New motorhome - Maintenance Schedule

j0hn

j0hn

Free Member
Joined
May 14, 2018
Posts
30
Likes collected
94
Location
Bristol
Funster No
53,897
MH
Benimar Mileo 282
Exp
Complete n00b - starting now!!
Hi,
We're picking up or almost new Benimar Mileo, and I put together a maintenance schedule to remind me what needs to be done to keep it in running order as we want to keep it for a very long time :)

So, in no particular order, and not an exhaustive list - please help me add what you think is necessary:

Before each trip
- Check tyre pressure, oil, coolant and brake fluid level

Before a weekend away
- Put some grey water tank cleaner through all sinks and shower, run a bit of water, let it slosh to refresh it

Beginning, middle and end of season
- Lubricate toilet rubber seal

Yearly
- Habitation check

Every 2 years (or at ??? miles)
- Fiat service
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Annually

  1. - Sanitise the fresh water tank and pipework . Not essential but it gives peace of mind, we use the tank water as intended, ie for drinking and making tea and coffee.
  2. - Descale Truma water heater using citric acid (as per Truma Instructions) This depends on whether you have been using hard water or not, but as you can't inspect the tank, I do it as a matter of course.. a lot cheaper than replacing a boiler that has scaled up. This will also clean the shower head, taps and toilet flush solenoid valve of scale.

Descaling the Truma water heater



The Truma website it will tell you to de-scale as follows: -

“For hygienic reasons you should decalcify the water container occasionally. Use special decalcification products from camping specialists or conventional vinegar essence or citric acid, for example.

Fill the decalcifying product in the recommended ratio into the appliance via the water system, allow it to work and then rinse the Combi heater thoroughly with fresh water”



following an email to Truma I received the following reply which many other people have: -

“Please find below instructions for descaling the Truma water heater:
Dilute 2 litres of white wine vinegar into 10/12 litres of fresh water, introduce into your water system via your water inlet, (removing the filter if one is fitted for this process) open the taps to pull through to the heater and then leave the solution in the heater for 4 to 5 hours and then flush through with fresh water”.


I have also been provided with the following additional advice concerning the use of Citric acid:

The ratio Truma recommend is 1 tablespoon of citric acid to 1 litre of water”.

My preference is Citric Acid.

Make up the solution of Citric Acid,

I used an 11lt watering can and poured the solution into the fresh tank, then pumped through all taps, hot and cold, including shower head, and toilet flush.

Drain down and flush system with plenty of fresh water..

Citric acid from here, fast and free delivery>



Amazon product ASIN B0057WGZVE
 
Upvote 0
Thank you! I will collate all responses in a PDF document that can be downloaded by newbies like me.
Regarding your point 2, all kitchen equipment now (such as coffee makers, fridges that make ice or chilled water etc) have filters that seem to do a good job in preventing scaling; is there an option for the water tank to fit such a filter?
 
Upvote 0
j0hn said:
Thank you! I will collate all responses in a PDF document that can be downloaded by newbies like me.
Regarding your point 2, all kitchen equipment now (such as coffee makers, fridges that make ice or chilled water etc) have filters that seem to do a good job in preventing scaling; is there an option for the water tank to fit such a filter?
Click to expand...

filters work to some degree.. but I've never found one that does it 100% .. to my knowledge there isn't a filter that does that

We use a Brita filter at home for filling the kettle but it still needs descaling every other week ..

the only solution to hard water is fitting a water softener.. not really practical in a van, and not recommended for drinking.
 
Upvote 0
Regarding the 2 year servicing for the Fiat, I personally get the oil and filter changed every year. MH’s tend to sit around a fair bit between trips, and for the relatively small outlay give me peace of mind that there is nice fresh oil in.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Nigel L said:
Regarding the 2 year servicing for the Fiat, I personally get the oil and filter changed every year. MH’s tend to sit around a fair bit between trips, and for the relatively small outlay give me peace of mind that there is nice fresh oil in.
Click to expand...

I agree with that if its used all year round. If its not used during the winter, then I do that twice a year. In Spring before the new season starts, and once again in Autumn as the season ends.

Added to the OP's original list can be check PAS fluid, as well as screen washer fluid. As well as annual dampness and gas leak checks.
 
Upvote 0
Noted. Aren't dampness and gas leak checks part of the yearly habitation check?
 
Upvote 0
Agree with Jim about descaling the boiler, I use 3Lt of white wine vinegar (30p/Lt in France) Truma used to recommend it before they brought out their own cleaner.
Never bother with a habitation service nothing I can't do myself & not required by Hymer for the warranty, just get the damp check done.
As for oil changes I'm happy with the 2 year recommendation as the van uses fully synthetic oil and the amount oil the Euro 6 engines consume they get topped up with fresh oil. Our one uses a litre in 7,000 miles which I believe is quite low for a Euro 6 engine.
 
