My First Diesel, Questions

[Lukeaa]

Having just bought my first diesel (Cummins ILS 400) about a month ago, I need some advice from you pros out there.

1. What spares do I need to carry? Where is the best place to buy them?

2. I will follow the fluids recommendations in the manual. Any other recommendations for checking and/or fluid replacements?

3. What is the best way to clean the radiator when it needs it?

4. Does anyone recommend any fuel additives?

5. Any other bits of wisdom that will help me some dark night?

[Lukeaa]

Having just bought my first diesel (Cummins ILS 400) about a month ago, I need some advice from you pros out there.

1. What spares do I need to carry? Where is the best place to buy them?

2. I will follow the fluids recommendations in the manual. Any other recommendations for checking and/or fluid replacements?

3. What is the best way to clean the radiator when it needs it?

4. Does anyone recommend any fuel additives?

5. Any other bits of wisdom that will help me some dark night?

[Route 66]

Luke, I linked your post to the Motorhome - General Discussion forum, as many of your questions are not specific to Monaco.

1. I carry spare fuel filters (primary and secondary), oil filter, oil, transmission fluid, coolant, hydraulic fluid, and HWH jack fluid. Also generator oil, air and fuel filters.

2. The recommended fluids and intervals are right on target. Check the transmission via the shift pad, not the dipstick, as it's more accurate.

4. Cummins specifically states that NO additives are recommended, with the exception of a biocide when storing the rig for long period of time to prevent algae.

5. Good luck!

[BZam]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Lukeaa:
Having just bought my first diesel (Cummins ILS 400) about a month ago, I need some advice from you pros out there.

1. What spares do I need to carry? Where is the best place to buy them?

2. I will follow the fluids recommendations in the manual. Any other recommendations for checking and/or fluid replacements?

3. What is the best way to clean the radiator when it needs it?

4. Does anyone recommend any fuel additives?

5. Any other bits of wisdom that will help me some dark night? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

As was already said, carry spare filters.

I carry the two belts as these are frequently unique to specific engine series so need to be sure you get the right ones for your engine. You could be stuck somewhere a few days waiting on the correct belt to be shipped.

I have a side radiator and clean it every couple of years. I have used Fantastic spray on and hose down carefully but the way dishwasher Dawn cuts grease I believe I will use that next time.

I carry oil and coolant, but after 7 years I have rarely used any. Just added some coolant to generator and some to my engine tank a couple of times.

Bob

[Gary RVRoamer]

Think about what repairs you might do at the roadside and what could wait a day or so.

I carry a spare fuel filter. Can't think of any other filter I might need urgently, so I have tie to buy those if necessary. Most NAPA stores have the filters I use, or can get them overnight.

After taking a look at the belt routing, I decided I would probably be calling for help on that too. Still, I think it is a good idea to have one handy - you can find help to install it, but it's hard to make do without the belts.

[Ed S]

Ditto on the above...let me see what else do I carry??? tire gauge, tools, gloves for fueling, gloves for dump stations, all the phone numbers for any and all service I may need, jack pads, flash lights, gps, rain gear, bucket and brush to clean bugs of windshield,surge protector, extra fuses, duct tape, elect. tape, and a whole lot of other stuff dw brings.

Good luck!!!
Ed
06 Endeaver

[Diplomat Don]

Lukeaa.....The most important filters you might need on the road are the two fuel filters and the air dryer filter. All the others would not disable you.

I carry an unmounted spare tire that I wrapped with saran wrap and then taped. It sits in my slide tray and I store stuff in the center of it. If you blow a tire, even in a big city, you may wait up to three days for a new one.

I have a rear radiator like yours and every spring I crawl under the coach with 409 or Simple Green and spray the heck out of it from the engine side. I then go into the bedroom, pull up the floor panel, and spray it some more. I let it soak for a few minutes and then I start the coach. While the coach is running I crawl under one corner and spray the engine side of the radiator with a garden hose for several minutes.

Monaco in the past few years has also recommended that you lube the driveshaft every 5000 miles. There is a tremendous amount of torque transmitted by the ISL 400.

I have a different opinion on additives after recently reading some information on the quality of diesel fuel and it's lubricity. I just started using Opti_lube Summer Blend. This product and about 9 other popular brands were tested and this one increased the lubricity tremendously. No other exotic claims, just improves the lubricity of the fuel.

[Les Stallings]

I'm an Opti-Lube XPD Diesel Fuel Improver
fan also. Most likely, I read the same independent study as Don (Turbo Diesel Registry magazine article). I use it on my Cummins ISB (Dodge truck) and the ISL.

[Sixpack98]

All the posts had excellent recommendations and the only thing I would add is a roadside assistance program such as CoachNet. Trying to find a tech or a towing service in Buffalo Chips North Dakota is a horrible experience and most of these programs are under $100 a year. I have a rider on my MH insurance but I think CoachNet has a better handle on what a diesel MH requires.

DipDon. Thanks for the tip on Opti-Lube XPD

mark

[sjholt]

Opti-Lube XPD contains:

Petroleum naphtha: Solvent-Refined Heavy

Trimethylbenzene: solvent

2-Ethylhexyl nitrate: cetane enhancer

1 ,2,4-Trimethylbenzene: solvent
1 ,3,5-Trimethylbenzene: solvent

Propylene glycol ethers: are commonly used as solvents

Xylene : xylene refers to a group of three benzene derivatives which are used as a solvent

Cumene: is used as a thinner for paints,

Naphthalene: is a natural constituent of coal tar (approximately 11%) (HSBD, 1995). It is present in gasoline and diesel fuels. Naphthalene is used as a moth repellent,

Ethylbenzene: is an organic chemical compound which is an aromatic hydrocarbon. Its major use is in the petrochemical industry as an intermediate compound for the production of styrene, which in turn is used for making polystyrene, a commonly used plastic material



So-- I ask---"Where is the LUBE?"

[Camelot Camper]

And I'm new to diesel too.

Does diesel get stale like gas if it doesn't get burned in a couple of months? We're not full timers yet so we can't travel as much as we like. I would put Stabil in the Pace Arrow gas when I knew it was going to be a couple of months before the next trip. Am I suppose to be doing that with diesel too?

CC

[Route 66]

IMHO, the best thing is to keep the tank full, and use a biocide to prevent algae if you want, and Cummins doesn't recommend anything other than that.

[Pusherman]

Diesel does not get stale like gasoline does. Do not add Stabil in diesel, as it's for gas only.

The only additives you might consider are 1) an anti-gelling additive for winter storage, especially if you're going to drive the coach in freezing weather, and 2) an algacide if you're storing the coach in warm weather for an extended period of time.

[chasfm11]

I decided that there is no way that I can carry all of the spares that I might possibly need so I bought Coach Net and hope that they can get us to where I can shop for parts if necessary. I do carry two spare fuel filters and a serpentine belt for the engine. I also have spare transmission fluid, engine oil and coolant. For everything else there is duct tape

I also decided that buying diesel only from high volume truck stops is the way that I want to go. I can only say - so far, so good with that. Our diesel can sit for a couple of months (we don't burn through the whole tank every time out.)