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Old 03-19-2008, 03:42 PM   #1
Chubbs
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Default VT365 300 HP Motor in SuperNova

Just wondering about anyones thoughts on the engine in the SuperNova 6372. (VT365 300 HP) Would like to know your personal towing and driving experiences.

Thanks
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Old 03-19-2008, 05:31 PM   #2
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Default SuperNova VT 365

Chubbs

We tow a Saturn 200 without any problem, we do not use a secondary braking system, our weight limit in our state is 3500 lbs, and the Saturn is under that. BTW we absolutely love the quality and sight line of the rear view camera system. We can clearly see three lanes of traffic as well as the car and well behind the car in view.

As to the engine, it has plenty of power. The guys in the International shop are very impressed with the horsepower output from the 365 inch block.

That having been said, our coach is in the shop as we speak for engine block noise that is occuring when the transmission changes gears. International is not sure if it is turbo related, EGR valve related, or if this is just something that we owners will have to live with. As of today, they will be installing a new turbo and are issuing upgraded computer instructions for the engine to "talk" to the computer. All of this was warranty work, at 3350 miles.

Maybe we'll be the guinea pig for the fleet of 365 RV engines out there!

The Interational guys report no other issues with the engine, but caution that it is a high output engine under lots of oil pressure, and that we owners should change oil religiously at 8000 mile intervals and change the fuel filters at each oil change, not every other one. They say that precaution will help keep injector problems from cropping up down the road.

Think you mentioned you are in upper NH? We summer each year at Meredith, and NH is one of our favorite places in the US to visit and relax.
Might be looking to take the plunge and make a purchase of some sort this year to have a place up there to drop anchor.

JimBob
08 SuperNova
Greenwood, SC
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Old 03-19-2008, 08:50 PM   #3
Texas TC
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The VT365/Allison2500MH are a great combination. I tow a 2007 Jeep Wrangler in the 3700 pound range and have no problems with power with my 6331. Having said that, the 6372 does have some issues that are inherent to that floor plan. In particular, folding master bed on early models did not have motors that were strong enough to lift the head of the bed thus not allowing the bedroom slide to work properly (I have heard that GS has increased the power on these motors on the later models), shower pans are flimsy and do not have enough bracing, and the fit between the facing sofas is awkward and difficult to operate as intended when folding out for a bed. These are the issues I have heard about for the 6372 model.

Good luck!



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Old 03-25-2008, 08:25 AM   #4
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Default SN 6400

We have taken our new 6400 from western PA to GA I79 to 19 to I77 then 26 to 95. We had no problem with power, we did not break any speed records but did fine. We are very happy with the drive and handling of the unit. We tow a Jeep wangler 4 door.
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Old 03-25-2008, 08:35 AM   #5
Chubbs
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Thanks for all your input.

Does anyone know the max you can comfortably tow with the SuperNova 6372. We have 3/4 ton Z71 GMC 6' bed pickup but figure we would have to invest in Jeep or something similar.

Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
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Old 03-25-2008, 11:58 AM   #6
Texas TC
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My stats are as follows for the 6331:
Fully loaded coach weighs 21,600 (GVWR 25,900)
Combined weight with Jeep Wrangler 25,300 (GCWR 33,000)
I have not seen the loaded weight on the 6372 but it should no be more than 500 to 1000 pounds more than the 6331. I see no problem towing your current vehicle. Several folks on the net state they are towing 26' loaded trailers with their 6372 and 6400 SuperNova's and have not reported any issues.



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Old 03-25-2008, 01:04 PM   #7
TheHansens
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Default Towing

We have a Gladiator (smaller than a SN) that came with a 15K hitch and have pulled a Focus wagon with no problem. Will be towing an inclosed car trailer/and car weighing 6K and were told that it will do just fine.
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Old 03-25-2008, 01:53 PM   #8
dcwinters
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Anyone think there is a speed govenor on these units. I have one and can't get it above 75MPH, even going down hills. The engine rpm is only 2600.
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Old 03-25-2008, 02:06 PM   #9
Chubbs
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Which unit do you have, the Gladiator or the SuperNova and if a SN which model the 6331, 6372 or 6400. Are you towing anything when you say you cannot get over 75 mph??
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Old 03-25-2008, 02:16 PM   #10
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I actually have the 6340 Endura Model on the International 4200 Series Chassis. Without towing 75MPH, when towing 75MPH. That's why I think there is a speed governor.
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Old 03-25-2008, 03:29 PM   #11
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The VT365 has an engine speed governor at 3200 rpm's. Some models came with 617 rear gears which made the governed speed 75 mph. Gulf Stream/International paid to change my 617 gears to 529. I was governed at 75 with the old gears, I can now go over 85. It also lowered the engine rpm's at cruising highway speed by about 500 rpm's. I have not heard of a unit running 75 at 2600 rpm's before. You may have a tachometer or speedometer issue. If you have a GPS, check your speedometer against it to see if you have a problem. International might just have the wrong programing in your engine ECM. This happened to me when they changed my gears, they put the wrong programming in the ECM. I was passing everything on the Interstate and the speedometer was showing I was running 55. I checked it against the GPS and was running much faster. International re-flashed my ECM with the proper programming and everything is fine now.



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Old 03-25-2008, 04:23 PM   #12
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I have already compared against a GPS and it is truely doing 75MPH. I had the build sheet run at the International Dealer and he confirmed that it had the 5.29 gears. Doesn't your run 75mph at 2600 to 2700 RPMs?
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Old 03-25-2008, 04:52 PM   #13
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Mine runs a little over that, more like 2800-2900 at 75. I run 2500-2600 at 70. At 3200, my speedometer is over 85 mph. Could be our tachometers are just a little off calibration from each other. I do not have a way to check that. I still do not understand why your coach will not run over 75 unless they have changed something on the newer coaches. I got mine almost a year and 16000 miles ago so they could have added a governor to the newer models. I noticed a lot of changes in the new SuperNova (same as my model) that my dealer is going through PDI on. Some are good and some I like mine better. I hope they did not change the governor. I don't know why they would since the engine is set up to run over 3000 rpm's according to the engineer I talked with at International.



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Old 03-26-2008, 09:58 AM   #14
dcwinters
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Agree on the 3200 RPM limit. Mine seems to have that as well. But this is more like a Speed Governor. The engine just seems to quit at 75MPH. I just got the unit a month ago. So they might of added to the newer units.

I would like to hear from others. Anyone?

I wonder is International could tell me if it has a speed Governor?
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Old 03-26-2008, 10:26 AM   #15
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On page two, comment ID 0012NTL of my International ISIS report, it states "ENGINE, DIESEL{International Electronic VT365} 50 State, 300HP @ 3000 RPM, 530 lb-ft Torque @ 1800 RPM,
3200 RPM Governed Speed, 300 Peak HP (Max)" I wonder in that area of your ISIS report if it includes some identity for a governor based on speed rather than RPM? Just a thought.

I am also anxious to hear from others who have purchased recently to see if they have the same issue.



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Old 03-26-2008, 03:31 PM   #16
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Default RPM's and governors

TC- I'll check my ISIS tonight or tomorrow and get back to you- seems to me I remember the same language in my ISIS as yours, though.

JimBob
Currently in Orlando- Braves won today!
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Old 04-02-2008, 09:01 PM   #17
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Old 06-16-2009, 12:30 PM   #18
tstandage
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My 08 definitly wont go past 75mph. even down hills the engine dies at 75.
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Old 06-16-2009, 04:29 PM   #19
Texas TC
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The governor is in the ECM electronic system and can be reset by an International technician or by adding a performance controller to reset the parameters of the ECM. I would choose to have International reset not do void the five year warranty on these engines. My coach was one of the first built in 2007 and had the 617 gears. When International changed to 529 gears they did not reset the governor. Every time I have service performed, I tell them to not touch the ECM parameters, I like the fact mine will run up to 86 mph and still stay under the rpm governor.



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Old 06-26-2009, 12:51 PM   #20
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Hey Texus SC, your vt365 sounds like it is doing what mine does. I have
had it into the dealer for a shifting issue 3 times now with little success.
When it is under load -especially towing on hills - it will sometime do what
I call a "torque squeak" where the power stops and it will puff out a little
black smoke. It can get where you have to back out of the throttle and slowly
ease back into it . It sometimes causes a CEL but not all the time.
The CELs lead International to replace the turbo and the ECU yet it still
does it. The last time in the tech rode with me while I tried to recreate the
problem. It did it once but did not cause a CEL but the tech watched the monitor while it was plugged into the coach and the exhaust back pressure
climbed to 38.8 Lbs . The book says 30 lbs should be tops. He worked on that
but when I picked it up he said International did not want to "allow more" until they have more CELs to look at.
Anyway, we are heading for Nebraska next week and hopefully it will be fine. If our problems are similar maybe we can compare notes as they
figure out what is happening.
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