Upvote 0
Lenny HB said:
Agree with Jim about descaling the boiler, I use 3Lt of white wine vinegar (30p/Lt in France) Truma used to recommend it before they brought out their own cleaner.
Never bother with a habitation service nothing I can't do myself & not required by Hymer for the warranty, just get the damp check done.
As for oil changes I'm happy with the 2 year recommendation as the van uses fully synthetic oil and the amount oil the Euro 6 engines consume they get topped up with fresh oil. Our one uses a litre in 7,000 miles which I believe is quite low for a Euro 6 engine.
Click to expand...
Never realised that they had that reputation for oil use. Ours has never had a drop of oil between services but I still check the level regularly when checking other vitals. Just passed 28,000 miles and no top ups.
 
Upvote 0
Base vehicle service every year, full service every two. Motorhomes sit idle a lot longer than normal vans.

We use Elsil in the fresh water tank, 15ml per fill after a thorough flushing. I'm very susceptible to stomach problems due to a previous illness and find this method works for me. Thetford Aqua Rinse toilet spray slows the need for flushing especially if the loo is just used for liquids. The toilet seal lubricant is also very good on window rubber plus a can of WD40 is great to keep hinges, awning mechanisms and electric steps from showing the usual galvanic decay.

Gas isn't part of a usual habitation check, it can be an add on cost.

After the warranty period ends the habitation check can be done by yourself, by then you should have more than enough knowledge, plus you'll find yourself checking various bits and pieces as you stay in her, you'll stay on top of things... Just have the electrics and gas checked by a tradesman who'll issue the relevant up to date paperwork.

Keep a selection of spare fuses plus a couple of basic tools, cupboard hinges and bathroom fitments can work loose with use and may well need the odd bit of tightening.

I fully endorse Jim and Lenny's advice on descaling, it's spot on, these methods should give you years of trouble free boiler use.

Enjoy your van and don't forget to wave... No one waves anymore?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
mpdcymru said:
Never realised that they had that reputation for oil use. Ours has never had a drop of oil between services but I still check the level regularly when checking other vitals. Just passed 28,000 miles and no top ups.
Click to expand...
If the same as in your avatar your van is not a Euro 6.
 
Upvote 0
@ when using Citric acid to descale the Truma do you switch it on to heat the water in the Truma or just leave it in there cold Thanks
 
Upvote 0
@caris
Just done our very scaled up kettle. Mix citric acid with water and just leave it in the system. You don’t need to heat it up.

Habitation checks are you just paying the Dealer to check if they can find anything wrong that they can charge you for when they try and fix it.

Depending on type of Motorhome. Ours has UBends on all the sinks and shower so we don’t get any smells from the grey tank. The Swift we had used to smell something rotten when you moved so we used to put plugs in the sink. It’s all down to cost of manufacture and where they can cut corners and save a few ££
 
Upvote 0
QFour said:
Habitation checks are you just paying the Dealer to check if they can find anything wrong that they can charge you for when they try and fix it.
Click to expand...

BUT... To maintain some warranty cover it may have to be done by dealers or approved engineers.
I am quite capable / happy to do my own, however I have a 10 year ingress warranty from Autotrail and to maintain that I must use a NCC approved engineer. As you say Dealers are overpriced and there is the possibility they either skip over things or look for work. A reason I use an independent and a Funster (y);)
 
Upvote 0
tonka said:
BUT... To maintain some warranty cover it may have to be done by dealers or approved engineers.
I am quite capable / happy to do my own, however I have a 10 year ingress warranty from Autotrail and to maintain that I must use a NCC approved engineer. As you say Dealers are overpriced and there is the possibility they either skip over things or look for work. A reason I use an independent and a Funster (y);)
Click to expand...

It seems to be a very British thing this Yearly Habitation Check and Damp Check.

We have a Laika and it’s a yearly Damp Check only
The Pilote we had only required a Damp Check and not as the Dealer said Habitation and Damp.
Swift we had required Habitation and Damp Check so had to find an approved Swift Enginner that had access to their system to log the service.

Certainly something else to consider when buying. Dealers just use it as extra income stream that they don’t have to do much for. Just work out how to tell the customer that it’s not covered by guarantee and it will only cost a few £100 to get it fixed.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
j0hn said:
So, in no particular order, and not an exhaustive list - please help me add what you think is necessary:
Click to expand...

John,

I would stick your van on a weighbridge because by my reckoning it won't take much before the Mileo 282 is way over its legal registered weight.

Cheers,

Andrew
 
Upvote 0
Lenny HB said:
Agree with Jim about descaling the boiler, I use 3Lt of white wine vinegar (30p/Lt in France) Truma used to recommend it before they brought out their own cleaner.
Never bother with a habitation service nothing I can't do myself & not required by Hymer for the warranty, just get the damp check done.
As for oil changes I'm happy with the 2 year recommendation as the van uses fully synthetic oil and the amount oil the Euro 6 engines consume they get topped up with fresh oil. Our one uses a litre in 7,000 miles which I believe is quite low for a Euro 6 engine.
Click to expand...

Our Euro 6 has used less than .5 of a litre in 9,000.

John.
 
Upvote 0
Upvote 0
I've added all comments into a schedule PDF file - maybe it's helpful for someone.

Please keep adding comments, improvements, and I'll update the file.
 

Attachments

Upvote 0
Reading your PDF.. what do i lubricate my window seals with ? is that inside and out or just for the sliders ? thanks

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Great thread, thanks

What is used to lubricate the toilet seal ?

Thanks
 
Upvote 0
Upvote 0

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top