Fuel And Fuel Systems; Fuel Fill; Fuel Types And Vapor Lock; Alternative Fuel Types - Fleetwood Tioga 1988 Owner's Manual

engine loads. Downshift when descending grades.
Engine braking power will help control vehicle speed,
and relieve some of the strain on the brakes.
Road conditions, terrain, weather, and otherdriv-
Ing factors are sometimes unpredictable, and moun-
tain driving or desert temperatures can put extreme
demands on drivetrain components-especially the
transmission. Under extreme heat conditions you may
need to turn off the vehicle air conditioner to improve
engine and transmission cooling. .
Allow for the extra height of your motor home and
avoid areas having low overhead clearance. Check for
low-hanging tree branches or other obstructions
· whenever you drive or park. Avoid low roofs when
pulling in for service.' Always check overhead
clearances of overpasses and bridges. This may be
particularly important if you drive with the overhead
vents open or if. the motor home is equipped with
a roof. air conditioner, roof rack, CB or TV/radio
antenna.
• When parl,ing parallel to a curb, be sure to allow
. for poles or obstructions as the front and rear por-
tions of the motor home swing wider than an
automobile. When parking on an incline, tum the front
. wheels Into the curb in the direction of the roll to
aid the parking brake. Always shift the transmission
to··PARK ("P") and . set the parking brake when
parking.
FUEL AND FUEL SYSTEMS
See the Chassis Operator's Manual in the Owner's
Information Package for fuel recommendations. Since
the generator fuel supply is the same as the motor
home engine fuel supply,consult the operating in-
structions for the generator before deciding on a fuel
type.
Fuel Fill
. The fuel filler cap is located on the side of the
· coach.· Modern fuel' systems may build up vapor
· pressure within the tank as the gasoline warms during
use or hot weather. Under certain conditions, sud-
den release of this pressure when removing the
gasoline cap can spray gasoline from the fill open-
ing, causing a possible hazard.
WARNING: WHEN REMOVING THE GASOLINE
. CAP, ROTATE: IT SLOWLY ONLY FAR ENOUGH
. TO ALLOW PRESSURE TO RELEASE. AFTER
ANY "HISSING" SOUNDS STOP, COMPLETE
THE REMOVAL OF THE CAP.
· To protect the gasoline system from excessive
pressure or vacuum, or from sudden release of.
pressure, replace lost caps with caps of the same
design available from your Fleetwood motor home
dealer.
12
Clean up fuel spills immediately. Raw fuel spiiled
on the motor home could damage the exterior finish,
and is a serious fire hazard.
Fuel Types And Vapor Lock
Today's automotive fuel and emissions systems are
sophisticated and highly engineered to meet Federal
and state emissions standards. They are also
sometimes sensitive to fuel types and blends, par-
ticularly blends that are qptimized for climatic condi-
tions. Fuel refiners change the additives in the fuel
to compensate for temperature variations during
winter or summer months. This compensation
changes the "vapor pressure" of the fuel. This means
that the fuel vaporizes easier during the winter than
it does during the summer when higher air
temperatures help the fuel vaporize In the engine.
Since colder temperatures reduce the fuel's ability
to vaporize and bum in your engine, additives help
raise the volatility 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 conditions. 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 condi-
tion is a combination of new engine design (with at-
tendant 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 properly 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 station 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 operation,
fuel filterblockege, or other problems associated with
water. in the fuel •
Alternative Fuel Types
Gasohol, a mixture of ethanol' (grai{l 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