RV FLUID ANALYSIS BLOOD TESTS FOR YOUR RV: Why Complete Fluid Analysis Significantly Reduces Your Risk of Purchasing the Seller’s Engine, Transmission or Generator Problems | |
JG Lubricant Services (JGLS), a leading US fluid analysis firm that provides oil and coolant analysis on samples pulled during NRVIA certified RV inspections. The NRVIA fluid sampling program includes engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, generator oil and engine coolants (main engine and generator engine).
Unlike most other RV inspectors, NRVIA certified Level II inspectors are specially trained to pull samples on these complex and expensive RV powertrain and power generation components. Periodically, JGLS does a statistical review of NRVIA sample data and provides our organization with a summary of what our RV inspection samples show.
The table below shows a summary of the percentage of ABNORMAL and CRITICAL fluid analysis test reports based on samples drawn from inspected RVs over the past 5 years (2015 to present). Data are listed by fluid (component) type.
The NRVIA has determined that a significant number of used RVs may have engine, automatic transmission or generator issues. We would not consider those RVs to be in “road ready” condition as they may be in need of maintenance and/or repairs. Fluid analysis looks at these complex and expensive driveline and power generation components from the inside. It’s a whole new level of diagnostics that you won’t find except from an NRVIA certified inspector.
Some test reports may only indicate the need for an oil or coolant change; but others may indicate more serious wear or contamination issues that need immediate attention. Adding complete fluid analysis to your NRVIA certified RV inspection will prove to be a wise decision on your part and will protect you from “inheriting” the seller’s problems. Oil and coolant analysis could mean the difference between having peace of mind and having major repair bills, vehicle downtime, and/or expensive road calls. | Just like a home inspection, you need the inspection to cover everything …. And that includes fluids.
As you can see, data collected from a great number of actual RV inspections, show there is a good chance that fluid analysis will find at least one maintenance issue that may need attention. So, why not find that out during your pre-purchase inspection. Adding complete fluid analyses significantly reduces your risks of purchasing the seller’s engine, transmission or generator problems.
We strongly recommend having us pull the complete series of fluid samples while we conduct your inspection. It will protect you from major issues with these expensive components. If our samples find an issue, you will have the chance to work with the seller to possibly negotiate it in the deal. Again, this is just like a home inspection for RVs. Fluid analysis can help with reducing your risks. Fluid analysis reports are included with in your RV inspection report.
Summary Chart
ABNOMAL – Indicates deficiencies related to the oil and/or coolant properties where a simple oil or coolant change would alleviate the problem.
CRITICAL – Indicates more immediate problems related to contamination and/or component wear. These issues may require immediate maintenance and/or repair. |
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Why does the NRVIA1 offer fluid (oil and coolant)
analysis services?
Well, let’s say you own a motorized RV, perhaps a large
Class- A diesel pusher. You probably already know that the engine, automatic transmission and generator
contribute a large portion
to the overall cost of the RV. In
fact, the engine and transmission are absolutely essential to moving the RV around
the country and once you arrive at your destination, the generator offers
all the comforts
of home. So, why take a risk of
anything going wrong with these critical components when it’s so easy and economical to get the data you need to ensure that they remain reliable. Oil and coolant analysis allows you and your service tech to effectively
“see inside” your engine, transmission,
and generator. Oil and coolant
analysis adds a whole new level of diagnostics that you just can’t get any other
way. Think of it as “Healthcare for
RVs”.
Internal parts depend on oils and coolants to remain
stable between service intervals. Oil and coolant analysis tells you when your oils and coolants experience any signs of early breakdown
or contamination. Not only do we check them for signs of thermal breakdown, mechanical breakdown or contamination; but, we also check for any indication of internal part wear. Oil and coolant analysis allows you to detect anything that might need your
attention long before they can result
in road calls, expensive repairs or lost travel time. Knowing the condition of your oils and coolants, through periodic sampling and analysis, improves the overall reliability of your motorhome.
NRVIA’s fluid (oil and coolant)
analysis service brings you the peace
of mind that only comes with knowing for sure that your RV’s engine,
transmission, and generator
remain as reliable
and worry free as possible.
How does oil and coolant analysis
affect my normal service intervals?
Most service
intervals (also known as Preventive
Maintenance or “PM” schedules) call
for oils and coolants to be changed based on accumulated mileage,
accumulated hours or elapsed time (typically
calendar months). Changing
oils and coolants
is “generally” a good idea but very often it’s not the
most economical method of maintaining your RV engine,
transmission or generator.
Let’s say you’ve changed your oils or coolants too soon. If there’s still plenty of life left in them, that’s
like throwing money down the drain. On the other hand, if you fail to change them when they’re worn out or
contaminated, you take the chance
of getting into some serious
problems that can put
your RV in the shop and drain your wallet. If
you’re changing oils and coolants
without having them analyzed, you
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are, without a doubt, missing
out on some pretty important
information that could make a real difference in your plans. Oil and coolant
analysis is a very
useful diagnostic tool
that
offers you and your service
technician a whole new level of understanding. It allows you to see inside the equipment and determine the true condition of your engine,
transmission and generator. It improves your ability to assess these critical RV systems
for wear and contamination that could lead to early failures
if left unchecked. Oil and coolant
analysis enables you to observe
systems at a “microscopic level”. This greatly
improves your ability
to learn about issues that need your attention so you can have them fixed at the earliest
opportunity, long before serious problems occur. You’ll know when oils and coolants begin to break down or become
contaminated and you’ll be able to see internal part wear issues
if they exist.
