MCI 7 louvered engine bay doors - to close or not?

[Tenor]

My MCI 7 has louvered doors for the transmission access and for the driver's side electrical panel.  They are close able like jealousy style windows.  Should I run with them open or closed?  My engine always seems to run cool and I have never run it with the doors closed.  I see that MCI 8's dropped the louvers while running the same drivetrain (or do those have larger radiators?).  Should I keep them open?  Thanks!

Glenn

[mikelutestanski]

Hello:
     It really depends on where your coach is used .  Winter or summer conditions .
    My coach 1972 7 when equipped with the 318 with 65 injectors and advanced timing would run slightly hot so I used a fan in the driver side to pull air out of the compartment thru that louver. When running in the south in heavy traffic if the temp started to rise I turned the fan on and kept the temp under control.  If your bus runs cold then you can shut the louvers and see what happens to your temperature.   
    THe air that the blowers push down onto the engine needs to go somewhere. I would leave the louvers open in the summer for sure.
    THe original 7 had small doors to close off the blower discharge during warmup . ALso with that the radiators had louvers that were air controlled to seal off the radiators during warmup.  If those systems are still in place then the doors could be closed during winter monthes.
   I have repowered with an L10 cummins. THis engine is a 4 stroke and is a bit more efficient so the radiators are adequate and the temperature has not moved .
    So the ball is in your court as long as you watch your temperature and act accordingly.
      FWIW      Regards and happy bussin   mike
 

[buswarrior]

The MC8 has a few slits cut into the panels over those two doors. Not as open as the '7, but there is a small opportunity for some air movement.

And the MC8 was not the best at keeping cool...

I'd be thinking more about the alternator, if you have an air-cooled one.

A cool engine room lends itself to long alternator life.

A cool engine room also doesn't radiate into the coach interior on arrival as long as a hot one.

happy coaching!
buswarrior