Bus Heat and A/C

[abebris]

Greetings!

First - thanks to all who answered my question about restoring some of the stainless on my MCI-9.  I was able to get a small portion finished before winter set in and I'll get it ALL knocked out come spring time!

Anyway - I'm really staring to dig into the project... nothing quite like a tear-out party with a bunch of firemen (although to their disappointment AXES were not a tool option  ).  As the weather has cooled a bit, I've been thinking more about the heat and a/c for use on the road.  I am thinking about leaving the bus heat and a/c systems intact for use when driving and am wondering what other's experiences have been in this regard.  I am NOT planning on using the bus heat or a/c when parked.  Thanks for your input!!

Alex

[JackConrad]

We removed all but the OEM defroster system, HOWEVER, we live in Florida and do not travel in cold weather. I was told be several charter bus operators that the AC system was their most expensive maintenence item (our bus AC was not working when we opurchased our bus). YMMV, depending on what climate you operate your bus in.  Gotta watch those fireman LOL. Jack (retired firefighter/paramedic)

[abebris]

Well, we live in southern Ohio (not TOO cold here) - but have a lot of family in New England, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, so a lot of out travels are north... not as concerned about the A/C as the heat - after all in WI & MN summer is only 1 month long, right after mosquito season!

Jack - I am the chief of a combined public safety department (police, fire, and EMS) - Its a lot of fun to watch the interaction between the various divisions!!

[Frank @ TX]

Hi Alex,
Everybody will have their own opinon on this subject, so I'll tell you what we did and why.
As Jack said the bus AC system will drive you to the poor house.
The refrig in you house has NO connections in the freon system, that is why you can expect 20 years from it.
You car has about 10-12 fittings in the freon system and an external compressor shaft, that is why most cars will need freon sometimes.
The bus has many, many connections more that a car, expect lots of maintenance.
You are going to need AC while parked.  Those roof top systems are built like your fridg at home ( no connections ).
Why have two AC systems ( one for the road , one for when parked ) when just the roof systems will do both jobs?
That's our logic.

For heat it's the same logic , why run the bus heat and a different one while parked.
We Have an AquaHot for heat and 3 roof AC's for cooling.
This works great for us.
If ever needed we could last a summer in Phoenix or a winter in Wisconsin,
we would work very hard not to be in those places at those times , but the bus is capabile.
Just my thoughts
Frank

[JackConrad]

Another thing I overlooked.  What percentage of the time you spend in the bus will the engine be running?  We do many weeked trips with no more than 2 hours travel time each way, so from Friday morning till Sunday afternoon (approx. 50 hours), we could only use bus heat or cooling for 4 hours (less than 10% of the time we are in the bus).  This may be different with your usage of your bus.  Jack

[DavidInWilmNC]

I kept my OTR heat and AC in my MC-8... mainly for two reasons.  One, it worked.  Two, I don't like to be hot or cold.  With roof AC units and a generator, I have a 'backup plan' for keeping cool.  Some say it will be expensive to maintain, but I think a lot of that depends on a few things.  How well does it work now?  Has it been converted to 134A?  Are you even the slightest bit knowledgeable of A/C systems in vehicles?  Mine worked, but was low on 134A.  I can put cans of refrigerant in the system myself.   I had to put in about 8 cans when I got it in 2005 and about 7 or 8 more (I think) this summer.  According to the gauge I have, it was still a few psi low, but I was in a hurry and it was in the mid 60's inside the bus (and in the low 90's outside).  I felt that was cold enough.  I had issues with the heater valve and being able to control the temp until recently, so we pretty much froze 'til I cycled the A/C switch off for a few minutes.  I'd turn it back on when it got too warm.  Now, I won't have to do that, as I've replaced that heater valve and can 'temper' the cold air a bit and control the heat in winter.  How may roof top units would I have to have to keep the bus in the 60's (at fast idle - colder on the road)?  If the system fails completely, I'll re-think all this and may not replace it, but 'til then, it just made sense to me to keep what already worked and what was already installed.   

David

[tekebird]

Although the A/C was the highest portion of our maint cost when we had our charter bus operation.....presently all 4 of our coaches have the factory A/C.

Keep in mind cooling a bus with full glass full of 40-50 people takes alot of cooling.  Even a marginally operating A/C unit (factory)in a motor home will freeze you out.

We have not speant much at all in the past 10 years on the Bus A/C other than the conversion to newer refridgerant.

A properly maintatianed and running A/C will not give you too much trouble, problems arise when you neglect them

[tekebird]

on the heat side:

Again all 4 of ours have factory heat......it's free and super efficient.one of them had the ducts removed and ony has factory heat in the front as it was designed for a couple so the odds of someone riding in the back was nill......if the need arose. it is equiped with a Webasto Airtop midship and in the rear to supliment any need for heat.

both systems will run yoou out in sub freezing temps

[ChuckMC9]

(although to their disappointment AXES were not a tool option  )

Who says?

I came close! Or at least I wished for one!

LOL

But seriously, if you search the archives there's lots of thoughts (and arguments) on this topic. 

[Tony LEE]

Both heating and cooling worked in my MC8 so I kept it. Just removed all the dimple plate and side-wall ducting and have the air blasting out of the two floor vents fitted with grills. Does a perfect job of keeping the front half of the bus very comfortable and the change in fuel consumption or drop in performance seems negligible.