Removing the doghouse 84FC35

[James Harvie]

Gregory, True you would have to evacute the system, and there is a procedure to
follow, you can't just throw it in.The key is to mix it, for an opptimum of -34F
check it with a refractomomiter, add a small amount of a chemical (not sure what
it is, comes in a small bottle) run the vehicle for 5 minutes, test the
coolant, with a strip simmular to the ones used to test for ph I haven't read
all of the pros and cons with using Dexcool, and I wasn't aware of the reaction
from long periods of storage, or the reaction to Alluminum. I thought that was
one of the reasons, they went to that, due to the fact that most new vehicles
use Aluminum raidiators So if this is the case, I'd get a second opinnion, too..
Thanks.

Jimmy Harvie

35FC Boston Ma
Gregory OConnor wrote:
James, One thing I can think of is the arduous task of evacuating the
green from the entire system. I understand Dexcool is not compatible
with the green and or the additives that went along with the green
during interval PM. RV's have uncommon factors that may not have
studied in development or testing. Low use; long periods of storage;
use of fluids for other applications; volume of fluid. Penske may
only max ownership of a fleetvehicle for 6 years. I wonder if the
sales term 'permanent' is that period one owner retains a vehicle?

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, James Harvie
wrote:
>
> Just courious. Is there any reason the cooling system, can't be
converted to DexCool?, Permenant Antifreeze ( the green) isn't really
permenant. It will never freeze, but after time it turns from
Allaline, to acid, hence the need to check the PH level. If you don't
maintain that, Radiators corrode,engines with cylinder liners, will
start pitting, etc. With Dexcool, you don't have to worry about all
that. I have converted everything I own to Dexcool and so has Penske,
all 270,000 trucks.
>
> Keith Strehle wrote: Thanks! That's
good info. I guess I better get busy finding my
> local Cat dealer.
>
> Keith
> 84FC35
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ac7880"
> wrote:
> >
> > Your Cat dealer sells coolant test strips, and a "SCA" coolant
> > additive. The Cat 3208 on your coach does not use a coolant
> filter,
> > so that is not a avenue to add the SCA.
> >
> > Dan
> > Prior 83 FC35, current 94 BMC 37'
> > NM
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Strehle"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Yep, very sure. I may install one later but right now I just
> want
> > to
> > > attend to the immediate maintenance issues. Seems like pulling
> the
> > > radiator is not too much trouble? I need to change the coolant
> > > anyway.
> > >
> > > Speaking of coolant --- I've heard mention of coolant
> conditioners
> > > and checking the pH level? Do you know about that? Some have
> said
> > > it may be in the form of a filter?
> > >
> > > Thanks, Keith
> > > 84FC35
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ac7880"
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Since you have an 84, I am guessing you do indeed have the
> swing
> > > > radiator. Are your sure it is not a swing radiator?
> > > >
> > > > Dan prior 83 Fc35
> > > > NM
> > > >
> > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Strehle"
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Unfortunately the folks I bought the bird from were not
very
> > > > familiar
> > > > > with the maintenance schedule. It appears the Bird was
> > > maintained
> > > > on
> > > > > a regular schedule but was stored outside. It has a very
new
> > > > > appearance on the inside but the outside has suffered a
> > little.
> > > > Not
> > > > > much though. It was a "family" bus. Several brothers used
> the
> > > bus
> > > > > from time to time and none of them were real clear on what
> had
> > > been
> > > > > done. I had a friend and fellow bird owner, Robert Britton,
> > check
> > > > it
> > > > > out for me. I drove it from San Jose to San diego 500+
miles
> > with
> > > > no
> > > > > problems.
> > > > >
> > > > > This mobile mechanic was recommended by a local and well
> > > respected
> > > > RV
> > > > > shop in Escondido. But I agree and don't plan on letting
him
> > do
> > > > > anything except general maintenance. I like to do as much
of
> > the
> > > > > work as I can. Doghouse removal is one of the things I'll
do
> > > > before
> > > > > having the valve adjustment done. Same with the hoses and
> > > belts.
> > > > > The air filter is just like yours and shouldn't be a
problem.
> > > > >
> > > > > I plan to turn it into a "proven" coach by putting some
miles
> > and
> > > > > some usage on it.
> > > > >
> > > > > So tomorrow I'm getting the front tires replaced and then
the
> > > > general
> > > > > maintenance stuff. Just trying to get a little peace of
mind
> > > > before
> > > > > driving to Arizona in April.
> > > > >
> > > > > I guess I'll have to save the coolant change, belts and
hoses
> > for
> > > > > another weekend. I'll get the mobile mechanic to help me
> out.
> > > > I'll
> > > > > do the grunt work.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then I'll need to get the tranny serviced...
> > > > >
> > > > > It never ends does it? But it's been a lot of fun so far!
> > > > >
> > > > > Keith
> > > > > 84FC35
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
> >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Keith,
> > > > > > If your air cleaner filter is mounted on the top of the
> > engine
> > > > like
> > > > > mine is, there is
> > > > > > absolutely no reason to remove the doghouse to change it.
> > It's
> > > a
> > > > > large, square, metal box
> > > > > > that sits right on top of the turbo intake. I recently
> > changed
> > > > > mine out in 20-30 minutes.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Bear in mind, there are various skill levels out there
when
> > it
> > > > > comes to mechanical help.
> > > > > > This guy may be able to "check" belts and hoses but I
> > wouldn't
> > > > let
> > > > > him near the 3208
> > > > > > engine internals (I'm talking valve adjustments, etc)
