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Giant Jeff · 01-10-2014, 01:12 AM

Several years ago I paid cash for an 85 Winnebago and drove the family cross country from southern Call to New York ( one of the best experiences on my life). I had the rig all checked out and it drove like a champ. We drove her long and hard as we were on a tight schedule. About two thirds into the trip the engine started knocking real bad and I was losing oil pressure. I told the wife and kids she made a good run but I think we're done. I pulled to the side of the road and tried to think what to do. My wife asked "have you checked the oil". I didn't take kindly to the suggestion as surely I would have done that. .....I humbly checked the oil and found no oil registered on the dip stick I found a little gas station and got a can of oil. Three more cans latter the oil level was good. Started the rig up and it purred like a kitten the whole rest of the trip. Needless to say I checked the oil every day before we hit the road after that. And always heed the wife's suggestions.

njs42 · 01-10-2014, 04:04 AM

Several nights ago during the deep freeze our furnace began to wheeze and cough. My heart sank knowing I was to brave the cold and wet at night to determine the cause. This was a huge problem considering how cold it was. I moaned painfully and exhaled my dread putting on my warm coat. My wife without looking up says "are we out of propane"?

"Silly girl" I thought to myself as I trudged outside" I just filled the auxiliary four days ago". I switched from the auxiliary to the main tank and the furnace fired up. We've not spoken of it since. Smart girl.

If people are honest this will be a long, long thread.

**CLIFFTALL** · 01-10-2014, 04:27 AM

I put 93,000 on two MH's. I never burned more than a few oz's in a few thousand miles. I still checked it every time I drove it. It became second nature. I don't do it with my car though.

njs42 · 01-10-2014, 07:11 AM

I check my oil every morning when traveling. Check with my wife more frequently.

Wayne M · 01-10-2014, 09:51 AM

I had a '50 Studebaker and I purchased it from a family that told me that the wife never checked the oil and ran it dry one time. So on our trips I would check the gas and fill the oil. I carried 3 five gallon containers of reclaimed oil. Those were the days when garages would give you the oil they drained out from oil changes.

On another note, it's not fun being cold. We recently went to an event when it got cold one evening and about 2 o'clock in the morning it was getting really cold in the MH. We have a heat pump and propane furnace. When the temperature drop is such and such the propane will come on to augment the heat pump. Once temperature is balanced the propane will shut off and the heat pump will continue until set temperature is reached.

Well, this particular night the propane furnace did not come on. Now, if the batteries are low, then there is not a proper voltage to the igniter and the propane will not fire. I learned that lesson the first November we had the coach. However, as I was fumbling around trying to figure out what was wrong I heard a mumble from under the covers.

Now mind you, I usually don't pay any attention to mumbles. (Not her name. but close.) This time I heard the mumble of "Are we out of propane," or "Is the propane turned on?" Come on now, really. Push the test button for propane level and it is 3/4 full (1/4 empty for the negatively minded people.) Really, I have to go outside?

When I returned I mumbled back "dfpoqwe rpiuqwe5 poiuane" which equates to "The propane wasn't turned on."

The reply, "Hhrrrmmpff!" Which equates to "I told you so!"

Sheeesh!

BOT (Back on topic) Yep! Check things before they go wrong.