Fuel Types And Vapor Lock; Alternative Fuel Types; Overheating; Variable Speed Engine Fan - Fleetwood Pace Arrow 1989 Manual

Clean up fuel spills Immediately. Raw fuel spilled on
the motor horne could damage the exterior finish, ;:lnd
is
oJ
serious fire hazJrd.
Fuel Types And Vapor Lock
Today's automotIve fuel and emissions systems are
sophistlc3ted and highly engineered to meet Federal and
state emissions standards. They are also sometimes sen-
sitive to fuel types and blends, particularlv blends that
are optimized for climatic conditions. Fuel refiners change
the additives in the fuel to compensate for temperature
variations during winter or summer months. This com-
pensation changes the "vapor pressure" of the fuel. This
means that the fuel vaporizes easier during the winter
than it does during the summer when higi"\er air
temperatures help the fuel vaporize in the engina Since
colder temperatures reduce the fuel's ability to vaporize
and burn in your engine, additives help raise the volatili·
ty of the fuel. This helps the engine start easier and
run smoother during winter months. Under the best of
conditions, the refiners supply their gas station customers
with the correct fuel for their location and seasonal con-
ditions. Sometimes though, fuel blended for winter is
supplied during summer months.
What this all means is that there is a possibility of
"vapor lock" during summer driving. This condition is
a combination of new engine design (with attendant
higher temperatures under the hood), and excessive fuel
vaporization caused by the vapor pressure of the fuel
you are using, If your engine and fuel system are pro·
perly tuned and maintained, you should not experience
vapor lock. If vapor lock occurs, the fuel itself could
be the cause. If at all possible, check with the gas sta-
tion attendant as to the fuel blend before filling your
fuel tank. If you purchase your fuel from nationally
recognized fuel dealers, your chances of vapor lock can
be. reduced, If you store your motor home during the
winter months, avoid storing large quantities of winter
blended fuel in the tank. When you take the vehicle out
of storage in the spring or summer, this fuel may cause
vapor lock until it is used up,
Another note on long storage - if you plan to store
your motor home for a long period in conditions of widely
varying humidity, consider topping off the fuel tank. This
will reduce the. buildup of condensation in .the tank that
could cause rough engine opera.lion. fuel, filter blockage, .
. or other problems associated with water in the fuel.
NOTE: . DURING EXTENDED .PERIOPS OF
STORAGE (60 DAYS OR MORE), GASOLINE MAY
DETERIORATE DUE TO OXIDATION. nUS CAN
DAMAGE. RUBBER AIIID OTHER MATERIALS IN
THE FUEL SYSTEM SUCH AS CARBURETOR AC·
CELERATOR PUMP, DIAPHRAGMS, AND CAR·
BURETOR INLET VALVES. IT MAY ALS.o CLOG
SMALL ORIFICES.
A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE GASOLINE FUEL
STABILIZER MAY BE ADDED TO GASOLINE·
POWERED VEHICLES WHENEVER ACTUAL OR
EXPECTED STORAGE PERIODS EXCEED 60 DAYS.
FOLLOW THE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURER'S IN·
STRUCTIONS. OPERATE THE VEHICLE REGULAR·
LY DURING THE STORAGE PERIOD TO MIX AND
CIRCULATE THE ANTI·OXIDANT AGENT
THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM.
Alternative Fuel Types
Gasohol, a mixture of ethanol (grain alcohol!. or
methanol and gasoline may be used in your motor home
engine without voiding the warranty. However, DO NOT
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE FUEL BLENDS
CONTAINING MORE THAN 5% METHANOL OR 10%
ETHANOL. AND DO NOT USE BLENDS THAT CONTAIN
BOTH METHANOL AND ETHANOL Any fuel blend you
use containing alcohol must also contain cosolvents and
other additives to protect the fuel system components.
If you are not sure of the composition of the
alcohol/gasoline blend you intend to use. ask your ser-
vice station operator. Discontinue use of any
alcohol/gasoline blend if driveability or fuel system pro·
blems occur.
Chemical reactions between the fuel components and
the materials in the fuel lines can cause deterioration
of the fuel lines during storage periods. These effects
are especially noticeable with gasohol blends. If you plan
to use alcohol blended fuel. and expect to store. your
motor home for periods of 60 days or more. add a fuel
additive that is formulated to counteract these oxida-
tion effects. Your dealer can advise you on the proper
additives and their usa
If gasohol is spilled on a painted surface, some dull·
ing or soften inc; of the paint may result.
Overheating
Operate and service the engine and cooling systems
in your vehicle as recommended in the Chassis
Operator's Manual.
Variable Speed Engine Fan
Your motor home engine is equipped with a variable
. speed fa[1 clutch. W,hen the engine is under load or re-
quires maximum cooling. tbe' fan adjusts and turns faster .
. The fan may become very noisy at high. speed and when
maximum cooling is' requin;!d. Whe'n the engine doesn't
need maximum'· cooling" the fan just idles along. This
'conserves fuel .andihe fan is .Iess noisy.
10
High speed fan noise can sometimes
be
misinterpreted
as transmission slippage. This is not the case. When
the engine is hot and. requires extra cooling, the fan turns
at full speed. High engine speed and temperature con-
ditions, such as pulling away from a stop after long
freeway driving, can cause loud fan noise until the engine
cools down. This fan noise indicates that the fan
IS