T444E Engine with 121K miles on it - what should we look at to ensure the engine is sound.
It is in a mid-sized school bus, complete with handicap hydraulic life.
Any insights helpful.
K
Enemies of Liberty are ruthless. To own your Liberty, you'd better come harder than your enemies..
121K is about the mid mileage point, I'd check the injectors and rings first, the bearings second. If the maintenance has been at least good, there shouldn't be any issues, are you able to look at the records?
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about diesels, but I assume the first thing would be to check the compression.
ReplyDeleteBrock,
Delete(captaincrunch)
You would need to pull each individual injector to test diesel compression, but that doe always work. I would check oil and oil blow by. see whats coming out of the exhaust also.
Thanks.
DeleteKerodin,
ReplyDelete(captaincrunch)
That engine is one of the few International products I would buy. That engine is a solid platform without a EGR valve and DPF (diesel particulate filter)
I would not be as concerned with the engine, I would be more concerned with the driveline and front end components. On the trucks, front ends are usually rebuilt at about 120.000 miles or so depending on the usage.
If you are buying the bus from a school district, you may be getting a good deal. If you purchase the vehicle, get a competent diesel tech to check everything out and plan on changing fluids, hoses, etc, etc.
Thanks, Captain,
DeleteIt is a bus, right at that 121k mark. We've hit a circumstance in life that may lead us to cut all ties with DC - which means a complete haul of our gear to Idaho. A Uhaul wants 3k and more - I can get a bus for about 4k - and have an asset at the other end - which makes economic sense, so long as the bus doesn't crap out on the way. That's why we're considering it.
Kerodin,
Delete(captaincrunch)
Yeah' I would evac out of D.C. ASAP.
On the bus. If you got everything checked out I.E. belts, fuel system etc. I think you would be okay for at least several thousand miles before something crapped out. I would run diesel additive when refueling with this Ultra, Low, Low sulfur diesel. I heard some truckers with older engines are pouring automatic transmission fluid into their tanks (adding sulfur) I can not comfirm this, nor do I recommend it without more research.
On the fuel system again, I would check the low pressure and high pressure pumps (fuel pumps for the injectors)
Also check the age of the batteries, in the very cold winter we have had, batteries start losing voltage under 30 degrees and that can kill an older (or crappier) batteries.
If Idaho is too cold, you guys are welcome in Texas. Imagine, a Beachside Citadel on the Gulf Coast.
I agree with concentrating on your belts/hoses/batteries/trans as most diesel engines run good for 300k miles, an additive to keep the fuel from jelling in cold climate would be a plus, grease the drivetrain, change the differential oil/trans fluid, new filters & new coolant, new W/S wiper blades. I'm a certified Bus mech since 1979 also served in OIF-2004, now retarded, oops, retired,sorry
ReplyDelete