REV Midwest Automotive Design American Coach Patriot 2022 Owner'S Manual Download

Page: 131 / 178

A M E R I C A N C O A C H P A T R I O T O W N E R ’ S M A N U A L

A M E R I C A N C O A C H // P A T R I O T

S E C T I O N 1 2 //

1 2 9

DANGER

Never use windshield washer fluid, ethanol, or conventional

automotive coolant as antifreeze for your coach’s fresh

water system. Ethanol will damage the rubber “O” rings

in your faucets and the diaphragm in your water pump.

Windshield washer fluid and automotive coolant are highly

toxic and using either in your plumbing system may lead to
poisoning and / or death.

WARNING

Winterize all appliances, equipment, and the plumbing
system if sub-freezing temperatures are possible during
storage periods. Your coach should be winterized by a

qualified technician at your American Coach

dealership.

Failure to winterize the coach may result in costly damage,
which will not be covered under warranty if the coach was
not properly winterized.

WARNING

Never exceed a compressor setting of 30 PSI when clearing

the water lines. Higher pressures could damage the hot
water heater and the freshwater pump. Always turn off the

RV antifreeze fill valve and cap the fill connection when not
in use to prevent water / antifreeze from flowing back into

the coach.

For Freedom Lithium

equipped coaches, please follow the

procedures in the Whale Installation and Operation Manual for
winterizing the heater, to include draining the unit before proceeding
with the installation of RV antifreeze in the fresh water system�

When placing the coach back into service following winterization, it

is necessary to completely flush the non-toxic RV antifreeze from the

entire fresh water system, to include the water pump, freshwater tank,
and the water heater�

BATTERY WINTERIZATION

During extended storage, you should have an American Coach

dealership remove and store the house battery(s) from your coach in
a cool dry location. If this is not possible, then the battery(s) should be

disconnected from service by removing the negative cable between
the battery and the inverter� This is important for the longevity of your
batteries, and the state of charge should be checked periodically while

the battery(s) are in storage. A maintenance charge should be applied

danger

warning

as necessary to keep the battery(s) fully charged while in storage.

If you do not place the coach into long term storage, and perhaps
operate it during winter months, you must still maintain the house
battery state of charge� This is especially important when the ambient
outdoor temperature is expected to drop below freezing� If your
coach is connected to 120-Volt AC shore power while it is parked, the
inverter / charger will maintain the house battery state of charge� Keep
in mind, however, that if your coach is equipped with the Freedom
Lithium

LiFePO4 battery option, they will only charge when outside

temperatures are above freezing�

CHASSIS BATTERY ISOLATION

Mercedes-Benz recommends disconnecting the current to all
chassis electric consumers using the battery isolator switch if the
vehicle will sit unused for periods longer than 2 months�

Please

follow this procedure:

STEP 1

Gain access to the battery isolator switch located to the

right of the accelerator pedal in the driver’s foot well;

STEP 2

Slide the red release down and pull it off the post; and,

STEP 3

Leave a prominent reminder note in the driver’s

compartment area to re-install the release before

placing the coach back in service�

Disconnecting the chassis battery for long term storage is essential to
protect sensitive chassis electronics� Please refer to the Mercedes-
Benz Sprinter Operating Instructions for precautionary warnings and
additional information�

■

DE-WINTERIZING PROCEDURES

To recommission your coach following long term or winter
storage, follow these procedures:

STEP 1

Inspect the exterior, roof, engine compartment, and

beneath the chassis of the vehicle for any possible

damage, unwanted insect or bird nests or signs of

small animal dwellings� Pay particular attention to

wheel wells and vent openings;

STEP 2

Remove all previously installed temporary coverings of

appliance, furnace, generator, and water heater vents;