Community Forums

RVsteve · 04-15-2008, 03:34 PM

After having to replace 2 sets of spark plug wires on my 2006 Winnebago Adventurer, Workhorse agreed to install the passive cooling system at no charge. The installation of two flexible hoses that direct cool air to the rear of the engine seems to have solved the problem. I have made two long trips through hot weather and over steep mountain grades, and it didn't miss a beat. Hopefully, Winnebago and Workhorse will correct this design problem at the factory level in the near future.

RVsteve · 04-15-2008, 03:34 PM

After having to replace 2 sets of spark plug wires on my 2006 Winnebago Adventurer, Workhorse agreed to install the passive cooling system at no charge. The installation of two flexible hoses that direct cool air to the rear of the engine seems to have solved the problem. I have made two long trips through hot weather and over steep mountain grades, and it didn't miss a beat. Hopefully, Winnebago and Workhorse will correct this design problem at the factory level in the near future.

two2go · 04-15-2008, 03:57 PM

Is there any evidence that this problem is related to certain coach designs, or is it a general Workhorse issue? A camp neighbor with a Newmar Kountry Star had the problem and the duct fix. I don't suspect anything on my Dolphin...yet. Maybe I'd better look under the hood.

RVsteve · 04-15-2008, 04:41 PM

It may just be a Winnebago problem. On the Adventurer model, they have dammed the front of the engine to force air through the radiator. However, that reduces the air flow over the engine. The internal engines doesn't overheat, but the exterior does. When climbing a hill at slow speed, especially in hot weather, the rear of the manifold gets hot enough to "cook" the two rear spark plug wires, the insulation breaks down, and the engine starts to mis-fire. I had one failure at around 7000 miles, and then another at 13,000, so if you have a lot of miles on your coach and haven't had a problem, you might be OK. However, if the engine starts to suddenly mis-fire, check the wires first.

born2camp · 04-16-2008, 06:10 PM

I don't believe it to be just Winnebago problem because it is Workhorse that makes/sells the kit because of this problem with heat. Mine hasn't burnt wires yet, but I am watching it close because so many others have. Having just put on the Taylor wires and heat boots, I am hoping the boots protect the wires enough. I don't think it would be difficult at all to make the same kit workhorse sells. On my previous coach I made one out of 4" Air Duct hose and also installed marine bilge blowers to force alot of air over manifolds when I was not going fast enough to force air normally. This worked very well so I might do it again.

Tom N · 04-16-2008, 06:42 PM

It's the coach manufacturers problem because of improper grill and air flow design around and through the parts it installs on the Workhorse chassis. Workhorse stepped up to the plate and is providing the air flow kits as a fix for a problem created by the chassis manufacturer.

-Tom

DriVer · 04-16-2008, 06:58 PM

The fix is indeed the Cold Air Vent Kit and as we continue to see from owner's posts it has a high degree of success.

j griff · 04-16-2008, 07:08 PM

From what I have read on similar posts, those of us who have been fortunate enough to not yet have experienced this problem, may find that it may still occur under certain circumstance. Seems ironic that both Workhorse and Winnebago know there is a problem but are content to play the odds that it won't happen to enough of us to force a recall - or even a kit freely distributed to owners of their products. Russian roulette !

Clay L · 04-17-2008, 07:07 AM

From what I have seen Winnebago has had fewer problems with this than a number of other manufacturers. They have done a better job of following the WH recommendations for airflow than many others.

DriVer · 04-17-2008, 08:24 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by j griff:
... or even a kit freely distributed to owners of their products. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>j griff, Although the kit is available to buy I believe that the majority of the kits that were installed as a matter of resolving a problem were installed for "free."

If you don't have a problem then you don't need the fix. I have pulled medium to long grades with our toad attached while observing my Scan Gauge II. Although I see the temperature climbing when the cooling system kicks in I can actually see the temperature going down while I'm pulling and accelerating.

I can tell you this I am not a candidate for the vent kit.