Skoolies moving back to gasoline engines

[TomC]

Now with gasoline engines also using common rail direct fuel injection (albeit at a lower pressure [32,000psi for Diesel, 5,000psi for gasoline), gasoline engines are as fuel efficient as Diesels-with the only difference in the 20% less BTU per gallon. No matter how efficient gasoline engines get, they will always be 20% less in fuel mileage.
That 8.8 liter engine is 538cu/in GM based.
Freightliner has a 8.0 liter GM based engine used in up to 33,000gvw built as a propane engine, using liquid propane injection. Very responsive.
Gasoline engines are refined and reliable. No more sloppy carbs, or distributors. All electronic, just like Diesels. Good Luck, TomC

[opus]

I'm done with diesels in cars and trucks.Tired of 50 cents more per gallon or fuel. Have a TDI Jetta 03 and a 6.5  Chevy. Jetta gets great mileage, but don't put the miles on it anymore. Truck averages in the 17 to 18 teens. Just more maintenance and the newer Duramaxes without their issues, just more expensive to repair. Next vehicles will be gas jobs. Fill with gas and change oil every 10k with Mobil 1. Plugs every 100k. I think when they went Def, the savings disappeared.

Agreed, I wouldnt buy a diesel daily driver.  Unlike the majority here in MT that have a crew cab, 4x4 diesel pickup where all they haul with it are weekly groceries.  Gone are the days where gas engines would be done at 100k.  Matter of fact, my 2 rigs I drive most are an '84 Toy pickup with 328k original and an '86 Soob with almost as many miles.  Both cost me about $300 tops yearly in maintenance.

Be curious to see what they come up with to efficiently push #20k+ around.

[luvrbus]

It's amazing the HP and torque they can get from the small V6 gasoline engines in the Ford and Chevy pickups now and still get good fuel mileage  

[CrabbyMilton]

Sometimes I wonder if a bus builder like TEMSA would ever consider offering a gasoline engine option for their TS35 and TS30?
It would be great for those who would want a smaller bus but not wanting skoolie.
Tom is right about these new generation of gasoline engines in terms of reliability, efficiency, and durability.
Seem like most of the newer F150's I see have the ECOBOOST V6 engines and most of the reviews state that the users never consider going back to a V8. At least FORD is shrewd enough to offer non turbo V6 and V8 engines along side the ECOBOOST for those who see no need to change yet.

[lostagain]

Ford really has it figured out now with the Powerstroke 6.7 L. We have a 2012 that has not been any trouble at all. Just  oil changes, a fuel filter change once a year. The DEF is a small price to pay for a good running truck.

JC

[tom120]

Propane power has been an option for a few years now on the V10 Ford and the new GMC 8.0l and the GMC 8.8l. With gasoline getting even cheaper gasoline versions of those same engines are now being offered. HP and torque specs are pretty impressive and vehicle purchase price is less than propane or diesel power. Tom

[CrabbyMilton]

I should have stated that earlier about the propane engines Tom 120 so Thank You.
I'm a bit surprised though that CUMMINS didn't keep their propane version of the B since the diesel version is standard. But FORD's gain is CUMMINS lose.
I hate to be the stickler but only the 8.0L is a GM engine and the 8.8L is built by PSI.

[daddyoften]

I worked for a place that used the gas Ford super duties in a construction fleet environment. We had to replace the spark plugs every 36k mikes to keep them from seizing up in the heads. Lots of problems with those engines! We got about 100k and said that's enough! Some of the pickup trucks were only getting 7-8 mpg. I would NEVER trust one in a big bus. Maybe for in town transit and I sure as heck would not trust or local Ford dealer for repairs. Now the big truck shops yes, but not the Ford shop. Just my experience
Eric

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[CrabbyMilton]

Some of those early TRITON V8 and V10's had problems but those have long since been corrected and that was close to 20 years ago. BLUEBIRD would not have begun to use the FORD 6.8L if they were skeptical and it's the favorite in the class A motorhomes. But all it takes is one time to be soured.

[TomC]

I've seen used schoolie's come in with over 300,000mi on the V-10 Ford and still running well. Good oil changes, maintenance makes for a long running engine.
I'd like to see GM make a V-12 out of the 8.0 V-8. We'd have a 12 liter V-12. Without turbo, my guess would put out about 800lb/ft torque easily. That would be a good one for bus.

[Scott & Heather]

What's the maximum horsepower rating of the V10? Can they be had at 500 hp?


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[CrabbyMilton]

I think 365 HP is the maximum. It's designed for pulling torque than raw power.

[DoubleEagle]

What's the maximum horsepower rating of the V10? Can they be had at 500 hp?


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Stock rating (2016) for 3 Valve V10 is 362 hp. This is a work engine, so very little in the way of upgrade kits available. Turbos could be added (custom work only), but the internals are not spec'd to handle it. The life of the engine would be shortened. This is the engine that had problems with the spark plugs staying in, and getting out. The V8 version has more horsepower, but less torque. The V10 is for vehicles 33,000 lbs. gross, or under.

[RJ]

I'm done with diesels in cars and trucks. Tired of 50 cents more per gallon of fuel. Have a TDI Jetta 03 and a 6.5  Chevy. Jetta gets great mileage, but don't put the miles on it anymore.

Yesterday here in Fresno there was only a nickle's difference between regular gas and diesel at the local Chevron - with diesel being lower!  But, knowing the fuel industry, that will probably change by the time I finish posting this.     However, over the last couple of months, there's only been a 10-15 cent difference between regular and diesel, which is how it should be, IMHO.

I, too, have an '03 Jetta TDI, now with 220K on the wagon's clock.  Have had some maintenance issues - mostly neglect by PO - but nothing major.  Plus it's a hoot to drive with the 5-spd, especially compared to my lumbering (and soon to be for sale) Tacoma Double Cab Long Bed.  I wonder if Jetta's newer 6-spd will bolt up to the ALH engine. . .

FWIW & HTH. . .

[luvrbus]

I don't remember the brand name but there are 4 pusher type school buses here with the Cummins ISV 5.0 V8 being tested a neat looking engine and so far not many problems they say, only heating problems so far with low power and torque