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Topic: Unknown mileage on older units (Read 741 times) previous topic - next topic

Unknown mileage on older units

As I look at late 1990's coaches on Motorhomes of Texas website I see that many of them have unknown or estimated mileages.  Why is that?

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #1 –
Quite likely the original spedo quit and a new one was installed.  That does happen.

They SHOULD have notes detailing this with the coach.  If not, it would make me look very closely at what else was not done/documented.

Perhaps a car fax or equivalent could shed light on mileage through the years.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #2 –
Checking the hour meter could also shed some light on the mileage. ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #3 –
With you looking at late '90 models they will have an electronic engine.  The ECM will have the mileage encrypted in it's memory and can't be altered. This info can be pulled off by a Cummins shop computer or a Silverleaf computer interface. One thing is that if the ECM has been changed out (not likely but they do fail) then this info will be off.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #4 –
All U300 Foretravels with Detroit 2 cycles have an ECU that can be read with miles, fuel in gallons used since new, etc. Generator times are not that good of an indication. This is from the'80s until the smog got them in 1995.

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

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #5 –
Yes, replaced a bunch of speedo's on that gen coach.
Ditto for the Cat 3126....Computer can be read. Silverleaf is hooked to engine computer, won't lie unless changed as others have said.
Hour meter on the tachometer should give you the hours. I just divided by a number i threw at it...average 45 MPH, and it came out close.
By the way, the engine computer, showed around a 1,000 miles less then the speedo on our coach
Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #6 –
Quote from: gracerace –
Yes, replaced a bunch of speedo's on that gen coach.
Ditto for the Cat 3126....Computer can be read. Silverleaf is hooked to engine computer, won't lie unless changed as others have said.
Hour meter on the tachometer should give you the hours. I just divided by a number i threw at it...average 45 MPH, and it came out close.
By the way, the engine computer, showed around a 1,000 miles less then the speedo on our coach
Chris

Burnouts?
Jerry & Nona and Kimeru the cat that thinks she's a dog
1998 36' WTFE U320  #5314 Motorcade #17711
USAF 1975-1995
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 'toad'
2003 Subaru Legacy touring car
jerry Fincher | Flickr

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #7 –
Quote from: gracerace –
Yes, replaced a bunch of speedo's on that gen coach.
Ditto for the Cat 3126....Computer can be read. Silverleaf is hooked to engine computer, won't lie unless changed as others have said.
Hour meter on the tachometer should give you the hours. I just divided by a number i threw at it...average 45 MPH, and it came out close.
By the way, the engine computer, showed around a 1,000 miles less then the speedo on our coach
Chris
How many miles on the coach? Tire size if lots of miles.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #8 –
Quote from: bigdog –
Burnouts?
Now that makes sense...LOL
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #9 –
Quote from: craneman –
How many miles on the coach? Tire size if lots of miles.
111K........Same tire as stock in height. I would imagine the computer is more actuate then the after market gauge.The speedo is very close as far as MPH goes
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Unknown mileage on older units

Reply #10 –
I believe that the speedometer is supposed to be within 5% tolerance.  Mine registers faster than the actual speed.  At 66 I'm registering just shy of 70 so that's about the 5%.  Multiply that out over 100,000 miles......
Bruce & Teresa
2000 U320 4010
2015 Jeep Rubicon