Trip Report II

I've gotten vapor lock a few times on my coach running the Howell EFI system... I moved the pump/filter, etc. outboard of the frame rails and
insulated the fuel lines and it has made a big difference....

However, I do sometimes get boiling fuel in the tank still... Not sure if any of you have experienced the fuel geyser this can cause when you're at
the gas station adding new, cool gas to a tank full of boiling fuel, but I just thank god there was no ignition source around when it happened to
me....

The boiling fuel started me thinking about adding some sort of fuel cooler to the return line to the tank. Did some research, and it looks like some
cars out there have OEM fuel coolers... Jaguar in particular seemed to use them a lot. They seemed to favor adding a heat exchanger that fits over
the AC return line from the evaporator. Now, I'm not going to comment on the reliability of British automotive engineering... But looking at some of
the cars equipped with this system, they are using GM sourced AC... Including the venerable A6 our coach comes with...

Here's a diagram showing one of the fuel coolers spec'd by Jag:

https://www.terrysjag.com/category/XJS-FUEL-COOLER-53-LITRE.html

This definitely would be totally uncharted water for me... But wanted to see what the experts here think about this or some other fuel cooling
solution?
--
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
 
Something like this, again mounted outboard of the frame rails might be an option as well:

https://www.amazon.com/Derale-13700-Electra-Cool-Remote-Cooler/dp/B001QITRBS/ref=pd_sbs_1/146-8883980-1782836?pd_rd_w=f05Xa&pf_rd_p=a5925d26-9630-40f3-a011-d858608ac88b&pf_rd_r=581F2A4JTYAAR8DMYNMG&pd_rd_r=1d398b1a-5c85-4f76-8e53-cf90b0f3fe27&pd_rd_wg=rp2tc&pd_rd_i=B001QITRBS&psc=1

Just install a manual switch and run the fan only when it's hot outside...
--
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
 
Yep. I know you have had your share of health challenges, Jim.

Bob was blessed to be in remission from Multiple Myeloma for 7 years but
had to start chemo again in January and he's having various different
health issues since then. We lived life to the fullest and aren't ready to
stop, but we have to face reality.

You and Judy, keep on keeping on and enjoy every minute.

Sandra

> Geez Sandra, I am so sorry to hear of Bob's health. I have health issues
> also, but I try to do what I can within my limits. In fact, I push those
> limits probably more than I should, but, I figure that we only get to
> travel down this path of life one time, and if I can manage it at all, I am
> going to continue to do so. I wish you guys only the best. Hang in there.
> Jim Hupy and Judy Countermine
> Salem, Oregon
>

>
> > Sounds like a great trip, Jim. Bob and I drove the Columbia Gorge on one
> > our trips. Bought Walla Walla onions. Saw the fish counting ladder with
> > few fish moving up it at the time.
> >
> > But you mentioned Horse Heaven Hills winery. We didn't go there, but
> have
> > found their H3 cab in our stores here, in Austin, and it's a nice,
> > drinkable wine.
> >
> > Bob's health has deteriorated so we are not traveling these days.
> >
> > I appreciate you sharing your experiences with us.
> >
> > Just did a "hit and miss" cleanup of our coach to sell it and found about
> > the same conditions you had. Would still like to be GMCing. Use it!
> >
> > Sandra Price
> > Spicewood, TX
> >
> >

