Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: "Irish" on August 23, 2020, 01:42:28 pm

Title: what’s leaking?
Post by: "Irish" on August 23, 2020, 01:42:28 pm
99 u270, looking at the engine, left side has a big container with pipes to the (transmission?) there is a small cap on the top with tighten loosen printed on it.
There is a small amount of oil coming out of the cap which is as tight as it gets, if I loosen the cap it is still attached in place and does not appear to be removable
What is it?
Is this a problem?
What do I do other than tie a rag to it?
See photo (I have cleaned the oil off the outside)
Thanks you all of greater mechanical knowledge
David
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: rbark on August 23, 2020, 01:45:09 pm
That is your filter housing for your power steering and hyd. cooling fans.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Pamela & Mike on August 23, 2020, 01:49:24 pm
Once you loosen the cap it should pull up and out and you will have a dip stick attached. The seal must be stuck to the housing causing it not to come out.

Mike
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: John44 on August 23, 2020, 01:55:49 pm
If you haven't changed those filters and oil or don't know when it was changed I would research here and change the oil and filters
soon,is cheaper then fan and steering box trouble.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: craneman on August 23, 2020, 02:28:14 pm
If you unscrew it too much the dipstick will fall into the tank. Just loosen and pull up like the old thermos bottle caps.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: "Irish" on August 23, 2020, 02:47:50 pm
Do I have reservoirs for the steering and the fan that have to be drained as well as the big filter tank at the rear?
If yes where are they?
Thanks
David
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Pamela & Mike on August 23, 2020, 03:07:20 pm
That tank holds both the oil and filters. This tank is  for steering and cooling fans.
It has 3 filters Nelson 84101B (the new Fleetguard #87610A) and you need the gasket for the lid 999-55A

Mike

One other thought: you will need about 16 quarts of oil for the change.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: wolfe10 on August 23, 2020, 03:21:37 pm
Do I have reservoirs for the steering and the fan that have to be drained as well as the big filter tank at the rear?
If yes where are they?
Thanks
David

Most coaches of your vintage have only the ONE hydraulic reservoir.  Some have two-- one for fans and a smaller one for power steering. But whether one or two, they will both be back of the engine compartment (back of coach).

Likely have a label telling you what fluid to use-- suspect Delo 400 15-40 (from any Walmart, auto parts house, etc).
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: fkjohns6083 on August 23, 2020, 06:14:08 pm
Our 91 GV uses power steering fluid in the fan and steering hyd system.  Does any one else have a rig that also uses power steering fluid?  Thanks and have a great day ----  Fritz
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 23, 2020, 08:17:00 pm
Our 91 GV uses power steering fluid in the fan and steering hyd system.
That's the fun thing about owning a Foretravel:  You can never be sure what is the same and what is different from model year to model year.

Our '93 U280 has two completely separate hydraulic systems.  Both systems use 15-40 motor oil, as noted by Brett in post above.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Mike and Jenn on August 23, 2020, 09:25:14 pm
I just bought a 92 u400 it has two different systems. I don't think they ever checked the fan system as I had to add 3 gallons of 15-40. Ran it and there are no leaks.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 23, 2020, 10:12:34 pm
I just bought a 92 u400 it has two different systems.
I believe you mean you bought a '92 U300.  No such thing as a u400.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Jack Lewis on August 24, 2020, 02:54:40 am

NADA shows a "Unicoach Series M-4000 U295" which is 40 feet long.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: John44 on August 24, 2020, 07:02:37 am
Irish,nothing to do with the current problem but in the first picture your belt tensioner looks to be pretty old,take a look at it with the engine running and if it's bouncing around it's time for a new one,many posts on this with part numbers.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: "Irish" on August 24, 2020, 07:43:01 am
I will look at it and see if it's jumping about, last time I looked it was solid. Having said that our belt life is about 15000 before you start to see minor signs of wear. All the pillows are perfectly aligned. Now Johns comment has me wondering if it could be a failing tensioner that is not obvious.
https://youtu.be/Hza9Ulhe4DQ
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: jor on August 24, 2020, 10:32:50 am
Quote
The seal must be stuck to the housing causing it not to come out.

Just reef on it and it should come up and out. If not, just remove the top of the can and you can push it out. Once you get it out, you can bung up the threads on the cap's bolt to prevent it from unscrewing as mentioned above. There are a couple of threads with photos on this .
jor

Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Bob & Sue on August 24, 2020, 01:04:14 pm
As John said,, if you don't know when that fluid / filter was changed, you probably should change it out.    And consider putting some Lucas oil treatment in there with it. 
  My pump was starting to leak a little so I changed out the oil, filter and added some Lucas oil treatment ( endorsed by several on this forum) ...  stopped the leak.      I also have to wonder if the Lucas stuff wouldn't help prevent steering box leaks.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Caflashbob on August 24, 2020, 01:09:46 pm
The pictures of steering box gaskets after removal show the seals had fallen apart.  Dissolved sort of. 
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: craneman on August 24, 2020, 01:29:53 pm
The pictures of steering box gaskets after removal show the seals had fallen apart.  Dissolved sort of.
? Don't see any steering box gaskets in the thread.
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Caflashbob on August 24, 2020, 02:25:09 pm
Different thread.  Sorry
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 24, 2020, 02:59:59 pm
You can remove a post if it accidentally ended up in the wrong thread.  Just sayin'...
Title: Re: what’s leaking?
Post by: Caflashbob on August 25, 2020, 12:08:03 am
Meaning the pictures posted I mentioned were in another older post by a different member