Too Much Preventive Maintenance

John T · Oct 12, 2011

This is a rant.........

Okay, Im OVER protective and cautious and do soooooooo muchhhhhhhh preventive maintenance on my Motorhome its ridiculous. I DO NOT wanna be broke down way up in the mountains of Colorado or Utah, we go to Florida this winter then out to Californian next summer, lots of upcoming miles so Im gettin her ready. Heck I grease it twice a year and every few weeks crawl under it to wipe any grease off the zerks or any oil spots etc etc., its clean as a pin underneath. Change oil every 3000 and use Mobil 1 and Lucas Stabilizer.......Radiator anti rust and super cool wetting agent in the radiator,,,,,,,,tranny power flushed with aux cooler,,,,,, Has all new belts n hoses and a ton of other stuff that wasnt bad, but I just sleep better with new stuff lol

Sooooooo it (1995 454 Chevy) runs PERFECT but I get to thinkin cuz all my mechanic buddys tell me so HEY ITS TIME TO CHANGE THOSE OLD ORIGINAL 16 YEAR OLD PLUG WIRES.

Soooooooo its a heck of a job with gettin that shroud off and NO room between frame and where the plugs are IT WAS A REAL BEAR TO CHANGE WIRES

BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT (as I suspected but did it anyway) I CAN TELL NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER IN ITS PERFORMANCE AFTER ALL THAT WORK GRRRRRRRRRR

Will somebody please tell me a body really ought to change plug wires if 16 years old (even if running perfect) as good preventive maintenance so I will feel better LOL LOL

Take care yall, I fell better already after venting even if it was a total waste grrrrrrrrr

Ol John T and all
John Ts Winter Home

2cylpartsinfo · Oct 12, 2011

If you don't change plug wires I would buy a spare set and carry them with you. Depending on the vintage many 454's are known for high exhaust temperatures. Even if you do change plug wires I would save a couple of the long ones (so you can use them on any cylinder) for spares.
I'd suggest taking a close look at the exhaust manifold gaskets (and entire system) for leaks and take ant necessary action. I have even had to remove exhaust manifolds from my 454's and have them remachined flat to get a good seal.

I drove 454 powered dually pickup's for years but finally had to give them up due to gas prices.

Hope these suggestions help you.

Regards,

Bill.

okierob · Oct 12, 2011

I'd say it was time to change them, just as a precaution.

I bet the owners manual has a schedule to change them.

Allan in NE · Oct 12, 2011

Over time, carbon filled wires will break down John.

Sure as shootin', you'll loose a hole just as you're climbing rabbit ears.

Ya done good!

Allan

Allan in NE · Oct 12, 2011

Now,

Go replace the alternator and water pump just because. Starter too if you've never had 'er out of there.

Those tiny little bearings do a one heck of a lot of spinning in a mile. :>)

Allan

Ultradog MN · Oct 12, 2011

Rabbit Ears?
BTDT

Swichflicker · Oct 12, 2011

I changed the wires on my 454 powered motorhome as well '87 EEE Regency Class 'A' They were a bear to change too, but my little fella, the GMC auto mechanic, told me that some of the wires were failing. Didn't run any better, but inside the spark must have been a little bit more effective. I kept a couple of the longer better looking ones for spares as well. Hate to think of the job of changing them on the road though!

You done the right thing.

Mike (WA) · Oct 12, 2011

You know the Tinkerer's Corollary: If it ain't broke, fix it until it is!

Billy NY · Oct 12, 2011

I would agree with Allan, though I don't know what actually causes the breakdown of carbon filament wires, it happened on my ford ranger, did not notice any power loss or skipping, well it had the 4 cylinder with 2 spark plugs each one, + 2 wires each, etc. etc. I opened the hood one night while it was running and that form of energy you seem to have a background for was giving me quite the show, wires were recent at the time, but the truck did sit quite a bit, all kinds of lightning going on in there.

