Cooling System; Maintenance And Inspection; Coolant Level; Flushing Cooling System - Fleetwood Bounder 1987 Owner's Manual

COOLING SYSTEM
Maintenance and Inspection
Check the coolant level, appearance, and strength
periodically. Drain and replace at the intervals recom-
mended in the Mainteance Schedule, or sooner if it
is dirty. Check hoses regularly for signs of damage
or deterioration, and tighten hose clamps if necessary.
Check hoses for cuts or abrasion damage. If the
hoses have become hard and brittle and show signs
of cracking as a result of engine heat, replace them.
Replace hoses if they are soft and spongy, or swollen
as a result of exposure to oil and grease. Any flaking
or deterioration of the inner lining of the hose is also
a reason for replacement. Such particles can clog the
cooling system, reducing its efficiency.
Wash the radiator cap with clean water and
pressure-check every 12 months.
Coolant Level
The need for additional coolant can be detected by
observing the level of coolant in the "see through"
reservoir while the engine is at normal operating
temperature. The radiator cap need not normally be
removed.
The coolant level should be at the "Full Cold" mark
when the system is cool or at ambient temperature.
After the vehicle has been driven sufficiently to ob-
tain normal operating temperatures, the level should
be above the "Full Cold" mark.
Remove the radiator cap periodically to observe
coolant level in the radiator.
WARNING: TO HELP AVOID THE DANGER OF
BEING BURNED, DO NOT REMOVE THE
RADIATIOR CAP WHILE THE ENGINE AND
RADIATOR ARE STILL HOT. SCALDING FLUID
AND STEAM CAN BE BLOWN OUT UNDER
PRESSURE IF THE CAP IS TAKEN OFF TOO SOON.
Maintain coolant levels in the radiator to the top of
the filler neck. Be sure the recovery bottle is a~ its ap-
propriate mark when checking ..
Regardless of whether freezing temperatures are ex-
pected or not, maintain cooling system protection to
lit
le~st
-34°f, to.provide adequate corrosion protec-
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When adding solution due to loss of coolant for any
reason or' in areas where temperatures lower than
"34°F occur, use a 'sufficient amount of an ethylene
glycol base .antifreeze that meets GM specification
1825-M. . .
NOTES:
. *.
·AI~oholor
methanol base antifreeze, or plain'
water, are not reCommended for your engine at
any time. They will not provide proper protec-
. tion. against corrosion.
* Additives in addition to a good quality ethylene
glycol-base antifreeze meeting the GM specifica-
tion are
not
required or recommended. Many of
the claims for additives are associated with better
heat transfer or cooling, but these claims are not
supported by test data. In some instances, the
ingredients may be incompatible with the recom-
mended coolant. Also, when used alone with
water as is sometimes suggested, the additive
may not provide the corrosion protection given
by the recommended coolant solution.
Flushing Cooling System
Various methods and equipment may be used to
perform this service. If special equipment such as back
flusher is used, follow equipment manufacturer's
instructions.
ENGINE ELECTRICAL
Battery Inspection and Care
WARNING: DISCONNECT THE 120-VOLT ELEC-
TRIC CORD AND THE POSITIVE TERMINAL FROM
THE MOTOR HOME BATTERY BEFORE WORKING
ON EITHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
WARNING: REMOVE RINGS, METAL WATCH-
BANDS, AND OTHER METAL JEWELRY BEFORE
WORKING AROUND A BATTERY. USE CAUTION
WHEN USING METAL TOOLS. IF THE TOOL CON-
TACTS THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL OR
METAL CONNECTED TO IT, A SHORT CIRCUIT
COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD CAUSE PER-
SONAL INJURY OR FIRE.
WARNING: DO NOT ALLOW BATTERY ELEC-
TROLYTE TO CONTACT SKIN, EYES, FABRICS,
OR PAINTED SURFACES. THE ELECTROLYTE IS
A SULFURIC ACID SOLUTION WHICH COULD
CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPER-
TY DAMAGE. WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHEN
WORKING WITH BATTERIES.
Check the external condition of the battery periodi-
cally. Look for cracks in the cover and casEi. Check the
vent plugs. Replace them if they are cracked or broken.
Keep the batteryclean.Accumuliltions olacld film\and
dirt
inW'p~rmlt
cllmiri't to
'fIO\."fb~etweenfffie''i'e'r\lliKllls
and discharge the battery. To Clean the battery:~'iNlish
it with a diluted solution of baking soda and water to
neutralize any acid present, then flush with cleah' water.
Acid foaming around terminals or on top of the battery
is normal acid neutralization. Avoid getting the.sodasolu-
tion in the battery. Be sure the vent caps are tight.Dry
the cables and terminals. Don't'use grease on the bani
metal inside
~he
cable terminals to prevent corrosion.
Grease is an insulator. Electricity will n.ot floVl(th.rough
it. A plastic ignition spray wil protect the terminals after
you have cleaned and reinstalled them ..
55