Fridge Facts
The refrigerator in our motorhome works sporadically. During our last trip, it didn’t work at all. We took the RV to a home appliance store and the diagnosis was that they needed to “burp the fridge,” because of the ammonia within the sealed system. So, they want to remove the refrigerator, turn it upside down for 24 hours, and then put it back in the motorhome. Have you ever heard of such a solution?
Lauren D. Aldrich
Omaha, Nebraska
There are circumstances in which the circulation of the cooling unit will be restricted or totally blocked by sodium chromate crystals or a piece of welding debris, thus affecting the ability of the cooling unit to work properly. When the refrigerator is turned upside down, the refrigerant back flushes the system. The hope is that this will clear the blockage. However, even if successful, the debris is still in the system. It may stay unblocked forever or possibly only for a short time. If the cooling unit has an ammonia leak or has lost its hydrogen charge, burping it will have no effect.
Weighing In
I just purchased a 2013 43-foot Monaco Diplomat with a tag axle. I would like to know whether there is a local service that would come to my home and weigh each individual wheel so I can adjust the tire pressures accordingly. I have a scale I can go to, but they only do total weight.
Tommy Matthews, F384509
Franklin, Louisiana
It is great that you are cognizant of the need to weigh your motorhome wheel by wheel. Unfortunately, I don’t know of any companies with portable scales that make “house calls.” The RV Safety & Education Foundation (RVSEF) does offer such a weighing service at FMCA Family Reunions and select rallies across the country. In addition to weighing motorhomes, they provide an analysis with each weighing. Additional locations for coach weighing, and other information about weights and tire safety, are listed on the RVSEF Web site — www.rvsafety.com. I communicated with RVSEF executive director Walter Cannon, and he said that they do have a stationary location in Colorado that weighs coaches and offers the RVSEF analysis. Walter also noted that he can weigh coaches at his location in Merritt Island, Florida, when he is not traveling. You can contact him via the www.rvsafety.com Web site. He also noted that state departments of transportation may have portable scales, but we feel scertain they would not come to your home to weigh the coach. I’m not sure whether they would allow you to drive the motorhome to their facility to have it weighed, but it doesn’t hurt to check. Sorry we couldn’t offer more immediate assistance.
Too Many Cats
I have a 1997 36-foot National RV Dolphin motorhome with a Chevy 7.4-liter gasoline engine. I have had this motorhome for approximately 15 years. It has a little more than 83,000 miles on it, and it still runs good. However, since I’ve owned this motorhome, I have had to put six catalytic converters on it. Our cars are old but still have the same catalytic converters that came with them when purchased. Should I have the O2 sensor replaced every two years regardless of whether it is good? When the technician performs a smog check, can they tell whether the O2 sensor is faulty? Or do they just replace the catalytic converter and the O2 sensor anyway?
Walter Terry, F187061
Union City, California
The O2 sensor should only be changed if it’s faulty. A good service shop can zero in on the problem so you won’t have to throw money at it until it’s solved. When I lived in California I never burned up a catalytic converter, but my Jeep did require a new O2 sensor every two years. I can’t tell the specific reason your catalytic converter is burning out, but I can tell you what usually causes the problem — a malfunctioning oxygen sensor. This can cause thermal failure, which means that a large amount of excess raw fuel is making its way to the catalytic converter. Old spark plugs or plug wires that are prone to misfiring also can cause this problem. If you keep your engine tuned, you should avoid catalytic burnout.
Excessive heat caused by driving too fast, overloading, or towing also could be causing the problem.
Coach Tires
I have a 2000 National RV Tradewinds model 7370 with Michelin 235/80 R22.5 XZE tires. It will need new tires soon and I have heard that only Michelin makes this size tire, and that they might discontinue them. I also have heard that I cannot use any other brands/sizes without risking the possibility of the tires causing damage to my wheel wells and/or the body edging around the wheel wells. I’m hoping you can shed some light on this subject and possibly lead me to other companies that make this size/style of tire for a Type A motorhome. Are there any tire vendors you know that may have the answers to this situation?
Don Feltner, F275426
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Michelin makes excellent tires for motorhomes, and the tires that you mention are still being sold by the company. For more information, visit www.michelinrvtires.com or call (800) 847-3435.
While you need to pay attention to the overall width and diameter when purchasing replacement tires, the specifications do not need to match exactly. Most of the time if they are close, you can use an alternative tire; just make sure the new tires have an equal or higher load range rating.
