Engine leak and detailing

[MesaAZGuy]

I haven't posted in a bit. My work and the Newell needing the rest of my attention has kept me away. My wife works for what seems like 24/7 as a CPA. It's tax season all year for her so she doesn't miss me when I am under the bus so to say.

After our last trip in October I noticed oil around the transmission bell housing. I believe it to have been the power steering pump. Took a while and three attempts to get the right gasket in my hands. Much like the WL's there some crawling and mumbling to get to stuff although I have the utmost respect for you guys dealing with the radiator side of your engines. Anyway, I got a little aggressive with the degreaser and case of brake cleaner which required me to repaint some areas underneath. While under there I discovered a leak at the low air warning switch. To remove that, it was easier to pull the entire plumbing array with the brake protection valve. So new pump gasket is in and onwards to figuring out why the Jake brakes didn't work. Pulled the valve covers off to check solenoids. They work under power. Interconnecting oil tubes are tight. Wiring looks fresh and new. I then discover a trail of carbon from leaking exhaust manifold gaskets. Got those in hand. All while the parts scouring is happening, I decided to have the manifold and pipes ceramic coated to help with heat rejection and give them a bit longer life. Valve covers went to powder coating. I am waiting on new v-band clamps to arrive since those showed some signs of leakage. Got new ones coming from PCI components. Once all this is buttoned up, I need to find another air loss from the aux tank. I believe there is a check valve that went south when the weather was freezing in Iowa while the bus was getting painted. I found an Etsy seller who is making new valve cover ID labels. When they arrive, I will post how they look. I did find new "92" silver stickers on eBay. They are already on both valve covers although not shown on the one installed on the engine. And a final note, I splurged for an Amprobe ULD405 ultrasonic leak detector as recommended by a Newell guru to find air leaks. I am a firm believer in soapy bubble solution as I am old school and have had great success with this method. Having said that I had sprayed down my work three separate times on the brake protection valve install and there were no bubbles. This amprobe tool "heard" the leak from the back of the bus and it got louder as I came near the source. I was impressed and became a believer in high tech gadgetry! I leave you all off here as this is where I am right now. Parts waiting limbo and some sun to come out...

[Randy Dupree]

Wow,thats nice and clean!
and the parts look good too,well done!

[isp2952]

Impressive. Looks to good to ever use and get dirty again.

[patticake]

Just an FYI. Since you have the exhaust manifolds off, have them Jet Hot or ceramic coated. Drops the temperature on them a good 50 degrees.

[Qndskmo69]

Originally Posted by patticake

Just an FYI. Since you have the exhaust manifolds off, have them Jet Hot or ceramic coated. Drops the temperature on them a good 50 degrees.

For what it's worth I had the exhaust manifolds on my 413 Dodge in a Superior coated about 30 years ago and my next trip in the bus was 150 mi and when I got there my transmission shift cable had melted together because the heat on the exhaust system that was originally lost at the manifolds continued on to the exhaust pipe so I had to wrap them in header wrap and install a new shift cable. Was able to make it back home by tying a piece of bailing wire from the shift arm to the front bumper and the back bumper and getting out to shift when needed. But overall very pleased with the jet coat.

[MesaAZGuy]

The manifolds and pipes are ceramic coated. Either way the old insulation is going back over them. A local shop did the work for $425

[badwrench]

Did you recive ID lables ? Do you have a LINk ?

[rgus]

WOW, What a beauty! I would hate to get it dirty now.