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Dumb Questions from an overwhelmed new owner of a used affinity

Yahoo Message Number: 5379
Thank you in advance for responding to my questions. I have 92 37'Affinity, 3208T Cat, on a Gillig Chassis. Feel very intimated and overwhelmed. First diesel. Trying to learn.

1.Coach rides harder than I thought. Are these chassis not especially known for their ride? What about shocks? Original Konis. How long do the shocks last?(60K on coach)

2.Exhaust Brake-Not real effective-can it be upgraded or adjusted?
3.What is the oil change interval? I have been told once/year or 6000 miles. I drive at the rate of 4-5000 miles/year.

4.Antifreeze big source of confusion. Flushed at purchase(4000 miles ago) When do I do it again? Cat dealer sold me long life (red) antifreeze to top off what was in it (green). Since adding 1 gallon of the red long life coolant I am having second thoughts even after Cat's approval. Is mixing the the two coolants OK?
5.Vibration at 65 MPH- not really below or above. 70-75 MPH very
smooth. Any ideas about possible causes.

I have tried to be brief and I appreciate the group's patience and suggestions to a new CC owner. Thanks.

Fred Roeck
Cumming, GA

Re: Dumb Questions from an overwhelmed new owner of a used affinity

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5381
Fred,

I have a 95 Affinity on a Gillig chassis, although I have the 3176 Cat. I am not sure what your expectations of the chassis was, but I feel we get a smooth ride out of ours under most circumstances. Potholes and road irregularities can be felt, though. On the exhaust brake, I have some friends that have the 3208, and from what I hear, it seems to do a pretty good job. You may want to get it checked out. The exhaust brake works by closing a valve in the exhaust system, thereby causing back pressure in the system. If the valve is not closing, you will not get braking action. You should have some type of switch on your dash to turn this feature on, and with your older coach, you may need to downshift to an appropriate gear to get braking action. TGillig manual recommends 6,000 miles, or a year, whichever comes first, for oil changes. Caterpillar actually recommends up to 9,000 miles interval for oil changes, but still maximum of one year. If you only put 5,000 or less per year on your coach, I would go with the annual oil change. On the antifreeze, what I heard from my Caterpillar dealer, was that you need to have the antifreeze totally flushed to get benefit out of the long-life antifreeze, and then you still need to change at the same interval as the green stuff before you can go to the lng milage inteval on the red antifreeze. Adding a gallon of red to your exixting green does absolutely nothing for you. I don't have any vibration in mine. It could come from a number of sources, but the first I would look for is balancing the tires. With the low milage on the coach, you may have original tires, which for a 92, is long overdue for new tires. Most recommend hanging tires at 5-6 years. Check for cracking of the rubber. If the tires are indeed 11 years old, you could risk a blowout any time. Good luck and congratulations!

Per

Affinity 5259

Re: Dumb Questions from an overwhelmed new owner of a used affinity

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5687
Hi, Fred.... and welcome to the CC family. I don't have an Affinity so I can't help much with your questions other than to say IT CAN BE DONE.
And I must tell you there aren't many of us Georgia Country Coach owners... so a double welcome.
Dick May (Dunwoody, GA)
2002 Intrigue, #11438

"The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you are finished."

Re: Dumb Questions from an overwhelmed new owner of a used affinity

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5688
Hi Fred,
1. I dont think your shocks are bad, I would check the ride hieght which may also cause the vibration. Tire pressure could be to high also.

2. What transmission do you have?

3. 6K miles or once a year sounds correct.

4. Contact Cat, I have no idea bu would be interested in the answer.

5. Check ride hieght or maybe a tire out of balance.

Good Luck,

Damon

Quote
1.Coach rides harder than I thought. Are these chassis not

especially

Quote
known for their ride? What about shocks? Original Konis. How

long do

Quote
the shocks last?(60K on coach) >

2.Exhaust Brake-Not real effective-can it be upgraded or

adjusted?

Quote
>

3.What is the oil change interval? I have been told once/year or > 6000 miles. I drive at the rate of 4-5000 miles/year.

4.Antifreeze big source of confusion. Flushed at purchase(4000

miles

Quote
ago) When do I do it again? Cat dealer sold me long life (red) > antifreeze to top off what was in it (green). Since adding 1

gallon

Quote
of the red long life coolant I am having second thoughts even

after

Quote
Cat's approval. Is mixing the the two coolants OK? >

5.Vibration at 65 MPH- not really below or above. 70-75 MPH very > smooth. Any ideas about possible causes.

I have tried to be brief and I appreciate the group's patience

and

Quote
suggestions to a new CC owner. Thanks.

Fred Roeck
 Cumming, GA

">Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Projection TV

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5706
Does anyone know what model NEC projector Country Coach uses in the new coaches? I'm looking at getting one for the house.

Per Korslund
Affinity 5259

Re: Dumb Questions from an overwhelmed new owner of a used affinity

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5717
Unless you are "UP" for a real tough time working through the issues you relate, I would suggest that you get good professional aftermarket (not Country Coach) assistance. I would readily recommend Carrier in Eugene and M&M Coach Service in Chino Hills, CA.
The money you spend will be weel worth what you will avoid by trying to deal with the issues piecemeal.

Writing from personal experience,

Chuck Gauthier

40' 2000 INtrigue 11142
La Quinta, CA