| Author |
Message |
Brent Coursey
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 12:24 pm: | |
I'm trying to buy an '84 Eagle bus and I got a reputable guy to do an inspection. I would like to hear from the gallery here on the board what they think. I don't want to buy the bus and then wind up on the side of the road... Here is the evaluation:
The engine crank and start cycle were good. The engine started immediately. It produced heavy smoke (blue) at startup and during the idle period. Oil pressures and temperatures were all within normal ranges at startup and during the road test. No coolant leaks were detected during the inspection. The engine has oil leaking from the air box drain tubes and from the exhaust manifolds. The right bank air box drain tube leakage is excessive and the left bank is moderate. The oil in the left bank exhaust manifold is excessive and the right bank is moderate. This is a sign of possible internal damage or excessive cylinder kit wear. There are also several minor external leaks at the rear of the engine which could be easily repaired. During the road test the engine produced continual light blue smoke. The engine power on acceleration was good. |
Cliff (Floridacracker)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 1:47 pm: | |
Brent,
I have been looking at buses for about 3 years and owned one for just over a year.(disclaimer)
With the availability of good shells, I would not consider one that did not have a good power plant.
You can work alot of minor repairs into whatever your budget is, but if that engine needs major work(and it sounds like it might)you are talking about some serious money for repairs. Thats even if you can do some or part of the work.
Sounds to me like your on top of things by getting an inspection before buying.
Money well spent!
Good luck in your search,
Cliff |
Ed/Jefferson bus
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 3:24 pm: | |
The engine is worn it will need an overhaul.
Blue smoke is oil.
Ed |
Dale L. Waller (Happycampersrus)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 3:57 pm: | |
Go slow here. Don't jump just yet.
Do you know how many miles on the engine??
Get a compression check to see the condition of the powerplant. Maybe get an oil analysis done
If the engine makes good power it could be as simple as oil getting by the blower seals!
Also is this a turbo engine? If so check the turbo!
Check for wrong oil being used. You would be surprised how many misdiagnose a Detroit using the wrong oil.
Is the bus way overdue for an oil change?? |
brent coursey
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 4:58 pm: | |
The engine has about 240K miles on it. The current owners(who have only had the bus for about 4 months) did one oil service and used 15W-40W oil. I realize that the multiviscosity oil is a NO-NO, and if I buy it would immediately put 40w back in it. |
Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 5:58 pm: | |
Hi Brent Dale has a very good point about the blower seals that is a possibility. The air way on the inlet side of the blower could be removed to check for oil on the rotors. If no oil is present it sounds like the engine is slobbering excessively probably due to worn rings. Best to check it out now and be disappointed befor buying than after. Best of luck. Tim |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 7:04 pm: | |
Using 15W-40W oil in a DD 2 stroke is the best way to get
it to smoke and leak. And attempting to analyze the engine's
smoke and leak problems without doing a complete oil change
is near useless.
After a complete change, the rig's got to be driven...Run it in 3rd
against the gov (55mph) for a trip. If that thing's been sitting,
it's going to need some serious exercise. Put a hundred or so
miles on it. and see if that blue smoke doesn't disappear. Mine
smoked like all hell with oil spraying all over, until I changed to 40 cl2.
Did the reputable guy check the rear frame, under the windows,
inside the bays, around wheel wells, etc, for rust? I'd worry about
that, more than a weak engine. You can get a used 8v71 or 6v92
for peanuts, compared to what a serious rust condition would cost
to fix. |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 7:33 pm: | |
Hello Brent.
A good fleet vehicle owner takes care of the vehicle, a poor one does not.
All that oil out the back would make a mess on the back of the coach daily, the smoke pouring out the tailpipe, not a good owner's idea of presenting the right image to existing and future customers...
As well as requiring constant attention to the dipstick.
If the engine has been allowed to get into this condition, I might wonder what else has too?
As Dale suggests, there may be a jewel hiding here, but a good owner knows to check these things too...
Good luck, and let us know how you make out!
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Glen Rice
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 10:24 pm: | |
8v71 evaluation
Brent, ditto on what JohnMc9 said. I bought a
1967 mc5 in May from a friend in Clarkesville, Ga
and on inspection I noticed that it was leaking
oil from the air box drains and also that you
could tell that the exhaust was oily. But looking through the bus I found 1/2 case of 15-40 Delo oil. And by reading this board I knew that it was the wrong oil for this 8v71 engine. I bought the bus anyway. Put Rotella 40W CF2 oil, drove the bus hard for about 50 miles. It stopped the oil leak. Since then I've put about 500 miles on it and it used about 2 qts of oil. but, I do not idle this bus, I start this bus and let it warm up a little bit and drive it. But now make your own conclusions it's your money. You could drive it 50 to 100 miles hard and see if it clears the exhaust.
Best of luck!
Glen |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 8:58 am: | |
It might be worth the cost of an oil change (for the proper oil) and a couple hours hard driving on the road. I now it made a world of difference in my engine.
Richard |
Brent Coursey
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 12:22 pm: | |
THANKS! to all who responded. I talked to the mechanic who had taken care of this bus for some time and he gave it a glowing report. So, with all of the response, I decided to buy the bus. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 3:22 pm: | |
Congratulations on a new toy. First thing, change the oil!!
Richard |