Quote:
Originally Posted by billyrabbit
I have been reviewing many posts regrading maintenance, particularly for the Caterpillar C7 engine. The previous owner had removed all material related to the engine from the package of manuals. My research from forums and from the Caterpillar site has led me to this understanding:
1. There is one oil filter that needs to be replaced.
2, There are two fuel filters that need to be replaced, one the fuel/water separator (30 Micron) and a 2 micron filter.
3. The engine takes 19 liters of oil.
4. There does not seem to be a water filter as referenced by mycat.com.
I have not been able to find a definitive answer on whether or not you need to add the manual primer on the fuel filter or just turn the key on for several minutes to fill the fuel filter.
I am also thinking to either:
a. do the work myself
b. Have a heavy duty mechanic do the work
c. take the motorhome to a Freightliner dealer.
Any advice on how to do this maintenance based on your experience and/or correction of my understandings would be appreciated.
Thanks,
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Bill K,
Well Sir, Chris is an outstanding source for info pertaining to your Vectra. We have a basic sistership to your coach. Ours is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP.
To answer some of your inquiries.
Yes, there is only ONE engine oil filter. About 99.99999% of the motorhomes, specifically diesel-powered ones, only have one oil filter.
As far as TWO fuel filters, well that depends. During the production years of around late '03 to somewhere around maybe even '06, Freightliner and CAT were at odds whether or not to put TWO fuel filters on the CAT engine/Freightliner chassis'. As I was told, the "bean counters" won for a while and, many of the CAT/Freightliner chassis came equipped with only one fuel filter and that is located at the rear, visible from the back of the coach. And some came with just the filter, and some came with the fuel filter and water separator bowl. Mine came with just the filter so, I retrofitted it with the filter and water bowl.
We purchased this coach over 10 years ago and I have used either WIX or Carquest fuel filters (exact same filter, only some part numbers are slightly off) and we now have 103,000 miles on this coach, and it has always run like a top. So, the need to ADD a second filter is purely a matter of choice, not need.
And NO, it's not 19 LITRES, it's 19
Quarts of oil on the C-7. The true way to make sure that this is correct is, if it hasn't been done, you need to drain the oil and change the filter. Then install 19 quarts and run the engine for a short bit. Remove the dip stick and clean it off. Re-insert it and remove it. Mark that point on the dip stick which shows the now-current level. THAT is your actual true mark for engine oil level.
And finally, while there may be a few (very few from what I'm led to believe) diesel coaches out there with an engine water filter, of all the CAT equipped, Freightliner chassis coaches I've worked on and people I know that have them, none are equipped with an engine water filter. So, I wouldn't be overly concerned about one not on your coach. Again, we have over 103,000 on that CAT engine and the coolant is always and always has been, crystal clear/red with no signs of debris or dirt or particles.
As far as doing the work yourself. Pretty much no one can accurately advise you on that. You determine that all by yourself as to your capabilities, correct tools, experience, A PLACE TO DO ALL THE POTENTIAL WORK, willingness to tackle work that easily done on a normal truck or car but is seriously tougher on a rear engine/diesel equipped coach due to cramped engine quarters and body design. I've been doing all my own work since before Christ was a pup and this coach has definitely gotten the best of me.
Everything on a motorhome is BIGGER, heavier, harder to work on and more. For instance, just the lug nuts are 33mm and, are torqued on with 450 ft.lbs. of torque. If you plan on doing any tire/wheel removal for any reason, you'll need the PROPER tools to remove and re-install those 165 lb.+ tires and wheels. Not many tackle those chores.
Anyway, have fun with your new coach.
Scott
2018 Goldwing Tour DCT Airbag
Linear Mode