At least one other manufacturer makes excellent RV tires, Goodyear. You can download Goodyear’s RV tire care guide, if you have Internet access, at www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/tire-care-guide.pdf. While Goodyear doesn’t offer precisely the same size tire that you have, the guide does show a conversion that will allow you to use 245/75R22.5 G670 RV tires. The guide also gives information about weight, inflation, care, etc. of RV tires. You’ll need to check with your local Goodyear dealer on prices and availability.
You also might want to do an Internet search for “motorhome tires” to see whether other manufacturers make tires of a similar size and load range as the Michelins that you currently have.
Windshield Woes
I own a 2001 Discovery 37G Type A motorhome. The glass windshield continually streaks and is very difficult to clean. The streaking seems to be coming from the black rubber molding at the top. I am a new member and am pleased to have saved more than $600 on my new Michelin XRV tires!
Joe Williams, F426554
Wilmington, Delaware
Welcome to FMCA! Glad to hear about your savings on Michelin tires. A number of other members have experienced savings also.
The streaking problem could be an environmental issue in your area. Here in Arizona, I’ve never had that problem on my coach or even heard of it. However, if you think the problem is originating at the black rubber molding around the windshield, I suggest that you thoroughly clean it with mild soap and water, which could solve the problem. If it continues, you might consider carefully applying a dry silicone spray. Use a shop rag to keep the spray off the glass as much as possible and wipe it down after each spray application. Another option is to install the rubberized EZE RV Gutter J-Channel above the windshield to act as a gutter and keep that water from running down onto the glass.
LPG Tank Info
I own a 1997 Fleetwood Pace Arrow motorhome. How long does the onboard propane tank last?
Real Daigle, F378511
Lachine, Quebec
I’m still using the original ASME propane tank on my 1999 motorhome and haven’t even considered replacing it. There are no age requirements in Canada for onboard propane systems. However, in many provinces it is mandatory that the propane system undergo a regular inspection by a qualified technician. Contact the motor vehicle branch in the province where you own your motorhome to inquire about requirements that may apply to you. There are no age or recertification regulations for ASME tanks in the United States. However, it is recommended that the tank be regularly inspected and that the mounting bolts be torqued periodically. If rust is found, it should be removed and the tank properly painted.
Battery Drainage
I have a 2003 Gulf Stream Ultra Supreme Type A motorhome, and I am having trouble with chassis battery drainage. I have had the motorhome checked out by an auto electrical shop a couple of times, and technicians said that they couldn’t determine what was causing the drainage. Do you have any ideas about what might be causing the batteries to drain?
Woodrow R. Burbage, F295776
Aiken, South Carolina
Perhaps you’re chasing the wrong end of the problem. It’s possible that the shop has already covered this, but there could be an internal short in the battery. A very slight short is hard to detect, but you might try this. On a cool morning, feel the battery case to see whether it is warm. If it is, you might want to have that battery checked more thoroughly, or replace it.
You also should use a voltmeter to determine whether chassis and house batteries are receiving a charge from the alternator when the engine is running. You also should verify that there is some means of charging the battery banks (shore power, solar power) when the motorhome is being stored. If no charging source is available, disconnect the batteries or set up a charger for any battery bank not already set up on one. Other options for maintaining the chassis battery charge are to install a quality trickle-charger, a relay that charges the chassis battery from the house battery, or a solar charger.
Differential Failure
I recently purchased a 2005 Georgetown XL motorhome on a Ford F-53 chassis with 17,700 miles on the odometer. I also purchased a service contract for the motorhome.
On the third trip my wife and I took in the motorhome (a total of 200 miles), I noticed a loud whining sound. I called the local Ford dealer and made an appointment to have the vehicle inspected. After the inspection, the service manager told me that the differential fluid was approximately 20 percent moisture, which caused the carrier bearing to fail and destroy the gears. The dealer was required to contact the service contract company prior to any repairs. After two days, an adjuster from the insurance company inspected the vehicle. The company refused to pay the claim, saying that the problem was a pre-existing condition. The total repair cost was $4,273.62. The dealer we purchased the motorhome from paid $3,000, but we had to pay the difference.
The main reason for writing is that the local Ford dealer told me that they hardly ever have a problem like this, but do encounter it from time to time. He recommended that the differential should be serviced annually. He said that the reason for the excess moisture in the differential was that the motorhome sat unused for a long period. I have never heard anyone discuss this type of a situation, so I thought your readers might learn from my experience.
Don McCord, F416590
Mexico, Missouri
Don, thank you for sharing this information. This problem also can occur in motorhomes that have been in a flood. In addition, mud daubers can plug the breather tube, which can trap moisture generated by the heating and cooling of the differential during normal operation.
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