Good Day Yesterday For Me

Jriddle · December 14, 2008, 09:57:01 AM

As I stated in other post I was Drinking BOXED wine yesterday evening. There was reason to celebrate. I bought my bus MC-9 one year ago and actually brought it home on December 14TH 2007. I didn't have the brains to join this board before I bought the bus. To make a long story short I bought the bus sight unseen. When I first saw the bus I was pleased and for the last year have realised how good of a bus I have bought. One thing that had me worried is the lack of good oil pressure. I have searched the archives and studied all the posts on the subject. About a week ago I started the bus and had it on fast Idle. When I flipped the switch off I noticed the low oil light come on and the engine quit. I started to wonder what kind of deal I got myself into. (Good bus with bad engine) I checked the mechanical gauge on rear of bus and took note that it was stuck on 37 PSI and would raise about 10 PSI when bus was running. I then replaced this gauge and it didn't register any oil pressure at all. Now I started to tell the wife to get ready for the engine expense. It takes HER awhile to absorb the thought of ten grand or more, I thought I should start early with her. Well now I will come to my point. I bought the bus and checked oil before leaving Burns OR. The oil was full and I traveled about 400 miles and checked oil when I got home. It was still full. The engine has no blow back out filler tubes starts and runs like a champ. When driving the gauge on the dash had around 25 PSI which I thought was very low. So now I am scathing my head and thought this engine runs to well to be worn out. I have spent the last year with bus in drive way taking the inside out and starting to replace with new. I have no licence or insurance yet so I haven't driven it in a year. Yesterday I decided to change the oil even though I will not get to drive her till spring and was very pleased to see my oil pressure at idle around 30 psi and fast Idle at about 45 PSI. Now this may seem obvious to many but I could not believe what a difference new oil would make. I was a little reluctant to post my stupidity but hope this will help someone else.

John

Busted Knuckle · December 14, 2008, 10:29:06 AM

Great news! Just be sure to use the RIGHT CF-2 rated oil! Congrats on the buy and fortunate save!

BK

gumpy · December 14, 2008, 10:38:26 AM

John,

If you haven't disposed of the old oil yet, I would highly recommend you take a sample and take it in to be analyzed. This can give you a look at what's going on inside the engine. I recommend you have an analysis done every time you change the oil so you can maintain a history and see
problems as they start to appear.

Hoping your pressure stays up there....

craig

Jriddle · December 14, 2008, 10:41:23 AM

Craig
I still have some and will and have it analyzed. Thanks for reminder. I do this with the airplane and should start with the DD

John

NJT 5573 · December 14, 2008, 01:57:38 PM

I usually always take a hacksaw to my spin on filters and take a good look at a section of the paper. It will tell you if something is comming apart before it gets to expensive. If there is very little metal it tells me about as much as a chemical analysis. I usually use the analysis to get an idea of how much I can extend oil drains with different engines on different runs with different drivers. A guy with his foot in it all the time needs more oil changes than a guy that backs out of it all the time. Clean air filters make a difference too.

Jriddle · December 14, 2008, 04:31:02 PM

I have a filter cutter that I use on our airplane oil filters. I always cut those filters. I can't see why I shouldn't cut open all my filter from my vehicles? I would think a hack saw would leave metal shavings?
Good suggestion.
John

NJT 5573 · December 14, 2008, 04:51:34 PM

Probably could, but if you tear the paper out the area you need to look for a visual, it is down in the pleats. I haven't seen a filter cutter for a big filter. I probably won't buy one, but sure think it would beat the way I do it if you have one.

buswarrior · December 14, 2008, 05:06:55 PM

Good news!

My guess would be that your old oil was multi-grade, and you have fresh filled with straight 40 wt oil.

the oil gauges on these old coaches are highly irregular and at best only serve to show you that something is happening at different RPM.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

steve5B · December 14, 2008, 05:29:00 PM

When you do the analysis keep in mind that ware in any engine starts at

39 Micron. I'm in that business!

Steve 5B.............

OneLapper · December 14, 2008, 06:16:26 PM

If you let the engine idle for long periods without letting it get hot enough to burn off the fuel that will dilute it, the oil's viscosity will much lower than a 40 wt oil should be. If you haven't driven it in a year, then there's little doubt the oil was diluted with fuel. My old, tired and smokey 8v71 always has higher oil pressure just after I change it. But that's a relative statement, she only has 30 psi when hot during the winter, and 25 hot in summer.

Mark

4106

Jriddle · December 14, 2008, 06:31:48 PM

No doubt that's what did it. I have to say the oil didn't look that thin but who knows when it was changed before I got it. I didn't have that on my priority list till I was getting ready to get HER on the road. Anyhow It will be easier to start HER up and not worry about low oil pressure for now.

John