You're not the only one who does things like that, I used to travel 1000-1200 miles a week, and those kinds of things that you are doing, certainly kept me from having break downs in bad places, belts hoses, alternators, water pumps, especially the last 2 when I knew there were a lot of miles on them, I figure anything external to the engine itself that has moving parts needs to be checked on and replaced at times.

My neighbor across the road has a nice motor home with a Cat diesel in it, the previous one was one with a 454, he was a heavy equipment/truck mechanic most of his life. He had a belt fail on trip to VA when his daughter was married, so there were people on board, stuck on the side of the road etc. He got 'er going, but once he got back here, what a job, someone had cobbed or beat up on the pulleys, bad mechanical work, which he straightened out, I can't recall exactly, just I'd hate to work on that on the side of the road, in the heat or snow !!!

wisbaker · Oct 12, 2011

If you put good quality spark plug wires on you are better off, if you put cheap ones on it could be a coin toss as to if you are ahead. Sometimes spark plug wires give out with out a lot of warning. How would you feel if trying to go over the mountains you started missing because you lost a wire or the out side of the block was an easier path to ground. Engine working harder on 7 cylinders making more heat while you're getting raw fuel in the exhaust, sounds excititng to me, grab the hot dogs and marsh mellos on the way out of the unit.

BobHnwO · Oct 12, 2011

Check them with an ohm meter,300 to 700 ohm resistance would be good.

Mike (WA) · Oct 12, 2011

What Allan said below, about changing out the starter, alternator, etc., etc., started me thinking about what some of us old car guys do. I've got a '48 Hudson, with a huge trunk. I have a complete set of all tune-up parts, a distributor (with new points, condensor, and rotor in place- its a lot easier to change a distributor than to stand on your head trying to put in points, with those itty bitty screws), alternator, coil, fan belt, water pump, etc. etc. nicely arranged in a box in the far corner of the trunk. It never moves, unless I have a breakdown. And its sure nice to have the parts there, instead of having to round up parts in the middle of nowhere.

What you could do is get new stuff, put it on the rig, then put the used (but serviceable) stuff in your parts box.

millman52 · Oct 12, 2011

I'd probably go more the route of carrying a pretty good tool box & some work wear just in case.

I always carry roadside assistance on my auto insurance. (am only assuming it available for an RV).

A High temp Hi torque starter for that BB Cheby is about $100.00 New Don't know about the alternator Probably at least a 70 A but most likely above 100A on the RV. I might carry a pair with me just in case.

Might as well face it though you can't be prepaired for everything.

On the road I'd most likely "have it fixed" while I just looked at it as adventure on the road.

At any rate Happy RVing & best wishes.

sotxbill · Oct 12, 2011

due to the exteame high heat of a motorhome....

and I do mean high heat when your climbing those mountain passes.. and the dog house that restricts air flow around the engine...

so yes.. but be sure that you buy only the best for that application again due the high high long term heat of a motorhome.

most cars and trucks never come close to the heat exposure that a motor home gets in the engine compartment. so hoses, wires, and plastic parts will all degrade 10 times faster.

did you flush your brake fluid,,assuming its a class c... If air brakes no prob.. but the fluid will collect moisture and then it will turn to gas on the moutain passes and cause the pedal to fade and drop as the disc heat up.. btdi.. so flush the brake fluid every couple of years and you will do ok. check all hoses and replace anything looking a bit worn.

barnE · Oct 12, 2011

Insulation breaks down and the spark goes over to another car on a rainy day. Then you gotta round them up. Tough job. Dave

Dell (WA) · Oct 12, 2011

John.........would you believe yer Chebby's carbon fiber sparkie wires are "GLASS" and they actually crack internally and will start to burn a gap and cause missing.

That is WHY old tractors use COPPER-CORE sparkie wires. Even NEW carbon fiber will make 20,000 sparkie volts into 15,000 volts and cause missing. Yer Chebby sparkies are probably 60,000-volts. (owie-owie) Its all due to FEDERAL mandated never change sparkie plugs for 100,000 miles rule.

Also, surprizingly enuff, the INSULATION drys out and cracks and lets the sparkies dance on the top causing missing.

