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07-22-2017, 12:24 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,385
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Hot weather Driving Tips--Alpines
It is totally too hot for travelling right now but if you have to: 1-leave the rear engine compartment door open while driving; 2-shift down to keep the engine RPMs up on long grades [2000+ RPMs]; 3-make sure you leave the dash air selector on "Max" setting; 4-hang "designer" shower curtains behind driver/pass seats to seal off/keep cab area cooler; and 5-start genset and use roof A/C, if needed......stay cool......
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Old Scout
2015 IH45 Foretravel
2003 Alpine 40' MDTS [Sold]
New Braunfels, Texas
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07-23-2017, 03:01 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,385
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Number 6--once engine has reached ops temps, check the "h-valve" on you dash heater core to make sure hot coolant is not leaking passed the valve and heating the core.....
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Old Scout
2015 IH45 Foretravel
2003 Alpine 40' MDTS [Sold]
New Braunfels, Texas
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07-24-2017, 07:25 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,163
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I would add to replace the radiator cap every few years. I have had a couple leak a bit when hot.
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2014 Phaeton 36gh
2008 Jeep Rubicon or 2012 Ford F150 4x4 Lariat towds
or a couple of different trailers
Retired in Apple Valley, California
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07-24-2017, 07:50 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: May 2004
Location: WA
Posts: 234
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Thanks Dean, your post always have GOOD information.
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Gary & Renee
Mojo & Jetta
2006 APEX, Wrangler
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07-24-2017, 07:52 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 241
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A good list, thanks!
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07-24-2017, 10:14 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Traveling in North America
Posts: 2,248
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What is too hot for an Alpine?
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Barbara & David O'Keeffe
Figment II (Alpine 2002 36 MDDS)
On The Road since 2006
Blog
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07-24-2017, 02:46 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Surprise, AZ
Posts: 836
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When your comfort level drops below your acceptable level!?
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Bob Bowers (Surprise, AZ)
2003 Alpine Coach 40' FDTS
2014 Jeep Cherokee Lattitude
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07-24-2017, 04:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 7,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbaraok
What is too hot for an Alpine?
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Lots of variables:
Sure, ambient temperature is a big one.
But 105 degrees on flat ground is different than on significant long grades.
No toad vs 7,000 pound toad give different heat loads to the cooling package.
If we know we will be transiting an area with marginal conditions (and certainly if below marginal) we get up pre-dawn and try to be parked by noon. Have done that several times crossing the desert SW in the summer.
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Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38FDDS. Ex: 1997 Safari Sahara. Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240
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07-24-2017, 04:41 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,957
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bcbowers
When your comfort level drops below your acceptable level!?
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As you can guess from the location portion of his signature, Bob knows a lot about heat and acceptable levels!!!
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Jim A
'04 Alpine Coach 36' MDDS
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07-26-2017, 09:22 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 300
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I installed an overflow tank on the the coach's original tank and have never had to add antifreeze again.
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07-26-2017, 10:12 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,385
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Adding additional expansion tanks--this issue varies from coach to coach but my general observation is that owners tend to overfill the OEM expansion tank. Combine this with an old/weak radiator cap and you have a continuous overflow issue. Proper check and fill procedures require that the engine be warmed to ops temperature and be running BEFORE checking coolant level--then coolant should be at sight=glass level. If you check while cold--expansion tank will appear to be low. Exception to this observation is when the sight=glass fails and traps coolant inside the lens. In this case, tank appears to be full, regardless of engine temps.
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Old Scout
2015 IH45 Foretravel
2003 Alpine 40' MDTS [Sold]
New Braunfels, Texas
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07-26-2017, 05:27 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Wales, FL
Posts: 3,113
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Scout
Adding additional expansion tanks--this issue varies from coach to coach but my general observation is that owners tend to overfill the OEM expansion tank. Combine this with an old/weak radiator cap and you have a continuous overflow issue. Proper check and fill procedures require that the engine be warmed to ops temperature and be running BEFORE checking coolant level--then coolant should be at sight=glass level. If you check while cold--expansion tank will appear to be low. Exception to this observation is when the sight=glass fails and traps coolant inside the lens. In this case, tank appears to be full, regardless of engine temps.
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Dean, I agree with the proper procedure you detail above, but it is a real PITA to check the level daily after the engine is warmed to operating temps, by that time I am usually miles down the road, I normally start the engine 10 minutes before hitting the road while I finish buttoning up and keep the rpm's down for the first 20, or so, minutes. I wish WRV had placed a sight glass at the cold level, it would make morning starts soooo much easier. I have a VMSpc that I use to closely monitor the running temp, it normally runs at 190 - 195 and if it gets too high (above 205) I down shift to increase the rpm's. I have never seen it above 207, even on some of the grades in the west, but I stay away from there in July and August[emoji106].
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Dave, Bobbi and Fenway
2005 38' FDTS Alpine Limited, 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Lake Wales, FL
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07-26-2017, 09:05 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Traveling in North America
Posts: 2,248
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DrDaveMA
Dean, I agree with the proper procedure you detail above, but it is a real PITA to check the level daily after the engine is warmed to operating temps, by that time I am usually miles down the road, I normally start the engine 10 minutes before hitting the road while I finish buttoning up and keep the rpm's down for the first 20, or so, minutes. I wish WRV had placed a sight glass at the cold level, it would make morning starts soooo much easier. I have a VMSpc that I use to closely monitor the running temp, it normally runs at 190 - 195 and if it gets too high (above 205) I down shift to increase the rpm's. I have never seen it above 207, even on some of the grades in the west, but I stay away from there in July and August[emoji106].
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How much effort is required while out checking to make sure the jacks are down, etc. to walk back and open the engine area and check the sight glass? Just part of our routine when getting into a site and making hookups, etc. Did have a new sight glass put in this year. Really easy to view - doesn't take much to make my life easier.
__________________
Barbara & David O'Keeffe
Figment II (Alpine 2002 36 MDDS)
On The Road since 2006
Blog
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07-27-2017, 06:24 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Camas, WA
Posts: 290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbaraok
Did have a new sight glass put in this year. Really easy to view - doesn't take much to make my life easier.
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David where did you get your new sight glass from?
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Rick T
2006 Alpine 34FDDS
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