Results for "oil analysis"

Exterior Medium 3-4 days (includes curing time) 236 👍 1

DIY RV Basement Door Paint Repair: Complete Guide & Cost Analysis

Despite protecting my RV all winter, those brutal summer months have absolutely destroyed the paint on my four basement doors and rear wheel area across 2' x 20', leaving me staring at a $5,000-6,500 shop estimate versus DIY with my compressor. I've never done automotive paint work before. Could I really achieve decent results for under $500 like I keep reading online? I'm concerned about proper paint matching, whether I'll damage the surface during prep, and if I choose the wrong spray gun or technique.

Has anyone successfully tackled RV exterior panel paint repair as a DIY project? I need reassurance that this is actually doable without professional training, and guidance on the complete process from start to finish. …more

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Engine Easy N/A 164 👍 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 Easy N/A 133 👍 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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Best RV Sewer Hoses & Kits

4.6 (31,500 reviews)

Electrical Medium 45 minutes 113 👍 0

RV Shore Power Not Working: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Plugged into shore power at the campground last night and absolutely nothing happened — no lights, no AC, nothing. Breaker on the pedestal looks fine and my neighbor's rig is running perfectly on the same circuit. Starting to wonder if something fried inside the transfer switch. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 96 👍 0

Ford F53 V10 Bypass Oil Filter Installation: Best Mounting Locations for RV Chassis

Walked out to check my oil analysis results and they're showing 15-micron contaminants, but everything says my 2003 F53 V10's factory filter catches down to 25 microns. I've been reading about how these can help extend oil life and keep things cleaner, but I'm honestly not sure where the best place to mount one would be.

I've seen some people mention sandwich adapters at the original filter location, remote mounting blocks, and even tapping directly into the engine block. As someone who's still learning, I don't want to mess this up or create problems down the road. What's considered the best practice for mounting location on the F53 V10? I'd really appreciate some guidance from those who have done this before. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 79 👍 0

How to Fix Generac RV Generator Oil Leaks After Breather Hose Replacement Guide

Looked like a simple breather hose replacement on my Generac RV generator, but ever since I finished the job, oil has been leaking everywhere. I replaced the cracked original-style breather hose with a new version that now includes an elbow and short extension inside the air filter housing. While the hose replacement definitely helped reduce the oil drip, I'm still seeing some persistent leakage underneath the unit.

The new hose design appears to be an upgrade from Generac, with the uphill extension meant to help oil sucked from the crankcase run back down into the engine. I'm hoping this will further minimize the drip issue. I want to make sure I'm not missing something obvious before I take it to a repair shop. Has anyone else experienced similar issues with their Generac generator's breather tube? Any guidance on troubleshooting would be really appreciated. …more

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Engine Easy N/A 79 👍 0

Is It Safe to Sleep with Your RV Generator Running? Safety Guide 2024

This is 11 PM and my wife is sweating bullets in our RV — need to know if running our generator overnight is safe before we both melt. We have a 2023 Class C RV and my wife really needs the A/C running at night to sleep comfortably. I know our RV has a carbon monoxide detector installed, but I'm honestly not sure if that's enough protection.

I've heard mixed things about running generators while sleeping - some people seem to do it regularly while others say it's dangerous. What safety precautions should I be taking if we do this? Should I be worried about which windows are open or wind direction? I want to make sure we're being as safe as possible but also want my wife to be comfortable. Any guidance from more experienced RVers would be really appreciated! …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 78 👍 0

Ford V10 P0420 Code and Engine Surging: Exhaust Manifold Diagnosis Guide for RV Owners

Opened my wallet for a new catalytic converter, cleaned the MAF sensor, checked every vacuum line, and swapped the fuel filter on my 2014 Ford V10 motorhome — still getting P0420 codes and intermittent surging. Some days it runs absolutely perfect, smooth acceleration and no codes. Other days, especially during acceleration, I get this annoying surging that makes driving unpleasant, and that's when the P0420 code shows up on my scanner.

I've been methodically working through potential causes and have replaced quite a bit already: new MAF sensor, both upstream and downstream O2 sensors, checked fuel pressure (it's good), tested plugs and coils, cleaned the throttle body thoroughly, and even replaced the right side exhaust manifold gasket after noticing some seepage there. Despite all this work, I'm still getting the same P0420 code and surging, and my scan tool consistently points to issues on the right bank.

What's really puzzling me is the connection between the surging and the P0420 code - they seem to occur together. Could there be something I'm missing with the exhaust system that would cause both symptoms? I've already addressed the right side manifold, but I'm wondering if there's more to this V10 exhaust system that I should be checking. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 77 👍 0

How to Fix Parasitic Battery Drain in 2006 Damon Challenger RV: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

I found three different "experts" telling me three different causes for my 2006 Damon Challenger's parasitic battery drain - neighbor blames the converter, dealer says bad fuse, YouTube points to inverter. I've traced it to the instrument cluster fuse, and Thor doesn't have schematics for this model due to its age.

