skitter
moreno valley
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Joined: 04/13/2005
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Hi
I have a question about airflow, I have a 2002 Monaco La palma that was burning spark plug wires due to inadequate airflow. I had an air induction kit installed and that has helped. A friend who has a 2005 Hurricain said he was having the same problem. So he took some sheet metal and boxed in the airflow comming in from the front grill, preventing it from escaping back down and underneath the motor and forcing it thru the radiator and air box only. This not only fixed his burning of spark plug wires, because the air now flows across the top of the motor, but also keeps his clutch fan from comming on as much because it runs cooler, and as a result he said his MPG has increased from 7 mpg to 9 mpg. If this were such a simple fix, why haven't the manufacturers done this? Is there any danger in doing this before I go thru all the work boxing in my airflow.
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tropical36
Southwest Florida_USA
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Joined: 07/11/2004
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Many National brands do this with a type of cloth. I just refastened mine at one point on the starboard side as it was flapping around some. I must say that this coach does very well in the cooling dept. ....doesn't over heat on the steepest or longest climbs and so far there hasn't been a plug wire problem that I know of...in fact they look like the origianal OEM set.
My old coach had heavy duty's with porcelain caps and NO.8 still presented a problem from time to time.
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."
1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal, with a tag axle and one slide, on a 1997 P32 Chevy chassis....7.4 Vortec Engine
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Pusher
Albuquerque, NM
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Joined: 12/17/2004
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The Chevy chassis manual for the P30 reccommends this very thing. The left side has a shield to deflect the incoming air over the manifold and away from the brake master cylinder. The manufacturer is suppose to do the right side but they did not always do it. I did as the manual said and also blocked off the area in front of and below the radiator. It works great. I would go for it and you won't be sorry. Good luck
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JerryofWV
Charleston, WV
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Joined: 11/17/2005
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Skitter
What engine do you have? What type air induction did you install?
Is there anyway you can send me pictures of how your friend boxed his air flow?
This sounds like something I might do to mine.
Thanks,
Jerry & Dee Dee Pauley
1998 Pace Arrow 36S, One Slideout, Tag Axle, Triton V10, Front Konis, Rear Track Bar, 2000 Tracker Toad
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have.
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Admiral
The Buckeye State
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Joined: 06/08/2003
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Above my radiator there is a rubber flap that seals the 3" gap between it and the coach body. I fold this flap up in the summer to allow the air to flow over the inside of the doghouse and back down in the winter to prevent it. Ford V-10 chassis. Check yours-it may be a freebie.
2004 Damon Daybreak 2960F
05 Honda Element LX
In a democracy two wolves and a sheep can vote on what to have for dinner.
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Jerry B
Ozark Highlands
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Joined: 06/11/2001
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I added 4 and 6 inch HVAC flexible ducting to the manifolds. Quick and easy fix.
Jerry B
1996 Dolphin 535,F-53.
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Broomedagain
Clermont,FL
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Joined: 06/19/2008
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Jerry B wrote:I added 4 and 6 inch HVAC flexible ducting to the manifolds. Quick and easy fix.
I was taught this back in the mid nineties by a retired GM engineer, he had installed a system like this on five motorhomes. Just let the air blow on the manifolds straight from the ducting, easy and cheap.
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50pascals
rochester, ny
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Joined: 01/10/2008
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I removed the rubber skirt above the radiator while doing some other work. Since the sound deadening foam on the doghouse had partially fallen down and blocked the airlfow above the radiator, I just left it.
Conventional Wisdom says all the air should go through the radiator.
Well, halfway through the trip the foam blew off entirely and ended up smoking on the exhaust manifold. So I pulled it all out. The coolant temp went down for the rest of the trip!
I have a non-intercooled cummins and the airflow over the top of the engine must have cooled the turbo and intake enough that it lowered the engine temp.
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RCtime
Rancho Palos Verdes, Ca.
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Joined: 01/18/2004
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I enclosed the lower portion from the front bumper back to the radiator on a 89, P30 Dolphin. Its called building an AIR DAM. Worked like a charm.
I built mine from some galvanized thin sheetmetal. A mistake. You should have heard that thing oil can above 50 or so MPH. I had to put in some metal stifenners to shore it up some.
I filled in some small gaps with expanding foam. Every bit of air that came through my grill went through the radiator,over the motor and around the starter
10 years later I sold it and it was still doing its thing. A rash of P30 chevy starter motors were having problems at that time. still had the origional starter on it when I traded it in.
I got the idea from a motorhome magazine article.
Ron
2002 34HD Winnebago Journey DL, Cat. 330
2004 Honda CRV - Garmin 2610
Great wife & Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
TT/N
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