| Author |
Message |
Don Stamper (24.93.35.201)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 9:23 pm: | |
I have been reading everything I can in hopes of finding the best choice for a conversion. I have built,almost,one of everything and due to the many troubles with my class A that stays in the shop, I hope to find a bus chassis that I live with. I have heard stores of overheating with MCI buses being used in the south. Someone has said they were designed for use in Canada and due to the location of the radiator tend to overheat easily. Then I read stores about water misters needed on almost all coaches. I like the MCI's best as is stands now, this could change though. Any thought on over-heating and buses in the southern states? |
madbrit (216.67.210.247)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 9:47 pm: | |
Don,
MCI's are driven all over the USA and Canada. There is nothing wrong with their cooling system. As long as the system is in good condition and the engine hasn't been changed for a larger unit, then it will run fine and keep cool. However, when buses get older, the maintenance gets forgotten and then the troubles start. One of the biggest problems is the missing radiator and blower seals and the air is drawn around and not through the radiator. Also, incorrect coolant mixes and lack of additives, etc will gum up the radiator and block as well, thereby decreasing the cooling efficiency. These problems can and do affect all types of water cooled vehicles, not just buses.
I, personally would not use a water mister as I don't think they should be neccessary on a stock bus. If the bus has had a motor change from an 8v71 to an 8v92, then all the 92 cooling system must go with it or it will overheat.
I expect you have read about each bus's good points and bad points with corrosion, dimensions, etc.
Good luck with your choice, I am biased, I bought an MCI and love it.
Peter. |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces) (12.146.32.12)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 10:54 pm: | |
Don, it's not the make of bus. You want an engine and cooling system in good condition. If you get one that gets good fuel mileage, it will not produce excessive heat in its cooling system, and a cooling system in good condition will be able to get rid of the heat it does produce.
As an engine wears, and as a cooling system deteriorates, more heat will be produced and you will have more trouble getting rid of it. Temperatures will climb more easily.
In June, I drove our 4106 from Mesa, AZ to Granite Falls, WA. It was hot down there, 100 to 110 degrees, and I had some hard climbs coming up through Nevada, but the temperature never budged. The engine had only 5k miles(it's an 8V71) and the radiator had been recently serviced. The bus got right close to 10 mpg. Our coach weighs about 28,000 lbs.
They were designed to be reliable when new, so the best thing you can do is get your engine and cooling system into as close to new condition as possible.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 |
Don Stamper (24.93.35.201)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 15, 2001 - 9:02 am: | |
Thanks guys! |
Mike Eades (Mike14905) (209.14.207.173)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2001 - 7:51 pm: | |
Don I have a 4905 with 8V71 with v730. I pull a heavy 25' Pace American Trailer and no problems with over heating. I do run a mister once in a while. Highest temp will be 190 at most. Run all over the south and north east of Miss. Mike |
Jeff Rusin (205.188.198.41)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2002 - 2:18 pm: | |
Don , I have a MCI 8 but just recently I have seen 2 articles about a third radiator in a mci 9
one article had mentioned that the third radiator was on a sensor and kicked in only when needed. sorry but I know nothing more about this "third Radiator" then the 2 articles i seen. one bus was on ebay and in the specs it mentioned that it had the third radiator. hope this helps ..Jeff |
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