In short, oil and coolant analysis increases your ability to detect minor problems
and schedule repairs,
if needed, before they result in breakdowns, repairs
and lost travel opportunities. You just can’t get that
when just draining and replacing your RV oils and coolants.
What will the oil analysis
tell me?
Oil analysis measures
additive levels, wear metals, contaminants (such as water or internal coolant or fuel leaks), soot levels, viscosity, oxidation, and
nitration. First, the oil is checked
for viscosity loss (thinned out oil) and thermal
breakdown (too much heat). We also check for signs of fuel and coolant caused by faulty injectors or
leaking head gaskets and we check for nitration that may indicate
improper fuel/air mixtures. We can tell all of that from the analysis plus we can detect
the early stages
of wear on internal parts. Periodic
oil
analysis enables you to find these problems
in the early stages long before real damage occurs.
Your NRVIA certified inspector offers advanced oil
analysis. Advanced testing is
designed to give you data that allows you to
tell if your current oil service intervals are correct. In essence,
the data will show if you’re changing
your oil too soon or running it too long between service
intervals.
There are (3) reasons why this is so important. First, it allows you to find problems if they exist.
Secondly, the Advanced
Oil Analysis allows you to
save money by safely extending your service
intervals. In fact, some Class-A “Diesel Pusher” (DP) owners are already
running up to 25,000 miles between engine oil changes. Third and last, let’s say
you purchased a used Class A
motorhome that includes a heavy duty Allison
automatic transmission. Advanced
testing can tell you whether or not you’re running an Allison
approved “long life” fluid. Also, if the transmission fluid test shows
that you’re running an older technology transmission fluid, you’ll have the data you need to support changing your
transmission over to a long life
Allison (TES-295 Approved) product. This will save you even more in reduced
transmission service over the life of your motorhome.
What will the coolant analysis tell me?
Coolant analysis measures
glycol content, additive
levels, Freeze Point, Boiling
Point, total hardness and dissolved solid levels (mineral content). These tests tell you everything you need to know to fully evaluate your engine
cooling system. We’ll tell you if a
coolant change is needed and why we think it’s necessary.
What if I can’t tell the inspector much about the oils or coolants that are currently in the RV?
Don’t worry if you don’t know much about the oils or coolants used in your RV engine, transmission or generator. That’s often
the case, especially when customers are purchasing a used motorhome and especially if there aren’t any maintenance records. In fact, the oil and coolant information is even more important if the seller
doesn’t have maintenance records. Even though
some information is missing on the report,
the information you’ll
receive is still
very
valuable. The RV Inspector may ask if you know the oil and coolant
manufacturers and brand names. If
you don’t have that information,
don’t worry, we can still tell whether or not you may have any real issues with the engine transmission or generator. Once you
begin to know your oil and coolant information, the analysis will tell you how much longer you can safely
run them.
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2 NRVIA certified
inspectors use JG Lubricant Services ISO Certified laboratories (www.jglubricantservices.com).
Will I receive
test reports?
Yes. Your detailed
test reports will be emailed
directly to your
mail in basket or, if you don’t have email, we’ll send the report
to your mailbox through the US Postal Service. The reports will show level of Severity. The reports are “user friendly” and color-coded so
it’s easy to spot problems (if any
exist). Color codes indicate overall Severity of the
sample (from 0 to 4). A Severity rating of
with 0 indicates that everything is OK and no maintenance is required. On the other
hand, a Severity Rating of 4 indicates immediate action is
necessary. The color on the Severity
rating scale matches
the data; so, it’s easy to spot the problem (test result) that led to the overall Severity Rating. The report lists comments and recommendations that instruct you on what was
found and what you should do about it.
Note: Once you receive
the report and if you have specific
questions, we offer a toll free Customer
support number at 877-251- 8315. This
number is staffed by lab2 professionals who route your call to the Analytical
Department where your question will get prompt attention.
I’m sold. So, how do I get this service added
to my RV inspection?
Just call your NRVIA certified inspector and have him/her
add fluid (oil and coolant) analysis
to your upcoming inspection. Your NRVIA certified
inspector will draw the necessary samples
and send them in to the contracted lab for analysis. Your reports will be on the way to you in no time.
One last thing …… If I want to continue this service,
how often should I have it done?
The chart below shows the recommended sampling intervals for your RV’s engine, transmission and
generator. Just let us know when you’re due for sampling and
we’ll send a certified inspector to
draw the samples and submit them for analysis.
Then, just keep a copy of the report in your historical maintenance file. We’ll maintain it electronically in our database.
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RV SAMPLING RECOMMENDATIONS |
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Component |
Sample Type |
Recommendation |
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ENGINE |
Oil |
Every |
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Coolant |
Annually (at start |
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TRANSMISSION |
Oil (fluid) |
Annually (at start |
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GENERATOR |
Oil |
Every |
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Coolant |
Annually (at start |
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