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Topic: Why the 1 percenters grin (Read 954 times) previous topic - next topic

Why the 1 percenters grin

There are very few if any 10% or greater performance improvements for our coaches whether it be fuel mileage, or HP due to one component.  So who cares? That being said, that's where motorheads come into play. After all  is said and done they do exist even on a properly maintained coach. Anybody that's been involved in  competitive events knows that 10 1% changes are just as good as 1 10% improvement. It's in small increments which may add up to 10 % or greater. Synthetic oil, improved exhaust, improved intake, lower intake air temps, better aerodynamics, lighter loads, etc. 1.1% increase for every 10 degrees on the intake side gets pretty good results if your sucking in 150 degree Engine compartment air. Bonus is less stress while driving due to being be able to blend with traffic.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #1 –
"1.1% increase for every 10 degrees on the intake side gets pretty good results if your sucking in 150 degree Engine compartment air. Bonus is less stress while driving due to being be able to blend with traffic".
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A common mod of the wanderlodge 3208NA owners was to run dryer vent piping from air cleaner intake, [located in doghouse] to area in front of wheel, to lower intake air temps. Does your coach not have an intercooler, in front of radiator?
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #2 –
Anytime you use "road" air for the engine intake, you are reducing the air cleaners's life as well as possibly reducing the life of the engine. Foretravel did just that on many U280/300s with the air intake right behind the rear wheels. The front wheels will already send a lot of dirt toward the back and the engine certainly does not need more. They finally fixed it in late 93 by running an intake pipe across the bottom of the radiator and up to a point several feet off the ground. The later coaches finally got the right idea by locating the intake up high like a lot of coaches have done in Baja. Our air cleaner is expensive and gets choked by road debris pretty fast, especially if driving much on gravel roads. Rodents also take as much as they can into the canister.  Quite right in not wanting to use engine compartment air as it's both hot and dirty.                                                                                                                                                            Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Anytime you use "road" air for the engine intake, you are reducing the air cleaners's life as well as possibly reducing the life of the engine. Foretravel did just that on many U280/300s with the air intake right behind the rear wheels. The front wheels will already send a lot of dirt toward the back and the engine certainly does not need more. They finally fixed it in late 93 by running an intake pipe across the bottom of the radiator and up to a point several feet off the ground. The later coaches finally got the right idea by locating the intake up high like a lot of coaches have done in Baja. Our air cleaner is expensive and gets choked by road debris pretty fast, especially if driving much on gravel roads. Rodents also take as much as they can into the canister.  Quite right in not wanting to use engine compartment air as it's both hot and dirty.                                                                                                                                                            Pierce
Pierce, in the Wanderlodge modification, the air actually comes in from from openings around the side of the radiator and the right headlight, and not the road. The 3208NA was only found in the front engine wanderlodges, very different from rear engine Foretravels.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #4 –
Timely comments as yesterday I did the "unspeakable" thing and took out my air filter as I put it in around Sept 2014 and wanted to see how it was doing. About a 1/2 eggcup full of dirt in can and filter was mid grey colour. Carefully cleaned can with wet rag and ends of filter then put it back, will last a few more years I am sure. Deflector is doing it's job keeping things clean and dry, so all is good.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #5 –
One of the one percents may be the use of the upgrade Donaldson Blu-tech foam air filter.

More power. Better filtering.  Double the service life
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #6 –
Interesting info on how a filter does a better job with "dust caking". 
http://www.foreforums.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=3416
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #7 –
Quote from: jcus –
Interesting info on how a filter does a better job with "dust caking". 
http://www.foreforums.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=3416
But when the restriction gauge is at the end and it's lacking a little power, what good is the "dust caking?" Checking the restriction gauge is something that should be done every time you check the oil. The reading will go up a little when driving in the rain. Each manufacturer has a max restriction so it pays to see what yours is. Our Detroit picked up some HP that you could feel after the filter replacement. I've posted the max restriction for each engine several times so it should be in the archives.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
But when the restriction gauge is at the end and it's lacking a little power, what good is the "dust caking?" Checking the restriction gauge is something that should be done every time you check the oil. The reading will go up a little when driving in the rain. Each manufacturer has a max restriction so it pays to see what yours is. Our Detroit picked up some HP that you could feel after the filter replacement. I've posted the max restriction for each engine several times so it should be in the archives.


Pierce
I don't know, just thought it was interesting.  Article was written by Phil Blackburn, a contributor to Motorcader magazine.
If you go to forum home page, click community, then wiki. Lot of good info there.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #9 –
This applies to all filters, they don't reach their micron rating until the 2/3 loaded IRC. Health facility's monitor pressure drop also and leave them in as long as possible for infection control. My 11400 rpm bike recommends changing the oil filter at every other oil change only.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #10 –
Many large engines use a "differential gauge" on oil and fuel filters. Because engine oil or fuel pressure may vary with engine speed, this gauge measures pressure difference between suction and discharge of filter, and will indicate or alarm when difference reaches a preset point, indicating a dirty filter. Of course a normal low pressure switch is also used in case of catastrophic pressure loss.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.
 

Re: Why the 1 percenters grin

Reply #11 –
My air cleaner compartment has air intake grille on the starboard side, but is very poorly isolated (huge 1" gaps) from the hot engine compartment so radiator air probably blows thru it looking for a path out. It also sits above directly above the 800 degree muffler with only a piece of sheet metal separating the compartments. the intake cover on the filter housing is highly restrictive (I am guessing about 3" w.c. loss) but keeps the rodents out. Lots of room for improvement. The good news is my rig came with custom made insulated exhaust system and turbo blankets all the way to the exhaust brake downstream of the turbo. I will install twin 5" resonaters in the spring to replace the huge muffler.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake