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Old 11-12-2020, 10:15 PM   #1
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THOR #17864
LCI Leveling System Fluid question

I have the LCI leveling system question. The hydraulic fluid reservoir is about 1/2 full. I read on many online threads that it takes a Dexron III Automatic Transmission Fluid.

I am ready to add a Pennzoil Automatic Transmission Fluid that is a Dexron III & Mercon.

Sound correct?

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Old 11-12-2020, 10:32 PM   #2
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Mercon V or any full synthetic has worked for most
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Old 11-12-2020, 10:56 PM   #3
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Make sure the jacks are fully up before trying to add.
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Old 11-13-2020, 12:00 AM   #4
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the fluid reservoir for your Hydraulics is just that, a reservoir and not a holding tank - meaning that the fluid levels CHANGE depending whether your legs are DOWN or UP..don't make the mistake I did early on and 'assume' that because the fluid seemed 'low', that it must have been the problem - it wasn't. But, when I filled the tank, then raised my legs, it WAS!
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Old 11-13-2020, 12:06 AM   #5
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Wow, this sounds tricky.

I was trying to be proactive when I saw it 1/2 full. Better to leave as is?

The jacks are fully down right now parked at our house.

Should I pull them up and then look at fluid level?

I don't mind doing nothing here but do the jacks actually consume fluid over time and its something I should watch for?

Sorry for all of the questions but first time I have had a leveling system.
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Old 11-13-2020, 12:07 AM   #6
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unless you see a fluid leak, no, you have NOTHING to do.
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Old 11-13-2020, 12:55 AM   #7
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Yes, jacks all up and hdy slides all in. Then level should be within 1/2" of top. If no leaks nothing to do. good luck


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Old 11-13-2020, 02:34 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Newf026 View Post
Wow, this sounds tricky.

I was trying to be proactive when I saw it 1/2 full. Better to leave as is?

The jacks are fully down right now parked at our house.

Should I pull them up and then look at fluid level?

I don't mind doing nothing here but do the jacks actually consume fluid over time and its something I should watch for?

Sorry for all of the questions but first time I have had a leveling system.

When your jacks are down they are full of fluid so your reservoir looks low. When you retract the jacks, the fluid returns to the reservoir. If you fill it with the jack down, you will have a mess.
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Old 11-13-2020, 03:58 AM   #9
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The fluid is not consumed by the jacks, only by leaks or evaporation, which doesn't really exist in a closed system. You can check it at your convenience when the jacks are up, but don't waste your time by putting them up specifically to check the level.
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Old 11-13-2020, 11:03 AM   #10
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Understand it.

Thanks all!
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Old 11-18-2020, 10:07 PM   #11
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While you are thinking about it be sure you know where the hydraulic pump breaker is. Mine tripped the first time when I was near the Mexican border on a Sunday miles from civilization. No clue from Georgetown or LCI on breaker.

I first thought it might be low fluid level. I drove 30 mi (toad) to get some...no joy.

LCI led me through checkout which showed no power to pump. It was up to me to find breaker. I did and it was tripped. Reset and on our way.

Mine is in the battery/hydraulic compartment behind the pump. It doesn’t look like normal circuit breaker. A red tab pops out when thrown.

I’ve since had it trip several times. Had it checked out and they found nothing. It happens on auto level when front jacks go full travel. I try not to do that any more.

The LCI info on fluid level is a mess. They show different indicators in different manuals. Some have a dipstick. Not mine.
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Old 11-19-2020, 12:43 AM   #12
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All levers are not the same?

My levers are pushed DOWN by fluid, but also are retracted (UP) by fluid.
Others have a spring pulling the jacks back up.
I assume in my system, the level in the reservoir should remain relatively stable.
Any agreement or dissent?
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Old 11-19-2020, 02:26 AM   #13
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While you are thinking about it be sure you know where the hydraulic pump breaker is. Mine tripped the first time when I was near the Mexican border on a Sunday miles from civilization. No clue from Georgetown or LCI on breaker.

I first thought it might be low fluid level. I drove 30 mi (toad) to get some...no joy.

LCI led me through checkout which showed no power to pump. It was up to me to find breaker. I did and it was tripped. Reset and on our way.

Mine is in the battery/hydraulic compartment behind the pump. It doesn’t look like normal circuit breaker. A red tab pops out when thrown.

I’ve since had it trip several times. Had it checked out and they found nothing. It happens on auto level when front jacks go full travel. I try not to do that any more.

The LCI info on fluid level is a mess. They show different indicators in different manuals. Some have a dipstick. Not mine.

Just a warning: the breaker is tripping because of the motor pulling too much current. It only takes a few of those excess current cycles to burn up the brushes and commutator on that motor, which is not a cheap repair or replacement. I stopped using auto level after fixing my motor, manual every time for me - a much smoother experience.
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Old 11-19-2020, 03:55 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by GordSanClemente View Post
All levers are not the same?

My levers are pushed DOWN by fluid, but also are retracted (UP) by fluid.
Others have a spring pulling the jacks back up.
I assume in my system, the level in the reservoir should remain relatively stable.
Any agreement or dissent?
No. The reservoir level goes down to extend jacks.
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Old 11-19-2020, 03:57 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by 16ACE27 View Post
Just a warning: the breaker is tripping because of the motor pulling too much current. It only takes a few of those excess current cycles to burn up the brushes and commutator on that motor, which is not a cheap repair or replacement. I stopped using auto level after fixing my motor, manual every time for me - a much smoother experience.
Thanks. I know that and agree. Thats why I had it checked out...to no avail.

I use the auto level when spot is flat. But I do better with manual level most of the time.
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Old 11-19-2020, 04:04 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GordSanClemente View Post
All levers are not the same?

My levers are pushed DOWN by fluid, but also are retracted (UP) by fluid.
Others have a spring pulling the jacks back up.
I assume in my system, the level in the reservoir should remain relatively stable.
Any agreement or dissent?
Disagree. True the piston is surrounded by fluid. When most of the pistons shaft is removed from the jacks fluid chamber, as in moved down new fluid must replace the volume previously taken up by the jacks shaft. In the 7-9,000 lb jacks that isn't too much, max of 3 pints but in the 18,000 jacks it is qute a bit.
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Old 11-19-2020, 11:24 PM   #17
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THOR #17864
I asked the original question about the level of the reservoir. It makes complete sense to me that the level rises and falls by the extension of the jacks.

I am going to start looking at the level every time we camp. Right now, at my home RV pad which is quite level, the reservoir is 1/2 full. We go on a trip next week. I'll raise them and see what it looks like. Our MH is about 32,000 lbs.
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Old 11-20-2020, 12:45 AM   #18
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I do not know about your system-all I'm confident about the lippert system used in DRV's-. In my system it clearly stated the reservoir should be "within 1/2" OF THE TOP WITH ALL SLIDES IN AND ALL JACKS RAISED. Yours should be similar. Good luck

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Old 11-20-2020, 10:33 AM   #19
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Thanks Bill.
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Old 11-20-2020, 06:35 PM   #20
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