Community Forums

JonandJoell · 08-04-2013, 05:38 AM

There is either a simple answer to this situation...or it will stump everyone!

1997 Rexhall Aerbus 36 with 300 Cummins. We are full-timers and are currently parked in Florida. The pad we're parked on is red pavers. It's fairly hot here right now (!), high 80's in the day, mid-70's at night. But our bedroom is much hotter...

In fact, the wood platform our bed is on is hot to the touch. On a scale of 1-10, about 5. The engine block is quite hot to the touch as well. Haven't run the engine in three weeks. The electric box is not hot, just slightly warm as would be expected. Batteries are not hot, terminals are cold. Strange thing is, the bed platform cools off during the day!

Could this be caused by heat build up during the day? (The pavers don't retain heat). Or is there something fiendish going on with the engine?

Cap'n Jon
Author "Everyone Said I Should Write A Book"

TurtleKent · 08-04-2013, 06:16 AM

Engine heater on??

FormerBoater · 08-04-2013, 06:28 AM

Sounds like your block heater is on. Go to your electrical bay and see if the cord is plugged in, if so...unplug it.

Otherwise look for a separate breaker for the block heater if it is hard-wired.

Dave
1998 American Eagle 40 EVS

mel s · 08-04-2013, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurtleKent

Engine heater on??

JonandJoell
Since I assume you would hear/smell the diesel engine running....120VAC block heater ON was my first thought...
Or, if you have an Aqua hot system heating your domestic water, it may be pumping hot water to/through the engine block.

What do you mean "The pavers don't retain heat"??

You must have both a mystical engine and magical pavers!

Mel
'96 Safari

JonandJoell · 08-04-2013, 07:14 AM

Well, that would make perfect sense, gentlemen! I've only had this RV a few months (moved from a sailboat to an RV) and didn't know these things had engine heaters! I'll look in the manual and figure out how to disconnect it...Boy, do I feel stupid...

Nope, the pavers are cool all day

mel s · 08-04-2013, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonandJoell

Well, that would make perfect sense, gentlemen! I've only had this RV a few months (moved from a sailboat to an RV) and didn't know these things had engine heaters! I'll look in the manual and figure out how to disconnect it...Boy, do I feel stupid...

Nope, the pavers are cool all day

JonandJoell
Some coaches have engine heaters some do not.
I added one to pre-warm the engine before starting if/when the OS temp is below 40 degrees F....(we live in Wisconsin).

BTW, since your pavers are "cool all day"

, do you use them inside your coach to reduce air conditioner run time?

Mel
'96 Safari

Gary RVRoamer · 08-04-2013, 09:22 AM

You may also have a water line from the water heater to the engine, which is intended to provide hot water from waste engine heat. If that valve is stuck open, your hot water system could be circulating hot water back to the engine instead of vice versa.
However,I think it much more likely that the electric engine block heater simply got turned on. Find the switch or the plug for it and make sure it is off.

JonandJoell · 08-04-2013, 09:29 AM

Mel - I should have mentioned that we are in a totally shaded spot, the sun doesn't beat down on us all day, which is why the pavers don't get hot! Glad it made you smile, though...

Gary - Thanks for your comment. We found an 'unknown' switch in the bedroom, which we just turned to 'off'. possible this is the engine block heater switch, as someone on a Rexhall forum said their switch was in their bedroom.

If that's not it, I'll follow your advice and see if there are water lines running from the hot water heater to the engine block.

Again, thank you all for your suggestions...

gemini5362 · 08-04-2013, 01:27 PM

I am very curious to see if that is your problem. Block heater was my first thought also but i would not have imagined it putting enough heat to heat up the back of the coach and your bed frame.

JonandJoell · 08-04-2013, 01:30 PM

Well, since we flipped the 'unknown switch' in the bedroom, the bed frame is cool and the engine block is cooling off as well. We'll know for sure tonight, if the bedroom is more comfortable to sleep in!

cimplexsound · 08-04-2013, 07:39 PM

Sounds like you have a heated bed!!!! I'd shut the unknown switch back off.

Bobb.25 · 08-04-2013, 07:44 PM

That bed heating idea of yours may come in handy in the cold weather.

Bobb

JonandJoell · 08-04-2013, 07:58 PM

Flipping the unknown switch solved the problem! A heated bed is not a good idea in the summer in Florida! But we'll consider it next winter

Thank you all for your suggestion. I do feel like a bit of a twit, but living for years in the tropics on a sailboat did not require a heated engine block...and we bought the "Duchess" from the daughter of the original owner, who was very ill. So we have had to learn and make mistakes on our own - a sometimes challenging but nevertheless interesting journey!

cimplexsound · 08-04-2013, 08:05 PM

Sounds like you have one fancy rig!!! Never heard of a motorhome with a heated bed before. Next thing you know they'll be inventing heated door handles. LOL!