Radiator air flow - PD4104

[dtcerrato]

Wanted to mention radiator air flow of our 4104:
On our recent Alaska road trip, with the high percentage of time spent on dusty, loose gravel roads, it was very evident that the air turbulence at the radiator was stirring up a fair amount of dust & gravel to the point where the bus & the toad were not only eating it but collecting it in every available place that was able to collect & hold it... Even with multiple full mud flaps...
In the attached photo - notice the openings in all the structural members supporting the engine. Remember the belly pans that we sometimes mention on the post that are very seldom to be seen on our vintage coaches? Well in looking at the design in the photo of the way air was intended to flow; if the belly pans were installed, I believe not even a fraction of the dust & gravel would have found it's way into the engine compartment - mostly on the coach & would have been better also for the toad.
Notice the large horizontal structural channel (with the large holes) in the photo (supports the engine on the driver's side) - well just beyond (far side) of the channel (between it & the radiator) the underneath is wide open to the ground surface - thus creating much air flow downward to the ground. If there were belly pans, or even just a portion of home made shrouding in that area to divert the downward flow towards the transmission side of the engine - it would eliminate all the kick up of dust & gravel and also afford much better cooling by ventilating across the entire engine length on all sides (top, bottom, front, & back) especially after removing over a 1/4" of caked greasy dirt from the front side of the engine where the two mufflers are generating much heat. In our case we weren't overheating, but experienced higher coolant temps in high ambient temps and climbing hills (which is normal) but could be a lot more efficient of what is being mentioned here.
Always knew this condition existed but not to the extent it was. Since we got home, between the bus & toad, I have removed over 15 gallons & 100s of pounds of dust, gravel, & stone from the under carriage of both vehicles (& still doing so). It moved it from the back burner to the middle of my forehead.
Wanted to share those thoughts.

[TomC]

Now you know why MCI has high mounted radiators.