> unless
> > he
> > > > is
> > > > > a trained, experienced,
> > > > > > diesel mechanic. Many of the really qualified people
don't
> > > like
> > > > to
> > > > > mess with motorhomes
> > > > > > and things like doghouse removal, so you will need to
talk
> to
> > > > other
> > > > > Bird owners in your
> > > > > > area or conduct your own search to find someone that CAN
do
> > it
> > > > and
> > > > > WANTS to do it at
> > > > > > some reasonable cost. Hint...your local Caterpillar shop
> may
> > > do
> > > > > the job, on their terms,
> > > > > > but you will pay very dearly. My first valve
> > > adjustment/injector
> > > > > change cost $2,400 done
> > > > > > by Cat. This was after they estimated the cost at $800.
> > They
> > > > > blamed it all on the time it
> > > > > > took to remove and replace the doghouse.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > There is no way to check condition, replace belts and
> > retension
> > > > > your belts without
> > > > > > removing the radiator. Same goes for hoses. There are
> quite
> > a
> > > > > number of hoses you can't
> > > > > > even really see from above or below the engine. I open up
> > the
> > > > > front or our coach at least
> > > > > > annually to look things over. Check the file I posted in
> the
> > > > files
> > > > > section under "3208 Belts
> > > > > > FC" if you want more data on belts and tensioning.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Changing oil/filters, air filter belts and hoses is a
good
> > > place
> > > > to
> > > > > start. Do you know the
> > > > > > original owner so you can find out when and what
> maintenance
> > > > items
> > > > > he has done
> > > > > > recently? There is a real laundry list of other items, as
> > I'm
> > > > sure
> > > > > you're aware, of other
> > > > > > things to look at. I can send you a maintenance
> spreadsheet
> > I
> > > > use
> > > > > to keep track of stuff on
> > > > > > our coach if you're interested.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Finding an 84FC with only 36,000 miles is quite a find.
If
> > it
> > > > was
> > > > > stored and maintained
> > > > > > well you are in luck. Low mileage is great from a
cosmetic
> > > wear
> > > > > standpoint but these units
> > > > > > do best from a mechanical standpoint when they are used
> > > regularly.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Regards, Eric in San Antonio
> > > > > > 84FC35SBWL2
> > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Strehle"
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I just bought the Bird and I'm trying to catch up on
some
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > > more
> > > > > > > immediate maintenance issues. Oil/filter change, fuel
> > > filter,
> > > > > air
> > > > > > > filter, check belts and hoses, lube the chasis, etc.
The
> > guy
> > > > > said he
> > > > > > > can do most of this in three hours. However, as it
turns
> > > out,
> > > > > this
> > > > > > > Bird has 36,000 miles so it seems like a good time to
> > adjust
> > > > the
> > > > > > > valves.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > But one thing at a time... I don't have a swing
> radiator.
> > > I'm
> > > > > just
> > > > > > > wondering if he can get at the air filter without
> removing
> > > the
> > > > > dog
> > > > > > > house. And is there any access to check/adjust the
belts
> > > from
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > bottom?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Keith
> > > > > > > 84FC35
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
> > > >
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Keith,
> > > > > > > > You won't need to remove the doghouse to check the
> belts,
> > > > hoses
> > > > > and
> > > > > > > air filter but you
> > > > > > > > will need to open up the front of the coach which is
> much
> > > > > easier
> > > > > > > than removing the
> > > > > > > > doghouse. If you have a swing radiator, it will be a
> > > pretty
> > > > > short
> > > > > > > job to get to the front of
> > > > > > > > the engine. If you don't have a swing radiator (I
> don't)
> > > you
> > > > > will
> > > > > > > need to drain the radiator
> > > > > > > > and remove it. Takes about an hour when you're used
to
> > > doing
> > > > > it.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Removing the doghouse is required when you need to
get
> > into
> > > > the
> > > > > top
> > > > > > > of the engine to
> > > > > > > > adjust valves, replace injectors, etc. I posted a
> > > > Wanderlodge
> > > > > > > procedure for this in the Files
> > > > > > > > section of this forum. I just had an experienced BB
> > > mechanic
> > > > > pull
> > > > > > > the doghouse to do
> > > > > > > > some engine work. Took him 2 hours to get it out and
2
> > > hours
> > > > > to
> > > > > > > put it back in. It's heavy
> > > > > > > > and cumbersome to work with in a fairly tight area.
> > Avoid
> > > > this
> > > > > > > unless it's time to adjust
> > > > > > > > valves (every 40,000 miles per Caterpillar).
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Regards, Eric in San Antonio
> > > > > > > > 84FC35SBWL2
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Keith
> Strehle"
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I recently saw a post on removing the doghouse. I'm
> > > having
> > > > > some
> > > > > > > > > maintenance done tomorrow by a mobile mechanic and
> > > thought
> > > > it
> > > > > > > would be
> > > > > > > > > a good idea to be familiar with doghouse removal.
He
> > says
> > > > he
> > > > > will
> > > > > > > check
> > > > > > > > > all the belts , hoses, and air filter, etc. I think
> it
> > > > > > > says "dynapak"
> > > > > > > > > on the filter housing and I'm certain I'll need to
> > remove
> > > > the
> > > > > > > doghouse
> > > > > > > > > to get at the belts, etc.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Your help is appreciated, Keith
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > 84FC35
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
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