Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 21, 2025 ...

Re: Overheat on Long Grade

Reply #75 – October 09, 2014, 11:10:34 pm

Brett,  that makes sense, rather than "gut" the engine. I've been shifting down and my 3208 likes 2000-2200 RPM.  At 1800 RPM I'm slowing down fast with no power.  Sweet spot is about 2200 RPM. 

As suggested, I do keep it about the same RPM and gears going down the other side- no problem letting the world go by. 

I don't seem to have engine go much over the 190 area on a grade, but the transmission will come right up- normally barely registers.  I've only had this issue on two grades- the earlier mentioned one in Rapid City, SD and coming north on 65 out of Clinton AR heading north to Branson.  Both forever long grades with stoplights dead at the bottom

I have the 4 spd 643 Transmission- no retarder.

The "95% load" was from one of the first posts on page one- it may be related to computer readout of some type?

Thanks, as I said, just trying to learn!

Quote Selected

Re: Overheat on Long Grade

Reply #76 – October 09, 2014, 11:15:35 pm

Did route 88 over the Sierra Nevada's today.  Temperature management wasn't too tough but we ran most of it in 3rd gear at 35mph.  I could have gone faster but the twisties were just a bit too aggressive to be going that fast.  I only got honked at once :-P

Do any of you guys have noticeable gaps between the fan shroud and the radiator and the radiator and the charge cooler?  Cummins replaced our radiator and we have some pretty big gaps.  I feel that finding some way to baffle those in will improve cooling performance greatly.

Quote Selected

Re: Overheat on Long Grade

Reply #77 – October 10, 2014, 02:28:51 pm

RE: noticeable gaps between the fan shroud

Gaps around radiator shroud allow warm air from inside engine area to recirculate through radiator, reducing cooling capacity. VERY important to seal all the gaps in the conveyer-belt type material. Best cooling occurs when only outside air goes through radiator

We use spray-foam in all gaps on sides and bottom, then paint the foam black. We did make bottom drain holes in bottom to allow water from rain or washing out with a hose to drain out.

Quote Selected

Re: Overheat on Long Grade

Reply #78 – October 10, 2014, 02:47:45 pm

 Agree on what Barry said re- gaps.
I did that a few years ago but used belting cut to fit tight around fittings and joined to bottom peice with sheet metal angle and screws. Air has to go thru side grille then CAC as no other way in now.
I have also stopped all splash from Duals as this IMHO is the way road garbage gets between the units and causes some of the overheating.
JohnH

Quote Selected