Kountry Star cummins isl engine

[Beowulf2]

We recently purchase a 2005 Nemar Kountry Star diesel pusher with a cummins isl engine. This is our third motor home but our first diesel which I am learning a lot about.

I am going to change the two fuel filters when the weather is a little warmer. I am going to change one filter at a time with the water filter first.

Before starting work I would like to know the following:
- Is there positive static fuel pressure on the filters that have to be
relieved before they are remove?
- With the fuel tank drain or does the fuel solenoid prevent fuel flow from
the tank?
- Any other suggests for the first time would be appreciated.

I found many pictures of diesel motor home fires on the internet. There was one Dutch Star posting on iRV2 which had burnt that had came back from the garage the day before. This is why I want to do most of my own maintenace.

I also found another posting of a oil dip stick tubing being to close to the hot exhaust manifold. I check the dip stick on my motor home and it has some red insulation around it and the dip stick seems to be some sort of plastic.

- How would I move it further away from the hot manifold?
- Any suggests on protecting the dip stick?
- Is there a metal dip stick available?

[Gary RVRoamer]

Nothing to bleed when removing the filters.

My fuel tank doesn't drain, but yours might. Locations of filters and routing of fuel lines varies a bit with chassis manufacturer and type. Cummins doesn't make the fuel system - the chassis manufacturer does. Is yours a Spartan or Freightliner? And which model from that manufacturer. Freightliner has several configurations and Spartan at least a couple.

The Cummins-approved method of getting fuel back into the filters is to cycle the key on/off several times, engaging the lift pump to move fuel from the tank to the filter. Do one filter at a time and start and run the engine for several minutes to be sure fuel has displaced all air in the system.

Old hands will tell you to pre-fill the filters with clean diesel, being extremely careful to avoid getting any dust/dirt into the filter. Fill it through the small holes around the circumference rather than the big center hole - that assures the fuel passes through the filter before moving on toward the engine.

[05kstar]

Kountry Stars don't have ISL engine It is an ISC. I ordered mine new in 2005 and am very familiar with all of the options that were available.

[GaryKD]

Hi Beowulf2,
I have a Newmar KSDP with an ISC engine. I do all my own maintenance. I pre fill the fuel and fuel/water separator filters. I do one filter at a time. Once carefully pre-filled via the small holes, I remove the old filter, clean all the gasket mating surfaces make sure the "O" ring is removed and replaced and install the new filter. Some fuel will come out of the engine. I have my routine down to about 15 seconds from the un install to the reinstall. This minimizes lost fuel and air in the fuel system.my oil filter seems to have a bad sense of humor. Somehow this filter gets a whole lot tighter than when I installed it. Every year, it is a battle to get the old filter off. Maybe your engine will be different.

Lastly, when refilling with oil, put in about 4 quarts less than the book calls for. Once you run the engine take a dip stick reading. Add one quart at a time until your at the middle of the acceptable range on the dip stick. Then as you check the oil determine where the ending like the oil level. My engine is a bit persnickety about the oil level. If I keep it right at the add oil level it is happy. Any additional oil added will just be blown out the slobber tube.

As to the dip stick tube being too close to the engine, make sure it is routed as far away from the engine as possible. Wire ties will work. The red covering should be a heat resistant material to keep the dip stick tube from being burned through. It is important for the heat shield material to run the full length of the dip stick.