| Author | Message | ||
| Busfool (Chuck)
Registered Member Username: Chuck Post Number: 79 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 216.208.52.126 Rating: N/A |
The mc9 I have started to smoke when I rev up the engine . the bus has not moved more than a few hundred feet in the last year. Will sitting make it smoke? should I run the engine fast for a while or will this make things worse.I can't take it out on the road yet it is still not complete enough. | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 474 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
two strokes just don't run correctly below 60 mph or 180 degree engine temp...just leave it alone till you can get it out on the road,don't idle them like the truckers do.. | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Registered Member Username: Drdave Post Number: 722 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 67.78.176.54 Rating: N/A |
2-Strokes will load up on fuel and spent oil if not regularly excercised "HARD", Fast idle is not a maintenance tool to excercise engines.( then nasty things condense inside the engine ) Drive the ever lovin heck out of it for 20 to 40 miles, It should clear out after the first 10 miles after the temps stabilize. Get your running gear running, lights, brakes and a tag on it and use it as a station wagon while you are working on it. It will also shake out any problems that could surprise you later. | ||
| Mike (Busone)
Registered Member Username: Busone Post Number: 339 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 71.37.166.42 Rating: N/A |
My Detroit 8.2 will smoke like my granny after being parked for a long time. After a few miles it clears up. It likes to be run hard. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member Username: Drivingmisslazy Post Number: 1778 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.108.82.163 Rating: N/A |
And if you start it up and run it a few minutes every so often it makes it even worse. It might take it a hundred or more miles of running before it cleans up. The advice of everyone I have ever seen is DO NOT run it just for a few minutes and then shut it off. It really needs to get up to operating temperature under load for a period of time before all the gunk gets burned out of there. Richard | ||
| David (Davidinwilmnc)
Registered Member Username: Davidinwilmnc Post Number: 146 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 152.20.216.103 Rating: N/A |
Out of curiosity, if the block heater were plugged in in advance and left plugged in while the engine was running, would that get it up to temp? Last week, I wanted to see how my MC-8 would start after a 29º night. I didn't use the block heater. It started on the first push of the starter button, and smoked for a couple of minutes and then cleared up. I partially covered the radiator air intakes with some pieces of vinyl from the floor I ripped up and the temp got up to somewhere around 165º after a few minutes. I wonder if the block heater would add a few more degrees to it and get it up to normal operating temp. I know this is no substitute for actually driving it, but mine has most of the interior floor ripped up has materials stacked everywhere and can't be driven at the moment. David | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 476 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
David...that's about the best you can hope for...stationary....it WOULD be better on the engine if you use the block heater overnight tho... | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 115 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.236.20 Rating: N/A |
Running an engine with a block heater plugged in may damage the block heater. My unit had a big warning on the packaging advising against running the engine while the block heater is plugged in. Something about fracturing the element. Let us know if it really damages the thing...? JR | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 255 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.52 Rating: N/A |
When the engine is cold and the thermostat is closed the block heater is only heating the water inside the block. Once the engine is running and heated up a bit the thermostat opens and then you are trying to heat all the water in the engine, radiator and bus heating system. An impossible job for the block heater! I don't see how this could harm the block heater except maybe the water is moving too fast to remove the hear from the element, but the manufacturer must know or he wouldn't say not to do it. The original Operator's Manual for my 4104 says to run the engine at 1/3 throttle until it warms up to normal temp before driving away. That sounds painful to me but GM wrote the book! | ||
| Dale Waller (Happycampersrus)
Registered Member Username: Happycampersrus Post Number: 287 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 69.19.14.34 Rating: N/A |
I use the block heater and let it warm over night then I start the bus, air it up, place my card board over the radiator and fast idle for about 20 minutes while the block heater is plugged in. I can get the temp to 190 pretty quick. The block heater left plugged in PLUS the engine building heat will get you close to operating temp fairly easy. I know it's not the same as a drive down the road, but sometimes idling is all you can do if you are converting your bus. (no windows, etc.) I have used this same block heater for 6 years on 2 different engines with no damage. I use this method of starting and idling about 3 or 4 times a year and don't have a problem with smoke. Chuck, To help answer your question, if you let your DD engine set to long without starting you can develop rust on your cylinders and will damage the rings. In your case I suspect you just have unburnt fuel and oil in the airbox. Take it for ride if you can to blow it out and get some heat into it. Also make sure the airbox drains are working. HTH, Dale | ||
| Michael Malloy (Busnut06)
Registered Member Username: Busnut06 Post Number: 32 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 63.27.35.5 Rating: N/A |
I,m with Dale, my guess is fuel and oil in the air box built up by starting and not getting properly exercised. Be careful when you hit the highway that you keep it in a gear for the first quarter mile or so in case it tries to overrun the govener. You can hold it back with the drive chain but if you find yourself between gears, it can run away until the uncontrolled fuel/oil in the airbox is consumed. Our 4106 does the same thing after not taking it out for a while. Michael | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Registered Member Username: Drdave Post Number: 724 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 67.78.176.54 Rating: N/A |
And he said "You can hold it back with the drive chain" Drive Chain? Wow, Where can I get one of those??? Just Funnin.....  | ||
| Jim Wilke (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 100 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 69.77.151.82 Rating: N/A |
I had to read that twice but I think he means "drive train" ie: in gear with brakes on. | ||
| Michael Malloy (Busnut06)
Registered Member Username: Busnut06 Post Number: 33 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 63.27.61.46 Rating: N/A |
We have our own version of English west of the Blue Ridge. Hollers, Criks, dawgs etc. Later, Michael | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 261 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 206.40.238.7 Rating: N/A |
Makes sense to me, chains and trains are both linked together. It's always helpful to have someone to point out the typos and other errors! |