Yearly maintenance

[folivier]

The dealer where I bought my coach did this prior to picking it up so this will be the first time I have it done.
Other than oil and filter changes what else should be done?
I may bring it to a Petro truck stop for this or would yall suggest Newell instead?
How do prices compare?
Thanks

[Richard and Rhonda]

Oh my, I'm the wrong guy to ask. Before I knew better, I took another rig to a truck stop to get some tire work done. Never again. Coach owners have a different standard than what you will probably get in a truck stop. Toughest thing is getting a container to hold ten gallons of oil.

I do all my own. 10 gallons of the oil I use is 120 bucks, the two oil filters are about 25. I also change the coolant filter while I'm under there. (remember to valve it out, or take a coolant bath). You can change the fuel filter(s) if you like. I use the same oil in the gennie and change oil and fuel filters at the same time.

I check the oil level in the differential while I'm under there.

I also changed the trannie filters. With synthethic trannie fluid I should be good for another 25k miles.

All in all that service costs me less than 300 dollars in parts. My labor is a labor of love, plus I get to spend quality time under the coach. Seriously, it's a good opportunity to look for developing problems.

I do it once a year. I do change the gennie oil and filter more frequently if we use it over a 100 hours before the yearly maintenance.

If you raise the coach with the air, and then seriously block it up with jack stands or cribbing, then the access is not too bad for those chores.

You should be able to get the filter numbers from your manual or the ones on the coach now. Tons of places on the internet, including Ebay, to get them, if you don't have a truck supply house nearby.

Biggest issue I think you need to look our for is the oil. Michael has some good posts about the specific oil that should be used in DD two strokes.

[HoosierDaddy]

Hi Forest,
I try to find somebody I can trust to do that kind of work. They should have a pit or a lift so they can easily check everything on the bottom side. A few things I would have checked/performed:
Oil/filter
Lube greaseable joints (some Newells have grease zerks on the steering shaft under the dash area)
Air filter
fuel filter/water separator
brake linings
air brake actuators
air lines
air bags
check air leveling valves
steam clean engine/radiator
check engine coolant often ignored by some mechanics. Here's a good article:

http://www.buyerzone.com/construction/rbic-diesel-engine-coolant.html

check all coolant hoses

You might contact Newell. They probably have an annual checklist.

[fulltiming]

The last checklist I have from Newell is dated 2007. You can view it here:

http://www.newellowner.com/images/Newell%20Maintenance%20Schedule%202007.pdf (http://www.newellowner.com/images/Newell%20Maintenance%20Schedule%202007.pdf)

I have the 8V92 so the items that are checked for my coach will be different.

[JohnC]

Newell has a two page PM sheet that we regularly update. It is fairly generic for the RV related services, but I suggest using an engine owners manual, for the 8V92, or earlier drive systems. If you would like our latest copy, please send an e-mail request to service@newellcoach.com.

jc

[folivier]

Thanks John, Tommy sent this to me a couple weeks ago. Great to see Newell on the forum again. Feel free to guide us in the right direction.

[fulltiming]

I echo Forest's comment. It is always appreciated when we get posts from 'the horses mouth' so to speak. Thanks John.

For any relatively new members who haven't had the pleasure of meeting John, he is the Vice President of Customer Service for Newell and the owner of a Newell Classic himself.

If you have attended any of the Newell sponsored Rallies, John is the one who does the Tech Talk session at the rallies which is always EXTREMELY well received.

[chockwald]

Well, I'm starting to like John even more......glad to have another Classic owner posting here!!