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| [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem [message #90526] |
Wed, 30 June 2010 11:16  |
greg
Messages: 17
Registered: May 2004
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Hey all,
anybody ever encounter this problem?
my '78 Eleganza II has an Atwood EHM6-SM water heater,
with the radiator return lines, which is GREAT for a really hot shower
once you get where you're going.
well, i replaced a burnt thermostat a few years ago, while the rig was
not being driven....
At the time, I recalled something about wanting the higher temperature
model,
but was told by the distributor that they only made one model
thermostat for this water heater.
The problem is that during hot summer drives, when i get where i'm going
and revert back to shore power, i discover that the thermostat has
popped
and i need to take apart the console and reset the switch before it
will work off 110v power again.
Hopefully the old dealer that i used was just lazy, giving me
disinformation,...
and hopefully there IS a higher tolerance model thermostat available
for this water heater.
So... before i start digging through my old records or dialing around,
i wanted to see if anybody else has had this problem before, and
solved it!
(I think this is a pretty common water heater for GMC's???)
thanks much
Greg
Los Angeles
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| Re: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem [message #90589 is a reply to message #90526] |
Wed, 30 June 2010 20:03  |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Greg,
I have the same heater in Double Trouble which is an Avion. The water heater
is located behind a door under the twin bed on the passenger side.
I drilled a 3/4" hole through the cover right above where the reset switch
is and can reset the overtemp switch without having to take it off.
I don't know if the info above will help you as I have no idea where the
water heater is in an Eleganza II.
However, you can call Cinnabar they have a kit that regulates the
temperature of the engine water that goes back to the water heater so that
it does not trip the overtemp switch. It sells for around $60.
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of greg
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 11:16 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem
Hey all,
anybody ever encounter this problem?
my '78 Eleganza II has an Atwood EHM6-SM water heater,
with the radiator return lines, which is GREAT for a really hot shower
once you get where you're going.
well, i replaced a burnt thermostat a few years ago, while the rig was
not being driven....
At the time, I recalled something about wanting the higher temperature
model,
but was told by the distributor that they only made one model
thermostat for this water heater.
The problem is that during hot summer drives, when i get where i'm going
and revert back to shore power, i discover that the thermostat has
popped
and i need to take apart the console and reset the switch before it
will work off 110v power again.
Hopefully the old dealer that i used was just lazy, giving me
disinformation,...
and hopefully there IS a higher tolerance model thermostat available
for this water heater.
So... before i start digging through my old records or dialing around,
i wanted to see if anybody else has had this problem before, and
solved it!
(I think this is a pretty common water heater for GMC's???)
thanks much
Greg
Los Angeles
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List Information and Subscription Options:
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem [message #90842 is a reply to message #90526] |
Fri, 02 July 2010 11:51 |
greg
Messages: 17
Registered: May 2004
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Hey Rob, thanks for that info!
Since you were the only response,
i'm guessing that this isn't such a common problem,
and/or maybe that Cinnabar valve is pretty popular
(or maybe even built-in to some models)??
I hate to think it, but is it possible that my engine's running too hot
(and that GMC-RV put in a faulty thermostat in the cooling system last
summer)?
My temp gauge doesn't really seem out of the ordinary on these hot
summer drives,
but i've also been having an ongoing problem with the radiator water
getting rusty,
despite using the proper mixture of coolant. I need to keep
reflushing it....
this is like the 4th time in 15 months! don't understand why....
So what's the preferred engine thermostat for our coaches? i remember
there was a choice between
2 different temps. maybe if i get the lower tolerance temp, perhaps
the hot water return would no
longer trip the overtemp switch? Just making some wild guesses
here....
Anyway, besides the cooling system speculation,
i was HOPING that somebody would have news of a higher-tolerance
thermostat
for the water heater, because i really like having that much head-room
for a HOT shower!
I don't think i could drill such an access hole for mine, given the
location...
hmmmm.......
Any other ideas or speculation appreciated, thanks!
Greg
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem
>
> you can call Cinnabar they have a kit that regulates the
> temperature of the engine water that goes back to the water heater
> so that
> it does not trip the overtemp switch. It sells for around $60.
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> Subject: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem
>
> anybody ever encounter this problem?
> my '78 Eleganza II has an Atwood EHM6-SM water heater,
> with the radiator return lines, which is GREAT for a really hot shower
> once you get where you're going.
> The problem is that during hot summer drives, when i get where i'm
> going
> and revert back to shore power, i discover that the thermostat has
> popped and i need to take apart the console and reset the switch
> before it
> will work off 110v power again.
