Community Forums

Terry W · 07-14-2016, 09:08 AM

Kind of curious about keeping the battery bin and the rear fluids and air filter service compartments a little cleaner.

Is anybody having any luck keeping road grime, dirt, oil etc out of these areas? It's not like I don't have enough projects, but I would like to add this to my list of fun stuff to do.

Thanks, Terry

DrDaveMA · 07-14-2016, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry W

Kind of curious about keeping the battery bin and the rear fluids and air filter service compartments a little cleaner.

Is anybody having any luck keeping road grime, dirt, oil etc out of these areas? It's not like I don't have enough projects, but I would like to add this to my list of fun stuff to do.

Thanks, Terry

Terry, it depends upon your layout. My battery compartment is located behind the rear wheels, curbside and has the jack in it. WRV choose to leave the area forward of the battery tray open, i suppose that was for ventilation, but it allows dirt in. One of the things on my general to do sometime list is determine a way to enclose the battery area, or at least a wall to block most of the dirt, as well as put the batteries on a slide out. But, like I said, that is a to do sometime....

Old Scout · 07-14-2016, 01:40 PM

Several owners have use some simple to quite elaborate solutions to close in these areas. Need to remember that your bat compartment is in close proximity to engine heat so some degree of ventilation is advisable. Frankly, I got rid of the black plastic battery cover years ago and now use a garden hose to wash down both compartments every time I wash the coach [12v not really an issue when getting things wet]....

DrDaveMA · 07-14-2016, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Scout

Several owners have use some simple to quite elaborate solutions to close in these areas. Need to remember that your bat compartment is in close proximity to engine heat so some degree of ventilation is advisable. Frankly, I got rid of the black plastic battery cover years ago and now use a garden hose to wash down both compartments every time I wash the coach [12v not really an issue when getting things wet]....

I was thinking about a piece if 1/4" plywood that left the most outboard side open allowing ventilation, but blocked dirt near the wheels. Leaving that black cover off and hosing it down periodically, maybe throwing in some baking soda, is a great idea, thanks Dean.

Mocha Latte · 07-14-2016, 02:25 PM

When you hose it down, do you turn the battery relay off or does it make no difference?

jerry davis · 07-14-2016, 03:44 PM

I have owned my coach since Feb 05. It now has 80k on it. About 4 times a year I spray the batteries with a water based degreaser like a 409 and then spray off with a nozzle that has a flat water spray setting. I keep the pressure low and am careful to keep water off sensitive components. I usually blow off the area with air after hosing it down. I don't turn anything off, in fact the coach is usually plugged in to shore power as I keep it behind my home plugged in 24/7. This photo was taken today. Last cleaning about a month ago.
The compartment has never gotten real dirty and believe me I have driven in some nasty areas and conditions.

DrDaveMA · 07-14-2016, 04:48 PM

Jerry, your battery compartment looks GREAT!!! Are you doing anything with the battery tray? My concern is water being held under the batteries, I know that water thrown up by the tires will do the same thing, but the last time I changed batteries that tray had superficial rust that I cleaned and painted. I am concerned that additional water from cleaning will certainly not help the problem. That is why after cleaning I wash baking soda over the batteries, hoping to reduce the ph at least somewhat.

jerry davis · 07-14-2016, 05:06 PM

Dave, the detergent/degreaser is highly alkaline so it neutralizes the battery residue just like baking soda but even more efficiently. I replaced my batteries for the second time last year (do it every five years needed or not). While the tray had a bit of rust, after 10 years of use it was really quite minimal. By the time it rusts through the coach will be 40 years old and I will be 100. Not to worry if you wash the compartment every few months. The residual water/detergent mix is better than leaving it with the batteries residual compounds IMHO.

DrDaveMA · 07-14-2016, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry davis

Dave, the detergent/degreaser is highly alkaline so it neutralizes the battery residue just like baking soda but even more efficiently. I replaced my batteries for the second time last year (do it every five years needed or not). While the tray had a bit of rust, after 10 years of use it was really quite minimal. By the time it rusts through the coach will be 40 years old and I will be 100. Not to worry if you wash the compartment every few months. The residual water/detergent mix is better than leaving it with the batteries residual compounds IMHO.

Makes sense, thanks!

Old Scout · 07-14-2016, 08:09 PM

Agree that 04 and newer coaches have quite a bit more "sensitive" equipment Vs the very basic bat compartment in my 03. However, since these compartments are routinely exposed to road spray and grime, I figure an occasional wash-down wont hurt. Did have a small bit of rust on the bat support frame the last time I changed out bats, so cleaned and sprayed frame with pick-up truck bed liner material--looks like pretty durable stuff....