Annual HB trip report

[udidwht]

Renton Wa - Huntington Beach, Ca. (and back) 1995 Fleetwood Southwind Strom 28ft 454 TBI w/4L80E trans

Total miles - 3,011 (US) Odometer upon leaving was 75,105 and upon return 78,116

Route south to HB - 405 - 167 - 5 - 199 - 101 - 580 - 680 - 101 - 405

Route north from HB - 405 - 605 - 5 - 101 - 680 - 580 - 101 - 199 - 5 - 167 - 405

Total oil consumed - 3/4qt (10w-30 Mobil 1 Extended Perf) w/Mobil 1 Ext. Perf. filter

Gas mileage - low of 7.5mpg (generator use)
average 8.5mpg (no generator use)
high 9.8

Fuel cost was just a hair under $1600 for the trip. Fueled up at Costco stations. We were gone for 3.5 weeks.

This was the first trip since I replaced the AC condenser w/integral oil cooler, AC refresh, cleaned exterior radiator tube fins out, new front air bags, (2) outer sway bar bushings/brackets, rebuilt TBI, new Delco IAC valve and (2) transmission lines.

RV ran great. Given I thoroughly cleaned the exterior of the radiator tube fins out I saw a drop (prior to work I did) of 10-12F average temps. On the flats in 90+F temps temp was at 205F (195F T stat). So if you have an older 'P series' that has an AC condenser in front of the radiator either:

1. Pull the condenser out and clean the radiator exterior out. (more work involved)

2. Purchase a radiator genie and clean it from behind the cooling shroud.

Cleaning it from the front cannot be done with the condenser.oil cooler in the way. I had attempted a clean out from behind last year prior to the work I did using a hose thru the coach into radiator area from behind (no nozzle) and even that did not get it clean. For pics of what it looked like when I pulled the condenser/cooler look here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vn24lwmd51fi3tva1j2rr/Radiator-before.jpg?rlkey=cnklp38brwbae4x8xwooa19ky&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s0tornirysblg8j8op6i9/Radiator-after.jpg?rlkey=adiuok2l7vtfk5wf7ia0a95e2&dl=0