Community Forums

CNYRVer · 08-14-2012, 05:20 PM

Hi everyone,
Just curious as to weather or not over heating on large hills is a normal things with motorhomes specifically class c's?. Some freinds of ours just recently bought a 1997 class c and while driving out west had some overheating issues while traveling the larger hills. I dont beleive they boiled over completly but the temp gauge did get hot. Is this something that is normal & can anything be done to prevent it?
Im asking because my wife and I have a 92 gulfstream ultra limited that were remodeling and really dont want that issue when we go out west.

thanks

djbmsu · 08-14-2012, 05:26 PM

Alot of things can effect over heating. towing, old anti freeze,bad thermostate, speed, fan not working properly, A/C on. Make sure your cooling system is operating at peak performance. Add an engine oil coooler if you don't have one. Clean air Filter.
If your coach is well maintained and your driving habits are in tune with the weather and road conditions you should be fine.

Tha_Rooster · 08-14-2012, 05:30 PM

It's typical for rv's to run warmer going up but not in the red, need to keep rpms up to keep the air moving. You possibly could need the radiator cleaned of bugs.

Perry White · 08-14-2012, 05:33 PM

Try not going up hills if you can. Going down will be easier on it.

CNYRVer · 08-14-2012, 05:35 PM

Thanks, I will let our freinds know as they are new to the RV world like we are. Im sure I'll be back before mt gulfstream renovation is complete .

baraff · 08-14-2012, 05:46 PM

I've wondered about using this product:
Red Line Synthetic Oil - WaterWetter® Coolant Additives - WaterWetter®
Supposed to make water "wetter" and aid in cooling.
Snake oil or ????

CNYRVer · 08-14-2012, 05:47 PM

Thanks Perry while I'll see if the rockies can be moved either north or south for my conveinence- LOL

CD · 08-14-2012, 05:53 PM

What I was going to say was pretty well covered. The cooling system can be dirty (inside and/or outside). Outside can be bugs, dirt in the fins etc. It may need a good flushing and new antifreeze. As others have said it may need a new thermostat. Air conditioner on during climb can also be a problem. If tranny cooler is in front of radiator that can cause problems. One thing that may help that is to slow down pulling hills and shift to a lower gear to reduce tranny heat.

Perry White · 08-14-2012, 05:57 PM

10-4 good buddy. Water wetter's a joke just like it was back in the 70's. Who made that stuff. Andy Granatteli I think. Didn't work back then either.

If I hit the bottom of a hill and got it rolling at anything over 65 it will keep the speed up, no overheating but if I hit it at say 49, I'm lugging all the way up. Don't ya just love it when you get behind a car that's going 50 up a hill in a 70. Don't mind the trucks and RV's but come-on.

Mr_D · 08-14-2012, 06:08 PM

I can remember having to turn the air con off, open the windows and turn on the heater full blast in hot weather to make it over some hills.

CNYRVer · 08-15-2012, 06:08 AM

Thanks everyone for the information some of the stuff mentioned I already knew but it's nice to get confirmation from those that have been cruising the highways and biways of this great country longer than us. why do they put the tranny coolers in front of the radiators if they know there could be potential problems? Im not even sure if this 92 gulfstream, ultra even has one but I'll be out there looking as soon as the raining stops. Thank again.

djbmsu · 08-15-2012, 07:44 AM

Actually there is such a thing as "wetter water" it is used in the removal of asbestos. Several manutactures make it. It allows the water to penetrate within the fibers and stay wetter longer, rather than evaporate. On a whim we added some to a water cooled generator because it would over heat after a few hours. We found that the generators we added it too would never overheat.

CD · 08-15-2012, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CNYRVer

Im not even sure if this 92 gulfstream, ultra even has one but I'll be out there looking as soon as the raining stops. Thank again.

Many are built into the lower part of the radiator. Look for oil lines that go from the tranny to the side of the radiator.

RickO · 08-15-2012, 08:43 AM

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I think the key elements have already been well covered.

* make sure your radiator is clean inside and out.

* try to hit the climb with momentum whenever possible. Once lost, it's gone.

* keep the rpm high to ensure the cooling fan is doing it's best. This may well mean downshifting and slowing down a bit to finish the climb.

These things should handle the majority of climbing situations but the Rockies are something else and you may need to reach into your bag of tricks like disconnecting the toad to drive it over the pass... turning off the AC and maybe even turning on the heater, etc.

Best of luck

Rick