All went well........

[don-deb]

..........yesterday ....for the first time since I purchased our coach.....attempted to do my own service work.

I purchased 4 gallons of Cat 15W-40 motor oil.... oil filter.....water seperator....and a new air filter canister. I also recalibrated my engine oil dip stick (as per tech at Cat )....to the new 19 Qt level.

All went well........a bit tuff to break the old oil filter loose....but not that bad.....and a I was a bit nervous with changing the fuel seperator.....but I pre-loaded it with diesel fuel......and it fired right up....and purrrrred like a kitten. The air filter canister took a little muscle....and some lube on the rubber insert end. I also gave the radiator a good cleaning from the inside out with some simple green and garden hose.......not dirty at all.

I also purchased 2 extra fuel seperators .....to carry on board....just in case.

Now we're ready for our Memorial Day weekend trip..........yahooooo

[chasfm11]

Congratulations, Don. It does feel good to have that work done.

Your RV is probably due for more maintenance. After we bought our RV, I went to the Freightliner and body maker's recommended maintenance pages and consolidated all of the things that they listed.

For example, 5 years is about the normal recommendation for a diesel air filter. Yes, there is a resistance gauge which is supposed to show you when the filter is getting plugged up but it doesn't show you when the paper element inside is deteriorating. You can inspect your drive belts but I have always followed the rule of thumb that 5 years was useful life for them, driven or not. People tell me that I'm just throwing my money away but I'll spend $35 on a belt to avert a breakdown any day.

From a lubrication standpoint, the driveline seems to be the part that needs the most attention. I don't know what your interval is for lubing the slip joint and u joints but it may be something that you need to look at. As you found out with your engine oil change, it isn't that bad of a job. The key is to get a gun with the correct type of grease and to make sure that you pump it in until all 4 corners of the u-joint show grease.

You may have oil filled wheel bearings that need attention and some other things. I'll admit that I error on the side of too much (some might say way too much) maintenace but, knock on wood, we have been using our rig for 7 years and have never had a break down.

[don-deb]

Thanks chasfm11.......I was considering taking the coach to our local Freightliner dealer for service .....when we return from our Memorial Day w/e trip. I would like to get the belts changed......check hoses......lube chassis.....etc. I think maintainance is the key......you can never over do it......the more the better....I agree with you on that.

If you can avoid a breakdown and a tow..........its $$$$ well spent.

[RickO]

Good job. You're a better man than I Gunga Din!

Rick

[haulinhazmat]

Why would you break the seals on your u-joints? Just askin.