It's easy to focus on the "living space" of a motorhome (the battery, the water, the gas) and forget that, underneath, there's an engine that also needs its maintenance. And a camper has one particular quirk: since it spends a lot of time parked and covers few miles a year, its mechanical maintenance isn't always governed by mileage alone. Here's what you need to know so the engine lasts and doesn't let you down.
The oil change: by mileage or by time
Engine oil (and its filter) is the most basic and critical maintenance item. The important thing with a camper: it's changed by mileage OR by time, whichever comes first. Even if you cover few miles, the oil ages over time (it degrades, absorbs moisture), so even if you don't reach the mileage, it's worth changing it by the interval the manufacturer specifies (often once a year). Don't go by mileage alone if your camper does little driving. [Note: check the oil-change intervals by mileage and by time for your model.]
Periodic servicing
Beyond the oil, the engine needs its services according to the manufacturer's schedule, which usually include:
- Filters (air, fuel, cabin).
- Fluids: coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid; levels and condition.
- Brakes: pads and discs, critical on a heavy vehicle (see driving in the mountains).
- Timing belt: changed by mileage or time; its failure is a very serious breakdown (see below).
- Starter battery, tyres (see tyres) and the exhaust system (DPF, AdBlue; see the DPF).
The timing belt: watch the time, too
A special mention: the timing belt also expires by time, not just mileage. In a low-mileage camper, it's easy to go past the recommended time without reaching the mileage limit, and its failure can wreck the engine. Change it according to the manufacturer's schedule even if you've covered few miles.
What you can check yourself
- Levels: oil, coolant, brake fluid, windscreen washer; check them before long trips.
- Tyres: pressure and condition (see pressure and TPMS).
- Lights and dashboard warning lights (don't ignore any of them).
- After long periods parked, a gentle run-in before a trip (see a parked engine).
In summary
A camper's engine needs its maintenance (oil, filters, brakes, timing belt), with the particular point that many changes are governed by time, not just mileage, because it does little driving. The step to take today: check when your next oil change and timing-belt change are due by time (not just mileage) on your camper, and check the levels, tyres and lights yourself before every long trip; the engine is half of your camper too.