Routine Maintenance

[John "T" Nordhoff]

 Soooooooooo, after three + months on the road and in Florida, its time to give the old girl some routine preventive maintenance. We may take a 5000 mile trip this fall to Utah and Colorado and Yosemite etc so I want her ready. Heres the plan:

 1: Found a broke muffler hanger clamp so built a new one to replace the temporary coat hanger until the new one was installed:

 2. Although there likely was NOT a problem, when my main black holding tank was completely full, the bottom sure looked a bit sagged down?? So I hung a chain covered with heater hose across the bottom center and used a turnbuckle to adjust just a slight tension across the bottom so when the tank is full a portion of the load will be supported by the covered chain NOT just the holding tank itself. I had already replaced one of the two 3 inch slider valves and will replace the other one as I do every few years when they get a bit tight and restricted when sliding them closed. For about 4 times I filled the black tank and flushed and flushed and cleaner it out and at the end (DO NOT mix bleach with toilet chemicals) used bleach and soap and hot water etc so the tank is cleannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. Then I added some bleach to my two fresh water tanks and ran it out and flushed it with fresh water a few times so the fresh water tanks are FRESH lol.

 3. Oil change time: I bought a heavy duty stronger and higher burst pressure TWO QUART  Moroso Racing Oil Filter which has the anti drainback feature. Then 5 Quarts of 5W 30 Mobil One Synthetic Oil, 1 Quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer, 1 Pint of Marvel top lube and lifter cleaner. In the past I had a slight problem with a brief hydraulic lifter clik n clak upon startup, but the change to the recommended 5W 30 and Lucas and the anti drainback plus a pint of lifter cleaner has cured it totally yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Will check the air cleaner and all other fluid levels, I already installed new wipers.

 4. I removed any necessary covers and panels to get to the fridge and hot water heater and furnace etc., and took my air blow gun and completely cleaned and blew out any dust or dirt or soot or rust from the burner tubes and flame passages etc.

 5. Checked air tire pressure, all were at 80 PSI. I already installed new front pads and turned the rotors and repacked the wheel bearings and adjusted so they are ready to go. Rears had new seals and shoes already. I need to flush and refill the brake fluid from the whole system later this summer so its all new n clean free of crud or any water etc.

 6. I drain the radiator and flush and install distilled water,,,,,,,,Anti Freeze,,,,,,,,,Water Pump Lube,,,,,,,,,,,,Super Cool,,,,,,,,,,,Wetting Agent. It has new heater hose and I carry extra heater and radiator hoses plus the old serpentine fan belt. I also carry a spare ignition control module, spare ignition coil, spare distributor cap and have Good Sam Emergency Road Service

 7. The "Little Woman" has cleaned the inside and plans to shampoo the carpet then I get to wash n wax the exterior,,,,,,,,,,,fill up the LP Gas Tank,,,,,,,,,Add Sta Bil and Lucas Gas Treatment and Lucas Valve Cleaner to the gas,,,,,,,,,,check and service the Onan Generator,,,,,,,,,,check water levels in my four golf cart batteries.

  8. Take a wire brush and clean n brighten up all the electrical plug terminals to remove oxidation and corrosion or any carbon etc.

 Then I can head out to California and hopefully??? be in good shape

 Ol John T  (A  NUT on Preventive Maintenance) PS Theres more I do but this is all that comes to mind for now