Eliminating the "exhausty" odor in our rear bedroom.

[SLOweather]

Our 2014 31' Sunstar with the rear queen bed has had a slight problem with the sheets, pillows and blankets smelling slightly of exhaust after a day of driving. The engine exhaust pipe exits the passenger side right in front of the rear tires. The coach never smelled like it, and the bedroom didn't, overtly, but it was there.


In doing some work in the "trunk" under the bed pedestal, I found 3 gaps in the corners that weren't completely covered by the plywood base covering for the bed. The one on the passenger side front was big enough that I could see the underside of the top carpeting, and push my fingers up into the cabin.


I filled all of the gaps with acrylic latex caulk. I had a 4x8 sheet of 1.5" rigid foam insulation on hand. So while I was at it, I emptied the trunk out, cut the foam to fit in 2 pieces, and screwed it up to the underside of the plywood with 2"construction screws and fender washers to insulate the bed and try to mitigate the mattress condensation issue.


After our latest trip last week, I can't really detect the exhaust aroma anymore, so I say it was a success.

[BirchyBoy]

That’s great news. We’ve never had that issue but have noticed some exhaust smell from the generator which has an exhaust on the left side of the rear.

[SLOweather]

Our generator is in the same spot. If you have a similar vintage model with the same windows, here's another trick, which I have posted here before.


The weep slots on the bottom the window frames are cut into grooves in the frames, and are impossible to find covers for. I carefully covered mine with short strips of black electrical tape, taking care not to seal the grooves shut. It's enough to let them drain, but blocks a lot of air intrusion. It also helps a lot with wind noise when driving, especially on the windows up front.

[BirchyBoy]

Originally Posted by SLOweather

Our generator is in the same spot. If you have a similar vintage model with the same windows, here's another trick, which I have posted here before.


The weep slots on the bottom the window frames are cut into grooves in the frames, and are impossible to find covers for. I carefully covered mine with short strips of black electrical tape, taking care not to seal the grooves shut. It's enough to let them drain, but blocks a lot of air intrusion. It also helps a lot with wind noise when driving, especially on the windows up front.

Thanks for the tip!

[Jim_HiTek]

Those gaps would bother me...I think a bit of 0000 steel wool jambed into the gaps first before adding the building materials would have helped keep critters out. Something to think about if they need reworking or you find other gaps.

Rats, mice, any rodent really, will chew through practically any building material and carpeting trying to find food and a warm place to have pups. But not steel wool.

[jerichorick]

Originally Posted by SLOweather

Our generator is in the same spot. If you have a similar vintage model with the same windows, here's another trick, which I have posted here before.


The weep slots on the bottom the window frames are cut into grooves in the frames, and are impossible to find covers for. I carefully covered mine with short strips of black electrical tape, taking care not to seal the grooves shut. It's enough to let them drain, but blocks a lot of air intrusion. It also helps a lot with wind noise when driving, especially on the windows up front.

Try one of these:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rv+window...b_sb_ss_i_1_12

[SLOweather]

Thanks. Unfortunately, all weep slots are not identical. Even the manufacturer of our windows did not still have the proper covers in stock. And, at 5.1 x 0.5 x 0.8 inches those Amazon covers are way too big.

[SLOweather]

Here is another problem I noticed that may have contributed to the problem. The chassis tailpipe ends an inch or so inside the sidewall just in front of the right rear tires. So exhaust gases can swirl up under the wheel well, and rear of the moho.





We were headed out in a day for a trip. I couldn't find a 3" tip extension at Autozone, so, I purchased a coupling instead for $3.


It's better but still probably not quite long enough.

[jerichorick]

Originally Posted by SLOweather

Here is another problem I noticed that may have contributed to the problem. The chassis tailpipe ends an inch or so inside the sidewall just in front of the right rear tires. So exhaust gases can swirl up under the wheel well, and rear of the moho.





We were headed out in a day for a trip. I couldn't find a 3" tip extension at Autozone, so, I purchased a coupling instead for $3.


It's better but still probably not quite long enough.

Both issues are sad. We, the owners of these rigs, have been sucker punched by Winnebago IMHO. Winnebago used to be one of the top quality RVs on the road. No longer. That exhaust situation should fall under a safety recall issue. I have never seen a generator exhaust pipe terminate UNDER the RV.

[SLOweather]

Originally Posted by jerichorick

That exhaust situation should fall under a safety recall issue. I have never seen a generator exhaust pipe terminate UNDER the RV.

Heh, that's not the generator tailpipe, that's the chassis engine tailpipe. The generator exhaust sticks out 3-4" beyond the rear bumper.