> >
> > > 2 weeks ago, the GMC CASCADERS had their first rally since Feb 2019.
> > Been a
> > > long, long dry spell. My 1978 Royale has been resting in her covered
> > > carport since returning from the Valentine's Rally.
> > > So, I would, from time to time, start and thoroughly warm up the
> > 403,
> > > maybe going for a short dive, maybe not. Each time involved starting
> the
> > > Onan and turning on the big Roof air conditioning dinosaur, running it
> > for
> > > 15 minutes or so. Then, sadly closing everything down, wishing the
> > pandemic
> > > upon some other planet.
> > > So Judy and I decided to prepare the old girl for a rally. Opened
> > > drawers to reveal evidence of mouses in the house. So, everything came
> > out
> > > of the coach, and either wound up in the garbage/recycling bins, or
> went
> > > through the dishwasher on sanitize cycle. All the nonskid sheets went
> > away
> > > and were replaced with new.
> > > So I took a long hard look at the systems on board, decided the
> > > existing RV toilet needed to go away. Yanked the old one out, and took
> a
> > > long, hard, critical look at the bathroom. So, that needed a complete
> > > remodeling. Which I did. Took off the bathroom door, into the shop,
> > > stripped and refinished it. That gave me enough room to work in the
> > > confines of the dry bath. Days turned into weeks. But, eventually the
> new
> > > ceramic bowl toilet found its way home. Plumbing checked, all ok.
> > > 120 volt system had some issues, so, the bedroom came apart next.
> No
> > > small task. Opened up the electrical compartment, Mickey and his family
> > had
> > > been hard at work in there. So, out came the shop vac and mouse housing
> > > unit went bye bye. All the electrical connections tightened and
> > insulation
> > > checked out OK. 50 Amp automatic transfer switch fixed so it cycled
> > > correctly. During this same time, I had a pair of electricians wire my
> > > carport for a 30 amp plug and some 120 volt 20 amp gfci receptacles.
> Sure
> > > nice not to have extension cords strung out across the ground any more.
> > So,
> > > potable tank and pump checked out and flushed and refilled. Black and
> > grey
> > > tanks pumped and mascerator serviced. Whew. Finally ready for the road.
> > > Letting them sit for long stretches is a whole bunch of work getting
> > things
> > > back in shape.
> > > Finally, set off on our rolling rally. From Salem, to Portland,
> then
> > > East through the Columbia gorge to the Port of Morrow RV Estates.
> Spent a
> > > couple of nights here while touring the Onion processing plant, the
> > > Tillamook Cheese factory, a 11,000 acre farm that uses robotic machines
> > to
> > > take care of weeds and leafhoppers which it zaps with lasers.
> Completely
> > on
> > > it's own, row after row. Onions, Potatoes, Carrots, Alfalfa, and a
> > computer
> > > center that automatically waters all those crops from a central
> location,
> > > Impressive doesn’t begin to cover it. Oh, I forgot, Grapes, thousands
> of
> > > acres of them. What do you do with all those grapes? Well, you build a
> > > modern winery. More stainless steel in that fully automated place then
> I
> > > have ever seen. Wow.
> > > Then we were on the road again, wound up at the Columbia River at a
> > > large Hydroelectric Dam, where they had a fish counting area. Quite
> cool.
> > > From there, we went to Crow Butte RV park on the Washington State side
> of
> > > the Columbia River. Just in time to gather for what passes for social
> > time
> > > in a Pandemic. B.Y.O.B. chairs, provide your own meals in your own
> > coaches.
> > > The next day, up the Roosevelt Grade to the Horse Heaven Hills,
> > > winding up at the small town of Bickleton. Their claim to fame? The
> > > Bluebird Capitol of the world, and a 110 year old Rodeo! Yee Haw!
> > > After that, we could have retraced our path to Interstate 84 and home
> > like
> > > we came, but we decided to go home via Yakima and from there to the
> White
> > > Pass on highway 12 to Packwood, Morton, Mossyrock, and Salkum, where I
> > grew
> > > up. Just a drive through this time. Wanted to get home. 609 miles round
> > > trip. About + 8 mpg overall on Crapahol fuel. Coach didn't miss a lack.
> > > Good rally, been a long time coming.
> > > Jim Hupy
> > > Salem, Oregon
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sun, Jun 27, 2021, 3:26 PM Jim Kanomata

> > >
> > > > Bob,
> > > > Not very many people are able to get things set up so you can pull
> that
> > > > much weight and pull 8..2 mpg aver.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, Jun 27, 2021 at 2:12 PM Bob Dunahugh

> > > >
> > > > > I've been averaging 8.2 MPG on Ethanol. 403, 3:70 FD. 78 Royale at
> > > > 12,000
> > > > > lbs. Pulling Linda's 5,000 lbs handicap lift van. Thus 17,000 lbs.
> > GVW.
> > > > > Most GMC completed coach's come in at around 10,500 lbs I believe.
> > Not
> > > > sure
> > > > > on that.
> > > > > Bob Dunahugh
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > GMCnet mailing list
> > > > > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Jim Kanomata ASE
> > > > Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> > > > jimk
> > > > http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> > > > 1-800-752-7502
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > GMCnet mailing list
> > > > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > GMCnet mailing list
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> > >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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>
 
> - Tanks boiling and pressure build-up in the tanks. Shouldn't the EVAP system be taking care of any pressure building up in the tanks? If you
> have pressure in the tanks when you open the filler cap, then your EVAP system is not working. The EVAP system is also trapping any fuel vapours and
> routing them into the engine for power. If your EVAP system is not working or is disconnected then you are losing fuel you paid for to the
> atmosphere.

Bruce

One would think the evap system would work to bleed off the pressure in the tanks, but the little 3/8" hose going to the evap canister just is not up
to the task. My evap system has been gone through and is fully functional, but I still get pressure in my tanks, quite a bit of it.

One thing I may need to do is try to get my hands on the proper vented gas cap, which I'm not sure I have. I have tried driving with the gas cap
loose. That didn't seem to make a difference in terms of the fuel starvation issue, but the pressure in the tanks was pretty much gone. I debated
with myself whether pressure in the gas tanks was an asset or a liability. Didn't come up with a conclusion,
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member