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waves in the stainless panels…
Hello again,
In looking at some coaches, I’ve noticed a few with excessive waves or indentations between the rivet framing on the stainless panels. Basically the frame structure is strongly visible as the panel dips in between each upright rivet line. I’m told that is from the heat of over buffing with too much pressure applied. Is that valid? Is it common? My coach is not so shiny but straight as an arrow.
Thoughts?
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5 Replies
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It is not uncommon to see “oil canning” on an XL. Many times polishing the stainless is blamed, but while it may be possible for that to contribute, it may not be solely related to that.
Metal expands as it heats. It contracts when it is cool. With that in mind, consider that the skin, especially when getting heated in the sun is expanding, but the frame structure may not be expanding as fast so between lines of rivets that expansion in the metal has to go somewhere, and usually it takes the form of distorting and buckling. Sitting in an XL when it goes from cold, to getting heated by the sun you are going to hear noises, some especially loud as that skin expansion “oil cans”.
I think the reason why this is not occurring on an XLII is because the adhesive bond on the panels at the frame structure has some give to it and as the skin expands the adhesive is stretching or shrinking depending on if it is heating or cooling.
I was told in temperature extremes, such as in the desert at the start of day the coach is at near freezing temps, and then as the sun works its magic the skin is getting very hot that the length of the coach can expand by as much as 1/2″. Converters have to adjust their interior designs to accomodate this because while the exterior is expanding and shrinking the interior at a more constant temperature is remaining dimensionally constant.
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Thanks for that. I have an older XL and I’ve just never seen “oil canning” on mine before and have been in and out of excessive heat many times. Thought maybe the older stainless could have been a different grade?
Anyhow, just making sure something is not at fault or defective while comparing coaches.
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Have never polished and the previous owner (just the 2 of us) never did either Mine is just as shiny/mirrored as it was when I bought 10 years ago. Never seen this canning you talk about. Here’s a back shot.
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There you go Glen, showing your rear end again. I’ve not seen the oil canning issue either.
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We spend a lot of time in AZ during the winter. Just like Jon describes, when the sun first hits the panels after a cold night you will hear the a pop or two. Completely normal.
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL
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