> and hopefully there IS a higher tolerance model thermostat available
> for this water heater.
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| Re: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem [message #90876 is a reply to message #90526] |
Fri, 02 July 2010 19:37 |
greg
Messages: 17
Registered: May 2004
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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On Jul 2, 2010, at 9:00 AM, gmclist-request@temp.gmcnet.org wrote:
> you are using distilled water and not some kind of high iron content
> water right?
It was NOT distilled water during the flushes, though i have no reason
to expect especially high iron content. I'll use distilled tomorrow (!)
(Just to confirm, what's capacity and preferred ratio of coolant to
water? for undiluted coolant or 50/50?)
I suspect that the main cause of this rusty-coolant problem was that
after sending out the radiator to get professionally cleaned a few
years ago;... when we refilled it, we were probably too low on the
coolant ratio... before letting the RV sit a couple years (!),... So
there probably IS a lotta crap in the cooling tubes... and that $80
radiator cleaning job has probably gone to waste (!)
> If you are changing the coolant and flushing it well with lots of
> water then you either have clogged cooling tubes on the radiator
> that are releasing crap into the new coolant or else you might have
> a leak from your pistons into the cooling jacket which is depleting
> the corrosion inhibitors quickly.
Considering the timing of it all, i have to doubt its a leaking piston
problem
(is there a test for this? the engine runs pretty great.....)
So let's hope that tomorrow's flush does the trick, otherwise i guess
its time for another professional radiator cleaning... (acid bath?
not sure they do this in California anymore...).
Or maybe over-the-counter flush-stuff at AutoZone might do the trick?
Anyway, THANK YOU both for pointing out the potential seriousness of
this situation.
We're on it...
Greg
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| Re: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem [message #90879 is a reply to message #90876] |
Fri, 02 July 2010 20:18 |
bumpersticker
Messages: 60
Registered: February 2004
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Karma: 0
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Member |
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Greg:
Another thought- Check the lower radiator hose. It is supposed to have a wire spring inside to prevent the hose from collapsing
when the water pump is pumping hard.
Sometime the spring will get very rusty.
Also there is a chance the hose will collapse and cause the engine to heat due to lack of coolant.
Bob Cook
78 Birchaven
75 Avion (In work)
Redondo Beach, CA
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| Re: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem [message #90882 is a reply to message #90526] |
Fri, 02 July 2010 20:43 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Your problem is one of the reasons I run a 180 degree thermostat. I use a 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water. You can get distilled water for around $1.00 per gallon at Walmart.
The rust bothers me. I'm wondering if you have a head gasket leak. I'd flush it thoroughly again and refill with 50/50 coolant and distilled water. Then I would keep a close eye on it. You can also take it to a radiator shop and have them pressurize the system cold. Then see if the pressure bleeds off. If it does look for external leaks and pull the plugs looking for coolant.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] water heater thermostat problem [message #91049 is a reply to message #90526] |
Sun, 04 July 2010 10:43 |
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wally
Messages: 643
Registered: August 2004
Location: Omaha Nebraska
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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| greg wrote on Wed, 30 June 2010 11:16 |
Hey all,
anybody ever encounter this problem?
my '78 Eleganza II has an Atwood EHM6-SM water heater,
with the radiator return lines, which is GREAT for a really hot shower
once you get where you're going.
well, i replaced a burnt thermostat a few years ago, while the rig was
not being driven....
At the time, I recalled something about wanting the higher temperature
model,
but was told by the distributor that they only made one model
thermostat for this water heater.
The problem is that during hot summer drives, when i get where i'm going
and revert back to shore power, i discover that the thermostat has
popped
and i need to take apart the console and reset the switch before it
will work off 110v power again.
Hopefully the old dealer that i used was just lazy, giving me
disinformation,...
and hopefully there IS a higher tolerance model thermostat available
for this water heater.
So... before i start digging through my old records or dialing around,
i wanted to see if anybody else has had this problem before, and
solved it!
(I think this is a pretty common water heater for GMC's???)
thanks much
Greg
Los Angeles
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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We had the same problem and adapted the limit and control to one of these with a 170F range and 190F limit.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=34701&title=replacement-water-heat&cat=3841
The heater that came with our coach is not the stock one and was made for a boat or something that runs at lower temp. The adapted device is for commercial water storage and also for Canadian residential heaters. The US apparently changed rules since our coaches were built and residential heater controls have a lower limits. Susie had two cold showers out of the original limit tripping setup so something had to change.These devices are on Ebay and that's where I got one.
JWID
Wally Anderson
Omaha NE
75 Glenbrook
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