Monday, September 10, 2012

Missoula and Murphy strikes again!

We had a nice time in Missoula.  We went back to have lunch at a place we went to years ago and hoped was still good, the Iron Horse Pub, and it was!  All three of us had a great meal.  We did a bit of shopping, then chilled out.  We took a ride, a big loop on dirt that was supposed to bring us out, but we encountered two locked gates so that didn't go as well as hoped.  Also it looks like the entire state of Montana is on fire, smoke was everywhere!  Even on the drive to Yellowstone, it was with us until just before the park.

On the way, near Butte, MT, Karen mentioned on the radio she is having a little issue, no power and surging on the slightest hill.  I said I bet it's your fuel filter.  We pulled off in a few miles at a Flying J truck stop, and she ended up calling a mobile truck repair guy who replaced her fuel filter.  Man, was it plugged up with gunk!  Her motorhome evidently sat for awhile before she bought it which is the kiss of death.  For airplanes, boats, and motorhomes it is way worse for them to sit than be used.  We are hoping her bunch of problems are related to it sitting around.  The fuel filter did the trick and off we went only 1 hour later, and it jived with lunch so no big deal.  But the real kicker came as we pulled into the campground in West Yellowstone, her air went down to 70# again!  We got into the sites okay, restarted it, fiddled around and it went back up to 120#.  It's a real mystery and we're really wondering what the best course of action is since she has to drive by herself down to Albuquerque on Thursday.  Anyone have any ideas?

It's supposed to get cold here in Yellowstone this next week, lows in the teens!  But it is clear and bright.  Looking forward to our time here, hope we see a grizzly!

2 comments:

Sandy Smith said...

Diesel fuel will grow algae faster than jet A so I would recommend carrying a couple of filters. As the new fuel will slosh into the old stuff, loosen up things and ta da another plugged filter. The diesel fuel conditioners/additives help but are not a cure all if there is significant biologic mass to escape the system.

The air system may have some sludge in it from a compressor going away.
Assuming it is a piston style pump not a rotary, the oil control seals are not a forever item and can "dry" out or worse freeze and not rotate. This may have caused the air dryer to fail since the elements can get shorted out by enough oil sludge. The worst is a blockage at one wheel or on one side. Be careful here as disaster could be looming. Has she, or you drained the tanks. Turn off the engine and pull the chain, rope or open the petcock to drain the air tank from the bottom. Put a piece of cardboard underneath and see what comes out.

Bill said...

I agree with all of the points. I had some sludge built up in mine and went through 4-5 filters before I got the crap out. I think she is going to have the same problem as you said. She is going to drive it down to Albuquerque and hand it over to Cummins to have them go all through it, and do a complete service on it, check out the air, hope it's a governor instead of a compressor, or a fluke??? I have drained the tanks thoroughly and got nothing but clean dry air, so that's a good sign.
Thanks for the help and you guys need to that Jet Boat trip we did!