Community Forums

jerryd13 · 09-27-2022, 05:25 AM

Friends let's get real, we are not using our logical thought process.

Rain water runs downhill as far as any significant amount, regarding a Motor Home Engine Air Intake.
If ypu have a RV or any othet vehicle that allows water any dignificant amount, just run into your air inlet pipe, and the air inlet is not designed to prevent a diluge from bypassing the engine inlet to Air filter,
Then you heed to immediately contact ypur MH manufacturer, Chasdis builder, engine mfg. and desler who sells that brand/model to get the facts. We have all, me for sure, followed this wild goose chase out of inmediate concern for our own MH. Due to yhe advice of LTdan and ernieh, both long time Tiffinowner forum members who have shared the answers we all should have known, that yhis is not an issue (water in amounts that can damage engines) unless someone has altered the intake piping/ or air box, rct.
So, I am out at this point, nothing more to say, take care and thanks for all who contributed useful information.
Jerryd13

LETMGROW · 10-04-2022, 02:28 PM

I believe you are dealing with an incompetent repair shop. The engine wouldn't turn over when they decided to start it. Yup, needs a new battery.(Did they do a voltage or load test on the battery(s)? However the engine still won't turn over. Oh yeah, it needs a new starter too. Was the starter removed and bench checked? Now the engine still won't start. Finally they start doing some diagnosis and find the engine full of water. Hmm, where did the water come from? Is there a possibility the roof being covered with snow someone took a water hose to the roof to remove the remainder of ice and snow so it wouldn't drip all over in the shop? The shop could have had a yard man or janitor do the snow removal who wouldn't be aware of an air intake in the roof area. I would like to see a test of the water done when the engine comes apart. Is it rain water or melted snow or might there be chlorine present in the water which would be a dead give away the water was from an unnatural source?
At the very least you should get a refund for the replaced parts and the labor involved for the parts which were probably fine.

jerryd13 · 10-05-2022, 08:18 AM

LtDan, earnieh, and other Tiffin owners have clearly explained with photo on some instances, that the pipe that air enters the engine from rear of MH Air Inlet screen, which is 4 to 6" up above the bottom of the screen opening. It is impossible for any water accumulation in this box unless the RV IS UPSIDE DOWN.

The only significant water that can go into this pipe will be a person with a water hose who directly shoots the water stream into this inlet screen directly into the pipe at the top 5" of screen. Rain, snow will be insignifant.

Stop furthering event as far as the air inlet screen design. Not saying water was not in engine, cracked head and other engine issues can allow coolant water to come into combustion chamber, pistons, engine block failures. Not coming from snow or ice.

RWeigant · 10-13-2022, 03:19 PM

So now, State Farm has agreed to pay $58,000 for the engine rebuild. They have also payed towing of $2800. Before this, a month ago I got a check for $14,000. Not sure what this was for because it arrived before the decision was made. Still there is the side swipe by another SF person. We need to get it in to have this fixed.

RWeigant · 10-27-2022, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerryd13

Please underdtand that my reply is not to challenge you in any way, but to get a clear understanding on this apparent issue some are having.

I have a 2012 Tiffin Phaeton,the inlet screen for engine air
Is located on the left rear end of my MH 6 feet or more above the ground. Air flows horizonnaly into this inlet, the pipe takes a 90 degree turn vertical downward, then after 4- feet it turns 90 degree's horizonal and connects to engine air cleaner/filter cannister. I see no drain, and if such erxisted, my thoughts are this opening will have a suction on it, any opening would suck in rain water as you drive thru rain storms, rct. Unless it was a flapper held closed when engine is running and opens when no suction exists ( engine) not running. What am I missing.??

The drain would be at the lowest point below the air intake. On the bottom of the box is the duck bill. You can't see it, so you need to feel for it. It's a rubber nipple. If that gets closed your in the same situation as I am.
By the way, State Farm has paid us for the repairs. Total is about $70,000.

RWeigant · 11-28-2022, 09:21 AM

So, not Cummings has informed me that while putting the engine together they found more problems. Long list to the sum of $13k. I have submitted this to State Farm. It will take a while.

