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Prevost Build Sheet & my bus engine?
I was looking through the Prevost Build Sheet double checking the amount of gallons of fuel the bus holds. As I was doing so I came across something I’ve not noticed before. What do you guys make of this and what does the “F” mean that’s been penciled in?
And what is a Etner (or Ether) manual cold start aide listed under options?
Harry
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13 Replies
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You’re referring to ether (starting fluid) Harry. Us old truckers just squirted ether with a spray can at the breather for cold starts. There are push buttons that set off the ether canister from the cockpit instead of the ole spray can method. Only needed for really cold temps.
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Ether is not needed at all if the engine has a block heater. As our conversions are equipped with a generator all we have to do is turn on the block heater a few hours prior to engine start if it has been equipped with one. I am not aware of a conversion without a block heater.
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Thanks guys,
Does the C or F above the 8V92TA mean anything? I’ve looked at the rest of the Build Sheet and there is no other place where something like that is done.
Harry
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HJ,
I have always heard that ether is hard on an engine. A big diesel sounds like it is going to come apart when You use ether on a cold engine. Do like Jon says and use the block heater. Good hot chassis batteries is a must ! The way that You are going to store Your coach. It would be a good idea to start the generator and hook up a charger to the chassis batteries and turn the block heater on. And watch TV for 2-3 hrs.
Slow crank = No start , Hot starter , Very bad !
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Hi Rocky,
Yes, I remember other posts I’ve read here on the forum about the use of either and it sounds like a poor alternave.
If I can finagle standard AC power from the owner of my storage facility. What would you recommend I plug into it that would work well for the coach and not blow the circut?
Harry
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If you get a standard 20 amp circuit, such as an outlet and it has a GFCI protection you will trip the GFCI every time.
You need a non-GFCI circuit and to fully protect the coach 20 amps is insufficient, but it will power the block heater if the generator will not start.
Go south. Don’t winterize. If you take the time to fully and properly winterize the coach you can write off the winter for travel because it is a huge pain winterizing and then flushing the RV antifreeze. Which means you did not use the coach this summer, and now you may face the potential of not using it during the winter.
Go south.
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Totally agree with Jon…use it or loose it!! You bought your coach to use, not abuse by keeping it in cold/freezing weather!! You may think you have no alternatives locally…expand your storage search area until you find something at least with power. You’re not doing your coach or yourself any favors storing it the way you seem to be leaning. As Jon said…Go South!! JMO…
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You guys are putting serious pressure on a Prevost beginner. I’ve been asking around for some time now on a place with 50 amp service and haven’t come up with any.
As for going south, south where? I have a child in Tallahassee and they don’t have weather much different than mine. Another daughter is in Tampa with better weather but what about security, access to my coach, spending time in the coach etc?
I don’t want my coach sitting 700 miles away! I’ll make another run at the owner of my current space and see if I can work something out? Anyone know what it costs to set up 50 amp service?
Harry
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Harry, I hope a lot of new and potential owners are reading this and of your dilemma. I am sorry for you, but this is an example of the type of planning that has to take place when considering a coach as sophisticated as a Prevost or even a high end motor home.
The absolute worst way to treat a coach is to not use it. The tires age faster because the lack of exercise does not activate and distribute the compounds that stall the aging process. The interior takes a real beating because it is exposed to higher and lower than normal temps and that takes a toll on the materials, especially coaches with a laminated interior.
As a coach sits nobody is exercising the valves, systems or devices. Even if you stay in excessively hot or cold temperatures when you use the coach, the fact you are living in it is going to keep it protected against freezing or getting very hot inside unless you like to live in extreme temps.
If you do not have power available and you do not intend to use the coach this winter you know the answer to protecting it, and that is to get a lot of RV anti-freeze and make sure it is in every water line, device, component or appliance. But that solution should be far below taking advantage of the coach by getting in it and heading south.
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Harry,
I think it cost me about $100 and a trip to Home depot to get the materials for the second 50-Amp service I set up at the house. As long as you have a dual pole spot open in your circuit breaker box, it is not hard to do.
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An old friend of mine who owned a trucking company in Wyoming in the 1930’s once told me how they started trucks that had been shut down for more than a few hours. They would build 2 fires on the ground; one under the engine/trans and one under the diff. Keeping the fires going all winter could be somewhat labor intensive for you though, I guess.
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Harry,
I also installed a 50AMP breaker in the barn of my wife’s family farm. When we first bought the bus, I was in KS for Christmas, plugged in, with engine block heater and heat in the bays.
That was two years ago, and I learned that heading south to Florida (or the SW) was the right move in winter … so join us in FL!
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I’m curious, when you guys go to Florida with your bus, do you stay there in your coach, or do you leave it and go back home?
Harry
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