ownership costs - 1989 to 1991 vintage Bluebird Wanderlodge

[George Lowry]

Hi Frank,

You didn't specify where this was but it sounds a bit outrageous even
for the Republic of Kalifornia where I have had complete oil and
filter change plus lube for $110 at a regular truck stop. In the US,
things run considerably cheaper. "Tune-ups" shouldn't be needed very
often. Those were Detroit two stroke diesels in that vintage of bird
and should not need a "tune-up" for 100,000 or more miles. And the
price sounds like about twice what I have seen. Price for tires sounds
about right though some here pay more. I think that the owner was
going to a place that had NO knowledge of the Detroit engine if it
took them $2,000 to figure out that the fuel filters needed replacing.
Fuel filter replacement is a common for the Detroits. I usually
carried a spare set but they only cost around $10 - 20.

I have an idea that the owner did not use the coach very much AND
failed to treat the diesel fuel with an Algaecide. This is a very
common mistake with new diesel owners and some NEVER learn. There is
always some water in a fuel tank, sitting at the bottom. Algae will
tend to grow at the junction of the water and the diesel and that
algae will clog the filters. Those clogged filters will result in a
rough running engine and finally in a "NOT running" engine. I learned
this by experience about 15 years ago. One of the reasons I carry the
spare filters. Any time the coach is going to be sitting for two weeks
or longer, I recommend treating the fuel. As long as you are traveling
and putting fresh fuel into it, you will probably not have problems.
I use Howe's diesel treatment available at most truck stops.

We have a '95 bird and when purchased we found a lot of maintenance
items including new exhaust, tires, and other items which ran us about
$6,000 to get it into shape. I did add some things like a reusable air
filter. After that, an filter and oil change once a year is all we
have had to spend.

Perhaps this gives a better perspective...

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203 & GM 4106 (for sale)
Spearfish, SD

braemaroh wrote:

>
> could I get some feedback on the annual maintenance and repair costs
> for a bluebird about 15 years old?
>
> I looked at a 15 year old unit, very good condition, average miles.
> The annual bills were a shock. They averaged 3,000 to handle routine
> maintenance. Items needing repair ran four times what I would expect.
> $200 oil changes, $1,800 tuneups were common. Replacing AC units or
> inop refrigerator ran $1,500 to 2,000. Tires ran 1,800 for four, with
> two more to go! troubleshooting a rough running engine socked the
> owner for $2,000 and resulted in the replacement of two fuel filters.
> This ritual repeated itself the following year. If the motorhome was a
> gift, it looks like it would still cost $500 per month to keep it
> running. Isn't this a little high? After paying for it, and the
> additional $500 to keep it on the road, you still have not bought
> insurance, or paid for the wear and tear or the campsite for the
> night, or storage in the off season.
>
> How about extended warranties? The owner plunked down almost $4,000
> for two years of warranty, and did not have a single claim. Are these
> warranties worth the price?
>
> Any accountants out there owning a vintage bird?
>
> I would love to hear from everyone!
>
> Frank
>
>