RWeigant · 01-17-2023, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWeigant

So, not Cummings has informed me that while putting the engine together they found more problems. Long list to the sum of $13k. I have submitted this to State Farm. It will take a while.

01/23
Finally we got our RV back home. Today we picked it up at Cummings after 9 mounts in the shop. They replaced the engine with a new long block and allot of other parts. Along the way the discovered a few more unseen until the engine was removed. So far the total repair are around $80,000. To top it off, while it was sitting in the shop another truck sideswiped it. Haven’t got that fixed, but, could be another $10k. We also picked up some mice along the way. Hey, RVing is fun, don't forget to bring your check book. Also, I asked the Cummings shop to give me back the New starter I paid for at the first shop. They told me that the first shop torque the starter bolts too tight and cracked the starter housing. Another $450 down the drain.

RV Driver · 01-17-2023, 07:18 PM

Your engine is a CUMMINS, not a CUMMINGS.

twinboat · 01-17-2023, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Driver

Your engine is a CUMMINS, not a CUMMINGS.

This guy just dropped 80 grand on an engine, and your giving him spelling lessons ?

We all know what he means.

Gary RVRoamer · 01-18-2023, 02:43 PM

I agree it sounds a bit fishy. I owned an '04 Tradition for years and am familiar with the roof air intake system and its water drain, but don't see how the problem could wait around until you drove to the shop days and many miles later. If the air intake was blocked with snow & ice, the engine can't run. Obviously it was working fine.

The open question is how much snow was still on the roof when it entered the shop and could it have melted and run down inside. But how did the battery go dead and the starter fail? Well, the shop techs and the insurance adjusters can determine if the engine now bad, regardless of how it happened. Sadly, insurance is going to depreciate for normal wear & tear, so full coverage ain't gonna happen.

The duckbill drain in the bottom of the air filter can can get plugged - mine used to get filled with acorns left by the numerous squirrels.

RWeigant · 01-21-2023, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

I agree it sounds a bit fishy. I owned an '04 Tradition for years and am familiar with the roof air intake system and its water drain, but don't see how the problem could wait around until you drove to the shop days and many miles later. If the air intake was blocked with snow & ice, the engine can't run. Obviously it was working fine.

The open question is how much snow was still on the roof when it entered the shop and could it have melted and run down inside. But how did the battery go dead and the starter fail? Well, the shop techs and the insurance adjusters can determine if the engine now bad, regardless of how it happened. Sadly, insurance is going to depreciate for normal wear & tear, so full coverage ain't gonna happen.

The duckbill drain in the bottom of the air filter can can get plugged - mine used to get filled with acorns left by the numerous squirrels.

When we got home, it still had a foot of snow on the roof. I'll bet the water ran down when they pulled it out from where they parked it. That's when the water ran back and into the air intake. The duck bill must have been clogged to start with. By the way, the air intake screen is about half way down the curve part of the roof. I would think it would be easy to get water in it. So, if the duck bill gets clogged, the water fills the air tank and in the engine from there.

96 Wideglide · 01-21-2023, 03:10 PM

I would hope by 2013 Fleetwood would know how to engineer a fresh air intake system that wouldn't flood an engine from snowmelt off the roof

!

RWeigant · 01-31-2023, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

I agree it sounds a bit fishy. I owned an '04 Tradition for years and am familiar with the roof air intake system and its water drain, but don't see how the problem could wait around until you drove to the shop days and many miles later. If the air intake was blocked with snow & ice, the engine can't run. Obviously it was working fine.

The open question is how much snow was still on the roof when it entered the shop and could it have melted and run down inside. But how did the battery go dead and the starter fail? Well, the shop techs and the insurance adjusters can determine if the engine now bad, regardless of how it happened. Sadly, insurance is going to depreciate for normal wear & tear, so full coverage ain't gonna happen.

The duckbill drain in the bottom of the air filter can can get plugged - mine used to get filled with acorns left by the numerous squirrels.

State Farm paid for everything. The RV only had 35k miles on it. (2013) I pulled the duck bill out. Now I have a 2" hole at the bottom of the air bx. That's OK, it's a place for the water to go.