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My elderly parents purchased a 78 Winnebago that is having overheating problems. I bought them a thermostat and my husband and I installed it yesterday, but it is still overheating. But, the thermostat was 160 degrees not 180-185. Could using a lower temp thermostat possibly cause the temp gauge to read higher than it is, in other words, the gauge is peaking out at the first line of the "HOT" zone, but maybe not really overheating? We took it up a not all that steep hill and the temp gauge went all the way up to the first mark at the HOT range, but the bottom of the radiator still felt cool. It is definitely clear though that the previous thermostat was not working as viewing into the radiator you could tell the thermostat was not opening up, no cycling of the coolant, and that was happening after the new install. Maybe a faulty fan clutch?
My dad wants to take all the AC stuff off as the AC is not working anyway. Any thoughts on that? Other comments? Does anybody know somebody who works on this dinosaurs in/near Santa Rosa, CA?
Hot on the top and cold on the bottom ? Might be a plugged radiator, in that case flush it or replace it if flushing doesn't help. I have a 1976 Winnabago Brave with the 440 and I drag Bronco II behind it all over the Black Hills and the gauge stays right in the middle.....Good Luck
You need to check and see which variation of 440 you have. If you have a 440-3 which is commonly used in MHs they take a different stat than reg 440s. Stay with the stock temp of 190-195. If its still getting hot then you need to replace or have the rad cleaned. The first thing I would do though would be to check and see what 440 you have and make sure you get the correct stat for it. I have a 440-2 HP motor in our 77 MH and it takes a standard 440 stat. I just got back from the black hills with mine with temps in the 98-100 mark with no overheating issues and pulling a 16 ft trailer.
Does anyone know where I can find and decipher the 440 engine block casting numbers to find what kind of horsepower and torque values my 1978 440 has. It too has come from a motor home, but I can find any info.
I would start with the guage. No using a lower degree thermostat would not effect. The engine has to get hot before you will see cycling of coolant. It would seem that after running it up a steep grade that were you having over heating problems you would have lost, or boiled over, your coolant. Check that guage. If he is not going to use the Air Conditioner, why not.
I'm having problems with my transmission. It is overheating, even after a short drive. The motor is not overheating, just the transmission. The neddle on the gage goes to the hot mark after a few miles. The transmission was just flushed and tuned up. It has a external trans cooler and a fan, but it doesn't seem to help. It has a Dodge 440 with about 47,000 miles on it.
Hi Janelle, thanks for the email, would be delighted to share some of my insight. I was able to fix the heating problems of my Dodge Diplomat 440, 1977 Motor home.
Here are a few starting tips and pointers. Simple diagnostics test that will Help eliminate the Heating problem, Proper steps and sequence.
Have you checked for leaking head gasket or a blown head gasket? Do this test before anything else. ( if you dont know how Please ask me for details)
Make sure radiator does not have cold or hot spots
Make sure the water pump is working
Does It heat at idle
Do you have your transmission oil lines going through the radiator?
Have you checked your Engine Timing and is it set at 8 degrees TDC
Make sure the Fuel mixture is not set too lean
Once you have performed these simple steps. Please get back to me and I will make suggestions.
I would do my best to try to offer you the most cost effective way to fix the heating problem, Cost me thousands of dollars to fix mine and you should not have to go through that. Hope this is a starting point.
Have a great day.
Jess
I have a friend who purchased a 77 mhand battery cables and acc wires are everywhere...looking for a basic schematic for the dual batteries along with emergency start solenoid.. i suspect a misplaced wire...no crank, but starter solenoid clicks like low battery, i havent got down to check for voltage drop at starter yet
I just recently bought a 78 Winnebago from a private party. Unfortunately, the owner didn't have the original book. I don't know much about maintenence, so if anyone has a PDF version of the book that they could email me, I would sure appreciate it.
Owning an RV has been my dream. I sure would like to learn how to keep it running for me.
I have a 74 Winnebago that I use on weekends for football game will not start. It started the other day for a bit, I went a few hundred feet and then it stopped. I had no power to the ignition. We found some loose wires, got the electric back on but now it won't crank.
This may not apply to my recently aquired 78 440 also with temp gauge showing high, but when I got my 71 318 new, the temp read very high and the rad very cool.. final fix was resistor in series with gauge. who would have thunk..took several dealers before the mevchanic in flordia that actually read the tech change orders and had a good memory put in the resistor. happy happy
I have an older 1977 Apollo motor home with a 440 dodge. I installed a radiator misting divice We were able to tie in to the large 45 gallon fresh water supply. Installed a gate valve by the drivers seat. I would open it up on long grades in the hot summer heat. This really hepled We actually saw lower temps on the guage as we were climbing the grades. At the top I would let the sprayer run for a few min or so. Going down hill the temp guage would read almost cold when it was well over 100 degrees. The whole system cost about $15.00 We can now climb any grade at any elevation at any temp and not even come close to overheating. Email me if you want info on how to install this system....
I have a 26' with a 440-3 and when I stop, the rad is hot to touch only at the top third or so. The bottom is cold. This is after a twenty min. ride. Once and a while it will have a bit of steam and drip after it is shut off. Temp guage reads fine inside. Any comments?
email Janell DeMello
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