180°F stat. Some Ford forums swear by the cooler thermostat for RV duty but others say it'll throw codes and hurt fuel economy. Which temperature is actually right for a motorhome? …more

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Engine Medium 30 minutes 85 👍 0

Ford F53 460 Engine Timing Marks: How to Locate and Check (Step-by-Step Guide)

About to drop serious cash on a used Class A motorhome with a Ford F53 460 engine — should I check those timing marks myself or am I asking for trouble? Where exactly are the timing marks located? I can see the harmonic balancer but having trouble spotting the marks and pointer. What's the best way to make them visible and actually read them with a timing light? …more

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Engine Easy 45 minutes 83 👍 0

2022 Ford E450 Check Engine Light: Complete DIY Troubleshooting Guide

Last week marked the third time this month my 2022 Ford E450 motorhome check engine light flicked on at only 4,000 miles and I'm done with mechanics. Last month I had the engine serviced at a local shop, and everything seemed fine when I drove it home. The RV ran perfectly for several weeks without any issues whatsoever.

Yesterday when I started the engine, the check engine light came on and stayed illuminated. According to my Ford owner's manual, this particular warning light is typically related to emissions system problems rather than more serious engine damage. The timing is suspicious given that it appeared shortly after the recent service work.

I don't currently have an OBD2 scanner to pull the specific diagnostic codes, and I'm really hoping to avoid another expensive trip back to the shop just to have them run basic diagnostics. Before I spend more money on professional diagnosis, are there any standard troubleshooting steps I can perform myself to potentially identify and fix simple issues that commonly cause check engine lights on these Ford E450 chassis? I'm particularly interested in emissions-related problems that might have been disturbed during routine service. …more

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Engine Easy 30 minutes 83 👍 0

Ford V10 RV Engine: Is Full Synthetic Oil Better Than Synthetic Blend for Performance?

Planning my next oil change but my viscosity readings are hitting breakdown at 3,000 miles when everything says synthetic blend should last 5,000 in my 2008 Ford V10. The owner's manual specifies Motorcraft 5W-20 synthetic blend oil, which I've been using consistently. However, I've identified that Costco's Kirkland brand offers 5W-20 full synthetic at a lower cost point than my current oil.

From a technical standpoint, would transitioning from synthetic blend to full synthetic oil provide any measurable benefits for RV engine protection? I need to verify that the Kirkland full synthetic meets Ford's engine specifications before making this change. What are the performance differences between these oil formulations for heavy-duty RV applications? …more

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Engine Hard Professional diagnosis required 81 👍 0

Ford E450 Godzilla Engine Water Pump Timing Cover Surface Repair Guide: Diagnosis & Fix

During my 2 AM breakdown, my Ford E450's Godzilla engine started hemorrhaging coolant from the water pump timing cover — need this fixed before our sunrise departure. My E450 Godzilla decided to turn into more of a steam dragon than the beast it's supposed to be. After getting towed to a Ford dealer (because apparently not everyone wants to work on these motorhome monsters), they're telling me the timing cover surface where the water pump mounts looks "normal."

I'm staring at what looks like the surface of Mars - all pitted and grooved where the water pump was sitting. The dealer insists this is just typical wear, but my gut says something that caused a catastrophic overheat probably didn't leave the mating surface in "acceptable" condition. How do I know if this timing cover surface actually needs to be machined or replaced, or if I'm just being paranoid after my expensive towing adventure? …more

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