Motor Aid (hot water tank) question?

ron1492 · 10-22-2006, 01:27 PM

I have a '99 Itasca, Sunflyer 34Y. It has the motor aid on it to preheat the hot water tank, but it does not. I think that a valve has not been opened, but I do not know where it is? Can someone tell me where to find it.

Thanks,

Ron

ron1492 · 10-22-2006, 01:27 PM

I have a '99 Itasca, Sunflyer 34Y. It has the motor aid on it to preheat the hot water tank, but it does not. I think that a valve has not been opened, but I do not know where it is? Can someone tell me where to find it.

Thanks,

Ron

rvten · 10-22-2006, 02:33 PM

No valve that I know of. The water is heated fromt the engine as you drive down the road. In fact the water is usually hotter than when the HW is run off propane or electric.

ron1492 · 10-22-2006, 02:35 PM

Thanks, I just thought there would be a shut off valve some place. I will have to keep trying to see why it don't work.

Tom N · 10-22-2006, 03:21 PM

If you are not the original owner and have never had hot water from the Motoriad there is the possiblity that a previous owner replaced the water heater with a non-Motoraid unit. The lines would then be plugged off.

Easyrider · 10-22-2006, 03:28 PM

Tom's probably right, but a dumb question anyway- do you have water in the water heater when you are traveling? Some people drain their water heater after use to prevent "stinky" water. If you do that and don't fill until you get to where you're going you won't have hot water when you get there.

ron1492 · 10-22-2006, 03:36 PM

I always have water in the tank when we travel. I'm think it is the original water tank, but will check the serial # in the AM.

Thanks,

rick_od · 10-22-2006, 03:55 PM

Do you get heat from the rear heater core??? If so, that would indicate that you are at least getting engine coolant to the rear of the RV.

ron1492 · 10-22-2006, 04:16 PM

Yes, the rear heater works great.

LazyDog · 10-23-2006, 06:20 AM

Maybe another unnecessary question Ron but:

Are you certain you are running the engine long enough to heat the water in the tank? With the Motor Aid and rear heater turned on you are circulating a large volume of engine coolant. Great for cooling the engine but it does take a long time at operating temp to heat the full water tank. My manual says 100 miles, my experience says less than that but somewhat dependent upon ambient temps as well.

ron1492 · 10-23-2006, 07:23 AM

I have traveled several times at least 300 + miles and still no hot water but plenty of heat from the rear heater? Also I checked the serial # and it is the original hot water heater.

Thanks

rick_od · 10-23-2006, 07:35 AM

On my Sightseer, the MotorAid lines run as follows. There is a 5/8" engine coolant line that runs down the left frame rail to the rear heater. After it goes through the rear heater is goes to the HWH. From the HWH, it runs past the rear heater on its way up the left frame rail back th the engine block.
It is possible that someone has put in a manual shutoff somewhere. It would have to be in the rear of the RV because your rear heat works. Check under the bed near the rear heater.

ron1492 · 10-23-2006, 11:13 AM

Thanks for info. Now that gives me someplace to look some more.

Thanks again,

sightseer 30B · 06-02-2008, 07:22 AM

I'm dredging up an old post, but I am researching the problem described.

Sightseer 30B with plenty of heat from the rear heater, but no heating of the hot water. This worked prior to winterizing in the fall. Now it does not work. I have done nothing to the system. Only drained and blew out the water lines for winterization last fall.

Can anyone give me a hint?

skigramp · 06-02-2008, 09:22 AM

Ron and Wayne ...

When I de-winterized in January I had no hot water from Motoraid, electric, or LP ... in that case it was the check valve on the hot-water heater itself ...

If you have no hot water from any source then that is probably your problem ... but if you have hot water from either LP or electric it is not your check valve

sightseer 30B · 06-03-2008, 07:22 AM

I should have been more specific.

No problem with hot warer using Propane.

The water does not get hot from the MotorAide system when driving.

Wayne