Rear Engine Disaster...

[gatayloe@prodigy.net]

I have a 2008 Winneagbo Destination, UFO, Rear Engine 8.1 Liter Vortex, that has blown 1) an engine, 2) 3 Water Pump 3) Fan Assembly from 2 different engines. The original engine was blown because of cracked water pump, having only 5089 miles on it. Workhorse replaced the engine, only to have the same problem to occur again, cracked water pump, but the engine was not blown again. Mileage this time is 5200. Dealer has installed a total of 4 water pumps, and I have broken down twice on the open road, luckily only 60 miles from home. Workhorse claims that they have not experienced any problem with the UFO Rear Engine Gas, but I find this hard to believe. I have yet to get the motor home from the dealer/purchaser who is trying to correct the problem....but the tech is feeling very uneasy about it. Workhorse won't comment, nor will they reimburse me for expenses paid out to attend a rally in Vermont.
I suggest all Rear Engine Gas purchaser have their motorhome checked out for possible cracked water pumps and fan assembly, as the fan assembly may be putting undue pressure on the water pump causing them to cracked.

09/19/2008....Thought I would update some information concerning my problem on the water pumps issue and other things. Workhorse contacted me concerning the issue and admits that there are a few units having the same issues that I have, but mine seems to be unique. The tech at the dealer claims that the fan is virbating which in turn is causing strain on the water pump, there by the pumps are blowing. The tech has already replaced a total of 4 water pumps, 2 fans including the clutch assembly and what other parts that deals with the Fan and water pumps. Workhorse claims that they have been unable to duplicate the problem that I am having on their test vehicles and they claim to have about 5 test UFO with rear engine. He tells me that 3 of these engines have well over 50K miles on them and no breakdowns so far. Currently the selling dealer is awaiting a fan assembly, along with another water pump and special software to help diagnois the problem. I have also forwarded to the service manager of the selling dealer the various replies about the water pump issue as well as the fan issue to let him know that mine is not a unique problem and it is know by Workhorse......who claims that this problem is in only a small percentages of UFO Rear engine chassis made early in production.

[gatayloe@prodigy.net]

I have a 2008 Winneagbo Destination, UFO, Rear Engine 8.1 Liter Vortex, that has blown 1) an engine, 2) 3 Water Pump 3) Fan Assembly from 2 different engines. The original engine was blown because of cracked water pump, having only 5089 miles on it. Workhorse replaced the engine, only to have the same problem to occur again, cracked water pump, but the engine was not blown again. Mileage this time is 5200. Dealer has installed a total of 4 water pumps, and I have broken down twice on the open road, luckily only 60 miles from home. Workhorse claims that they have not experienced any problem with the UFO Rear Engine Gas, but I find this hard to believe. I have yet to get the motor home from the dealer/purchaser who is trying to correct the problem....but the tech is feeling very uneasy about it. Workhorse won't comment, nor will they reimburse me for expenses paid out to attend a rally in Vermont.
I suggest all Rear Engine Gas purchaser have their motorhome checked out for possible cracked water pumps and fan assembly, as the fan assembly may be putting undue pressure on the water pump causing them to cracked.

09/19/2008....Thought I would update some information concerning my problem on the water pumps issue and other things. Workhorse contacted me concerning the issue and admits that there are a few units having the same issues that I have, but mine seems to be unique. The tech at the dealer claims that the fan is virbating which in turn is causing strain on the water pump, there by the pumps are blowing. The tech has already replaced a total of 4 water pumps, 2 fans including the clutch assembly and what other parts that deals with the Fan and water pumps. Workhorse claims that they have been unable to duplicate the problem that I am having on their test vehicles and they claim to have about 5 test UFO with rear engine. He tells me that 3 of these engines have well over 50K miles on them and no breakdowns so far. Currently the selling dealer is awaiting a fan assembly, along with another water pump and special software to help diagnois the problem. I have also forwarded to the service manager of the selling dealer the various replies about the water pump issue as well as the fan issue to let him know that mine is not a unique problem and it is know by Workhorse......who claims that this problem is in only a small percentages of UFO Rear engine chassis made early in production.

[FrontRangeRVer]

Welcome to the forum.

Apparently, there is an inherent problem with the water pumps on the UFO's as this has happened previously with another member here.

Hopefully he will chime in and provide some feedback.

[UFO Pilot]

You can follow the thread on my UFO water pump failures HERE.

I have put 4000 plus miles on it since the failure. I haven't had any furthur problems.

[-Gramps-]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by FrontRangeRVer:
Welcome to the forum.

Apparently, there is an inherent problem with the water pumps on the UFO's as this has happened previously with another member here.

Hopefully he will chime in and provide some feedback. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


The same waterpump is used in both the front and rear gasser. The difference is the fan blade pitch. The front gasser pulls air through the radiator and blows it over the engine. The pump in the rear gasser, pulls air over the engine and blows it out the radiator. This is accomplished by reversing the pitch of the blades. The fan turns in the same direction in either coach. (Driver please correct if I am wrong..thanks!)

Fleetwide (hundreds of UFO's) there has been less than a 1% water pump failure rate. We are hearing here about a few and all the details which is a good thing. The details help get to the bottom of the problem.

[Fred and Bonnie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by -Gramps-
Fleetwide (hundreds of UFO's) there has been less than a 1% water pump failure rate. We are hearing here about a few and all the details which is a good thing. The details help get to the bottom of the problem. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't want to start a wild fire, however I find it hard to believe there are hundreds of UFO gas coaches on the road. In the wild west of the left coast I can count the units I have spotted on one hand.

Think back when the W22 brake problems surfaced, many wrote it off as a few having problems.

Fred

[UFO Pilot]

How do you know a UFO when you see one? Nobody knew mine was a UFO until I put the new plates on. (see avatar)

[-Gramps-]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by wthomas1:
How do you know a UFO when you see one? Nobody knew mine was a UFO until I put the new plates on. (see avatar) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ditto there wthomas. My coach looks exactly like a HR Vacationer diesel pusher. There is no way to know its a UFO when it is moving down the road. The only way you would know when its parked is because of the Vortex sitcker on the rear of the coach. As a matter of fact I have a caution on the fuel flap saying this coach uses unleaded gas only.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by -Gramps-: (Driver please correct if I am wrong..thanks!) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>-Gramps-, You are correct.

[Fred and Bonnie]

OK, I'll bite, how many gas UFO chassis have been shipped?

Fred

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Fred and Bonnie:
OK, I'll bite, how many gas UFO chassis have been shipped? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Fred, I don't have that number but it's quite a few.

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">how many gas UFO chassis have been shipped? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
FRED: I have no way of knowing the exact number, however, thinking just about Winnebago Ind, they have built way over 100 Destinations, Lattitudes, and Adventurer Limited models in two floor plans. The other four builders using the UFO have also built quite a few.

Perhaps your "spotter" has limited visibility? ED

[Fred and Bonnie]

Ed and Mike, my point was that we are seeing problems arising with only a few hundred units built.

The water pump issues are serious and obviously leading to engine failures.

In my opinion these failures are already too high, sorry I expect a class act from manufactures.

Fred

[DriVer]

Stay tuned I will have more to write about this soon. Workhorse "is" aggressively pursuing a solution and it's just about "in the can" as the filmmakers would say.

It does appear at this time that the solution is not in hardware. GM's position in this matter is that the water pumps and technology that makes the whole thing work is fine just the way it is .... keep checking back.