[Archived]

I never see any air gauge drop to zero in a couple of days, even in the coldest weather (and I have been traveling in the coldest weather!). Sometimes I see drops into the 50’s after 4-5 days but nothing as dramatic as you describe. If that’s really what you are seeing I would say that you have a fairly serious air leak and who ever said they checked for air leaks was pushing the limits of truth.

I do have an older coach so maybe newer coaches drop to zero but I have never seen that on my coach. I have done a bunch of searching and repairing (or had Prevost repair/replace leaking valves I found) so I do have a certain expecation that my bus will hold its air. In the last year or so I am seeing some leaking again but starting the task of searching the new leak down leaves me cold so I just let it leak. Hopefully, I will find some time, some warm weather and a bit of motivation to crawl under the bus with a squirt bottle and try to find the latest issues.

This isn’t terrible, it’s just a known on going issue. Prevost is famous for their leaks, it’s just that in most cases the leaks are not a big deal.

[Robert]

I have been chasing leaks for over a year and still have not got them all. Jon told me when I started it was a “fools errand” but I thought I could have a leak free bus. I have finally decided it is easier (and a lot less stress) to walk on a slanted floor when I first get up in morning. It just reminds me I am out having fun. Welcome, I hope you enjoy the bus experience. It is great!!

[Jim/Chris]

Thanks for the invite Peter, might take you up on it when it warms up. Heck we have a dusting of snow on the ground here 100 miles north of Port O’Connor (Gulf) Yeah these leaks are a pita for sure. My air gauges don’t drop to zero for a couple weeks but coach does. I guess that why some of the converters put air compressors on board and tied in.

[Bob]

Thanks for the information on the website. I will get my numbers and plug them in. That is a really cool feature from Prevost. Nice to be able to track your own bus setup online.

Well it is a balmy 14 degrees today. Went out to the bus and looked at it’s position more closely after reading some of the posts here. It is stored indoors and plugged in to shore power. The storage unit is about 30 degrees inside.

The back mud flaps are not touching the ground but the front one’s are touching so I am now inclined to believe I have a leak up front which sounds more normal than what I initially described.

You guys are a great resource. Amazing information. I think I will sell my house and move the family into the bus full time. That is how much we love it for the little amount of time we have used it since Old Man Winter has kicked into high gear.

[Greg]

Chris,

As a new owner let’s help put this in perspective. If when you travel the air pressure gauges aren’t cycling up and down on a regular (noticable) amount safety is not an issue so the air leaks fall into the “annoying” category. We all want air tight coaches. We don’t want our auxiliary compressors to have to run a lot and we don’t want the coach to lean or go our of level so that is why we chase leaks.

Enjoy your coach and worry about the important stuff, and keep the air leaks in perspective. You do want to address them at some point, but as long as your gauges on the dash aren’t going crazy up and down deal with the leaks at your convenience. Just keep in mind they will never get better and if they get to the point where the engine compressor is working to maintain pressures they have become an issue that needs attention. Our engine driven compressors are rated for a 25% duty cycle so if you think the compressor is running more often deal with the leaks.

[Archived]

Jon and Di,

That is an important point to take note of. I have had my coach for many years but one day I was crusing down the highway and I noticed that without my ever touching the brakes the air tanks were bleeding down to around 100 where the compressor would kick in, bring it back to 120 and cut out. This repeated itself over and over again and obviously was not normal and set off alarms. Not sure how it happened but one of the air lines was too close to the exhaust and the line melted enough to cause a leak. Prevost fixed and rerouted the line but it’s something that likely would have gone unnoticed it you were not aware of what your coach should and should not do. I watch my gauges and I know what normal it. I check them on a regular basis (multiple times per day when traveling). They are not there to make things look good. They are there to help you know when something needs attention. However, they are worthless if you don’t know what normal it.