Yer mechanic friend didja a favor. 'course he didn't haffta replace them at $85/hr shop time either. ........Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister

GordoSD · Oct 12, 2011

Don't know about the wires, but that Mobil 1 is good for at least 6000 miles.

fixerupper · Oct 12, 2011

The 1994 454 I was involved with needed new plug wires on a fairly regular basis or it would start running bad. But it ran so darned hot. It saw most of it's hard miles in the southern and west central part of the US when the temps were in the 100's, a little different than north of the border. I didn't know an engine could run that hot and not melt! It had 332,000 origional miles on it when the tranny went and then it went to Grab-N-Go and that ends the story. Jim

guido · Oct 12, 2011

Hello John T,
3000 miles on mobil 1!!!!
I don't know what the mineral oil interval is on your engine, Buttttttttttttttt that mobil 1 can go a bit longer then that! Good insurance yes, over maintenance yes, yes, yes?
Guido.

guido · Oct 12, 2011

Hello Allen in NE,
The speed of those bearings is 1. 5/8 faster then the engine. For every 1000 engine R.P.M's those bearings are going 1625 R.P.M's. Too many schools for me also.
Guido.

brian(MN) · Oct 12, 2011

Wires do go bad. My 1994 chev pick-up started missing last year, it was the wires, I replaced all of them, works good now. Cheap insurance for you. It will start missing under load first.

Tony S. · Oct 12, 2011

Injected engines don't necessarily "miss" if you have a bad wire. They just run crappy and lose power. Computer adjusts mixture because of unburned fuel in exhaust. If you had a bad wire you'd probably know it.

John T · Oct 12, 2011

GREAT, I feel much better now....I already replaced the alternator and dist cap n rotor, belts n hoses, and I carry a spare elec ignition module, a coil, a couple long plug wires, extra belt n hoses etc. The starter is original but she purrs like a kitten in a creamery even if extremely hot. Of course, new 10 ply radials aired full to 80 PSI

AND I HAVE GOOD SAM EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE. The worst thing may be an electric in tank fuel pump but if that ever happens I'll just get towed n deal with it thats NOT a job Im gonna do on the road

Maybe I'll think of something else thats not broke n run out n fix it lol lol

John T

John T · Oct 12, 2011

My mechanic buddy has a vacuum sucker n a while back we sucked all the old fluid then re filled n bled her till new clean stuff ran out

John T

toadady · Oct 12, 2011

does it have a flat serpentine belt? you said you had a extra belt, but have you changed the idler and tentioner pulleys? they have iddy biddy bearings in them, in fact they are usally the same bearing as the front of your alternator,

John T · Oct 12, 2011

Yes I changed the belt, the idler and tensioner both felt and sounded smooth and quiet with no apparent slop so I'm running them for now.

John T

Anonymous-0 · Oct 12, 2011

OH John T. it sounds like you need a new Motor Home. I have only had mine a few months, and it ran fine til I read your post, now I think I will just stay home. On second thought I will get a rollback and load it right now! Just jokeing my fil kept enough tools and parts in his trunk to rebuild his car on the road.

BCnT · Oct 12, 2011

run your hand over them old wires when its running...if you dont wind up with any underhood shaped lumps on your head or wet pants,its a good guess theyre ok.

Clodbuster · Oct 13, 2011

Looks like you keep it ready to go anywhere, anytime!!! Did you put in new sparkplugs while you were that close?

IndianaRed · Oct 13, 2011

I don't know, I'm pretty big on the oil changes too, but every 3000 with Mobil 1 and Lucas? That does seem a bit much to me, unless the engine is dirty and gets the oil dark that fast. Or if you're taking that "old" oil and putting it in your tractor.

Sure doesn't hurt anything though.

dr sportster · Oct 13, 2011

Champion makes a tool for that. It looks like a pen and when you hold it around each wire if there is any leakage it will glow. You won't get any seat of the pants performance change from ignition anyway. Ignition doesn't make horsepower.

Too Much Preventive Maintenance

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

New User

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads