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02-23-2017, 10:22 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 320
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Exercise Engine w/o Inflating Air Bags..
I have a 2000 Newmar DP w/ a HWH Computerized Leveler. I position coach and use HWH in manual mode. That way I can dump all air (I have a slow leak in front bags). I then manually empty air bags and manually extend pads. If I start engine the bags will inflate and I'd rather not bring in slides, etc. Any way around this or must slides come in (based on mfg'er recommendation to level coach then extend slides). Thanks. Ed
__________________
2006 NuWa Discover America Luxury Suite 32 LKTG
2017 Silverado 3500HD LTZ Duramax/Allison
2000 Newmar 38 DSDP
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02-23-2017, 10:28 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Why are you exercising the engine?
Direct from Cummins to my question on it:
Quote:
Deen this is a very good question. From the perspective of the
Cummins engine it is good to do either one of two things:
1) Start the engine and drive it or 2) do not start the engine.
Our engines do not gain anything by idling. In fact a diesel engine
on low idle will not ever get up to operating temperatures which is
bad for the engine and can cause an increase in soot production.
The other side of the story is that starting the engine and letting it
idle is probably good for other things like air brakes, heating and
cooling, etc. So probably the best answer to try to get both worlds
to meet is to occasionally take the unit out for a drive during times
of prolonged storage.
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__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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02-23-2017, 01:24 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 36
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That's good info, Mr_D!
I'm glad you shared this as it kinda validates our little exercise that we just did yesterday here in Colorado! The forecast said snow today even though yesterday it was in the 60's (only in Colorado)!! So, we "exercised" the ISB6.7 Cummins in our coach and drove her to the car wash! It was only about 20 miles 'round-trip, but I felt it was time to take 'er out since it had been sitting awhile....also, just did it's first oil change. How 'bout the generator, though? I think that needs to be run about once a month...can't recall if I read about that in the Cummins manual....but, I think the diesel generators need to be exercised more then the coach engine...?
Tim
___________________
17 Nexus Bentley ISB6.7 360hp
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02-23-2017, 02:20 PM
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#4
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Community Administrator
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 21,151
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BentlyRV
How 'bout the generator, though? I think that needs to be run about once a month...can't recall if I read about that in the Cummins manual....but, I think the diesel generators need to be exercised more then the coach engine...?
Tim
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The oil and filter in the generator needs its first change at 50 hours run time. After that, I think it's every 100-150 hours.
The generator needs to be exercised at least 2 hours per month under a minimum of half load. In the winter, you can turn on heat pumps, fireplace or space heaters for a load. In the summer, you can turn on the ACs.
__________________
2017 Phaeton 40IH XSH Maroon Coral - Power Glide Chassis with IFS
Previous '15 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QRA and '06 Itasca Sunrise 35A
'16 Jeep JKU Wrangler Sahara or '08 Honda Goldwing
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02-23-2017, 04:05 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edaa53
I have a 2000 Newmar DP w/ a HWH Computerized Leveler. I position coach and use HWH in manual mode. That way I can dump all air (I have a slow leak in front bags). I then manually empty air bags and manually extend pads. If I start engine the bags will inflate and I'd rather not bring in slides, etc. Any way around this or must slides come in (based on mfg'er recommendation to level coach then extend slides). Thanks. Ed
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Does your computerized leveling system prevent you from leveling RV from full air bags? You could extend the jacks to level vehicle, then dump air, just causing chassis to settle onto the jacks. Starting the engine in that state shouldn't lift or move chassis because you're still on jacks. Mr. D is giving good advice, there's no advantage to running engine at idle when parked, it won't come to full operating temperature unless the engine is doing work. Exercise the generator instead, put it under partial load and run it. You'll keep the brushes and stator clean, and if gas powered, fresh gas each month.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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02-23-2017, 04:15 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Charleston, WV
Posts: 3,466
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I am always amused by this urban myth that you need to run the engine and generator while it is in storage. Do you drag out your lawnmower in the depths of winter and run that for an hour every month? Of course not. Put your motorhome away, put a trickle charger on the battery, and say "I'll see you in the spring".