I'm not even sure if it's actually the instrument cluster itself or something connected to it - could it be the transmission temp sensor, engine temp sensor, or other wiring? I really don't want to damage anything expensive or create a safety hazard. What's the safest way to diagnose and fix this without causing more problems? I'd feel much better with a step-by-step approach that won't leave me stranded or worse. …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours for repair 74 👍 0

Burnt Spot on Oil Dipstick - 2013 Thor Challenger V10 Fix

Wondering why my 2013 Thor Challenger V10 only gets that weird burnt spot on the oil dipstick above 85 degrees — runs perfect when cooler? When I pulled the oil dipstick during my last oil change, there's this obvious burnt spot with carbon buildup about 18 inches from the tip. The stick was also kind of a pain to pull out.

I'm scratching my head here - what would cause burning and carbon right at that specific spot on the dipstick? Is this pointing to something with the dipstick tube itself, or am I looking at a bigger engine problem? Really hoping it's not anything major since the motor only has about 32K on it. …more

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Engine Easy Informational 74 👍 0

Ford 7.3L Godzilla V8 Engine Lifter Failure: 70K Mile Analysis & Prevention Guide

Somewhere between shock and disbelief, I'm questioning my Ford dealer who insists my 2023 E350's 7.3L Godzilla V8 needs a complete rebuild after lifter failure at just 70,000 miles. The engine had one bad lifter and two scored piston walls, which seems pretty severe for a relatively new motor with what should be considered moderate mileage for a commercial-grade engine.

This has me concerned since I'm considering a similar setup for my Class C motorhome build. The 7.3L Godzilla has been marketed as Ford's heavy-duty solution, so seeing this kind of failure relatively early is troubling. Is this an isolated incident or are there patterns of lifter problems emerging with these engines? What should potential buyers be watching for, and are there any preventive measures or early warning signs that could help avoid this kind of expensive failure?

I'd appreciate any insights on whether this represents a broader reliability concern with the 7.3L platform or if it's just an unfortunate one-off situation that shouldn't influence purchasing decisions. …more

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Best RV Leveling Blocks & Jacks

4.6 (9,800 reviews)

Engine Hard 4-8 hours diagnostic time 72 👍 0

Ford V10 Crate Engine Problems: Rough Idle & Power Loss

Opened my RV hood this morning and my Ford V10 crate engine is doing that rough idle and power loss thing again — only when it's above 85°F outside. My 2015 Bounder 35K with 27k miles needed a complete engine replacement, so I had a new Ford V10 crate engine installed. Now I'm dealing with really rough idle, loud engine noise, shaking during acceleration, and hardly any power.

The shop said they fixed a misfire by replacing a fuel injector, but the problems are still there. Now they're telling me they've done everything they can with the engine and that it must be a transmission issue causing all these symptoms. Does that sound right to you experienced folks? I'm just having trouble understanding how transmission problems would cause such rough idling and engine noise, but I honestly don't know enough to argue with them. …more

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Engine Medium Ongoing monitoring 70 👍 0

Cummins Engine Oil Analysis High Metals: Diagnosis & Next Steps

Around 6am yesterday my 2017 Discovery LXE 39g's 360hp Cummins started showing catastrophic metal levels on the oil analysis report. I sent a sample to the lab for analysis, and they reported that aluminum, iron, and copper levels are higher than typical generic Cummins engine averages. The lab suggested this could be due to extended oil change intervals from the previous owner, but without any baseline data or service records, I'm not sure how concerned I should be about these elevated metal readings.

The RV was previously in an accident (shows on CarFax as comprehensive damage) with front-end body work including wheel, steps, fender panel, and front cowling replacement, though a Cummins mechanic spent two hours going over the engine with me and didn't find any obvious mechanical issues. The lab recommended testing again after 2000 miles to see if the numbers improve, but I'm wondering how to properly interpret these initial results when I have no previous data to compare against. What's the best approach for establishing whether these metal levels indicate actual engine wear or just the residual effects of poor maintenance practices? …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours inspection 70 👍 0

Cummins ISM 500HP at 142K Miles: High Mileage or Just Getting Started?

Planning to buy my first diesel pusher and I'm completely clueless whether 142,187 miles on this 2005 Cummins ISM 500HP is considered high mileage. The coach is equipped with a Cummins ISM 500 horsepower engine paired with an Allison MH 4000 6-speed transmission. While I've done some research on these powertrains, I'm getting mixed opinions about what constitutes "high mileage" for this particular combination.

Some people are telling me that anything over 100K miles is getting into risky territory, while others say these commercial-grade engines are just getting broken in at that point. I want to make sure I'm not walking into a money pit, but I also don't want to pass up a good coach if the mileage number is scaring me unnecessarily.

What's the realistic lifespan expectation for the Cummins ISM 500HP and Allison MH4000 combination? Should 142K miles be a red flag that makes me walk away, or is this actually considered moderate mileage for these heavy-duty components? I'm trying to determine if I should focus more on the maintenance history and overall condition rather than getting hung up on the odometer reading. …more

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Engine Hard Professional diagnosis required 68 👍 0

2016 Winnebago Vista Engine Problems: Cost-Effective Replacement Options

My 2016 Winnebago Vista LX just died for the third time needing another engine replacement and we're supposed to leave for our cross-country trip next month. First engine failed at 55,000 miles, second at 20,000 miles. Ford dealer wants $31,000 for another new engine replacement.

With two failures already, I'm questioning if there's an underlying problem causing these repeated engine issues. Are there cost-effective alternatives to another expensive dealer replacement? Should I be looking at remanufactured engines or independent shops instead of going the same route that's failed twice? …more

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