__________________
John and Mary Knight
2015 Newmar Ventana 4311 - wheelchair accessible
2015 Cadillac SRX Luxury AWD
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02-23-2017, 04:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lt Dan
The oil and filter in the generator needs its first change at 50 hours run time. After that, I think it's every 100-150 hours.
The generator needs to be exercised at least 2 hours per month under a minimum of half load. In the winter, you can turn on heat pumps, fireplace or space heaters for a load. In the summer, you can turn on the ACs.
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My rig has heat pumps so I turn one or two on heat and the other(s) on cool, then after a while I reverse them so they all get "exercised" in both modes. Not sure it does anything but make me feel better about it though!
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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02-23-2017, 04:36 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
Does your computerized leveling system prevent you from leveling RV from full air bags? You could extend the jacks to level vehicle, then dump air, just causing chassis to settle onto the jacks. Starting the engine in that state shouldn't lift or move chassis because you're still on jacks. Mr. D is giving good advice, there's no advantage to running engine at idle when parked, it won't come to full operating temperature unless the engine is doing work. Exercise the generator instead, put it under partial load and run it. You'll keep the brushes and stator clean, and if gas powered, fresh gas each month.
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Thanks, but it's not my advice, that's per Cummins support.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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02-23-2017, 04:37 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Algoma
I am always amused by this urban myth that you need to run the engine and generator while it is in storage. Do you drag out your lawnmower in the depths of winter and run that for an hour every month? Of course not. Put your motorhome away, put a trickle charger on the battery, and say "I'll see you in the spring".
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So, published information direct from the manufacturer is an "urban myth"? I think not!!
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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02-23-2017, 05:04 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Freightliner Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Dallas, Ga.
Posts: 618
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Not familiar with your coach at all but i know on ours the air bags don't fill until I hit the travel button or the air auto level. Do you not have something similar?
Ours is Valid Manufacturing leveling.
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02-23-2017, 06:04 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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I don't see any reference in the OP's question to the generator. He was asking about exercising the engine which as Mr. D pointed out is not reccomended.
Exercising an engine and exercising a generator are two completely separate subjects but in both cases the engine needs to come up to full operating temperature. If not, you do more harm than good.
As for the generator, the purpose of exercising is to remove any moisture from the windings and prevent corrosion of the slip rings if it is so equipped.
Again, it must be run at least at half load or better for at least an hour minimum to build up heat and drive out any moisture. Anything short of that will cause more harm than good.
The drier the climate, the less often the excercising interval. But, if your going to do it, make sure to run it long enough to get up to Full Operating Temperature or Don't do it at all.
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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02-24-2017, 06:00 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 320
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To Mr D and dennis45 - More info - I normally run coach under load - re - drive - once per month for couple hours when stored. Currently parked in RV resort for 3 months escaping winter. I do run gen 1X per month under load till operating temp. The question of running engine comes up here during conversation w/ other owners. I am familiar w/ Cummins opinion from prior threads and respect it. Oh.. I don't own a lawnmower. Thanks. Ed
__________________
2006 NuWa Discover America Luxury Suite 32 LKTG
2017 Silverado 3500HD LTZ Duramax/Allison
2000 Newmar 38 DSDP
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02-24-2017, 06:49 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,967
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Thanks for that Mr_D,
That's great information. When Cummins said;
"So probably the best answer to try to get both worlds to meet is to occasionally take the unit out for a drive during times of prolonged storage."
I wish they would have said what they consider "Prolonged Storage"? Could you go back and ask them? I'd love to know Cummins answer to that!
Thanks Mr_D,
Harry
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02-24-2017, 07:43 AM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
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Nobody has really addressed the OPs question.
I cannot start the engine in my coach and not inflate the air bags. Once the air pressure reaches 65 lbs PSI, the valves on the air tanks open the lines to the suspension and the air bags will inflate.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
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