How Much Has Fuel Prices Affected You?

[shortstuff]

With the economy like it is and the price of gas and 'deisel' going up again do you still travel as much ?

We want to keep our bus but haven't decided to put insurence and tag back on it yet .

Any secrets to cut cost [ besides used oil ] in a 1991 ,24ft. International 7.3 deisel shorty school bus ?

We painted a few years ago, put in toilet, holding tank ,carpet etc..

We both really like our bus if prices would just come down .

[timbuk]

1.03 a liter here in bc now,thats cheap from last year 1 liter =3.89 us gallon thats gas

[shortstuff]

Originally Posted by Smitty

The pick-up I drive right now gets 12 MPG....so once I get a bus, I don't think I'll notice much difference

I need Barry to send me a $4500 clunker check so I can get a bus

Smitty

haha, I don't think we qualify for the clucker deals . Besides most will trade in paid for vehicles for a payment and huge loan .

[shortstuff]

Originally Posted by timbuk

1.03 a liter here in bc now,thats cheap from last year 1 liter =3.89 us gallon thats gas

It has went down here too . But its climbing back up .

[shortstuff]

Originally Posted by Ice Czar

first the bad news
use a lubricity additive to the diesel, dont use biodiesel
the close tolerance, high pressure mechanical fuel injection pump predates Ultra-low sulfur diesel
(and it would be about $1000 to get one, get it installed and retime the engine)

ideas to save money

drive 10mph slower
reduce weight
slightly to moderately higher tire pressure
airtabs
under carriage streamlining, rounding, dams, wake boards, skirts, vanes and spoilers
http://www.solusinc.com/pdf/2003-01-3377.pdf
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/ ... H-2283.pdf
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/ ... _H-977.pdf
http://www.windyne.com/features-functions.htm
http://www.mne.psu.edu/ifrtt/Conference ... %20140.pdf
http://www.solusinc.com/pdf/SOLUSL&MLicOpp.pdf

Thanks for all the info .
Not sure I understand if the site is telling me to use biodeisel r not use it . .

We already drive very slow to save fuel ,about 45 to 50 ,but we're in no hurry but some behind us are sometimes ,lol.

[shortstuff]

Thanks Ice,

So far we haven't replaced a Standyne. Just fuel filter . If the injector is shot there won't be any bus, just a camper here at home for the visiters, haha.

We got a new battery, 1100 cca .Spins great but still won't crank .

Hubbys thinking theres air in fuel lines . It fired when he first tried it twice, then no more since.

He taking return fuel line off and pump until just fuel comes out in case of aie in lines . if this dosen't work, then it can sit until w can afford mechaic I guess.

I washed curtains in it and cleaned up some dust while he worked on it .

[shortstuff]

So far so good ! Shorty finally started . He hooked it up to can and put fuel line in the can, ran out the air and it started . Now for the fun part of cleaning deisel fuel tank .ALL SUGGESTIONS ACCEPTED .

I checked on insurence and for this 91 International, Thomas built 7.3 short school bus [24ft.long ] it is 269 for 6 mom.s . About the same as when we took off insur. and tag last year .

[yankeflyer]

Hubbys thinking theres air in fuel lines . It fired when he first tried it twice, then no more since.

He taking return fuel line off and pump until just fuel comes out in case of aie in lines . if this dosen't work, then it can sit until w can afford mechaic I guess.

probably correct there about air in the fuel lines, it has caused me some grief as well, this last time I conquered it with a electric fuel pump.

Once air has been compressed into cylinders without fuel, you have a situation were basically the injector, cannot overcome the compression in the cylinders, so they must be bled. The electric fuel pump is placed in the fuel system at a place where I can be assured that fuel is at the fuel injector at the initial start up. After that the fuel pump can be turned off as it is not necessary and it is undesirable leave the fuel pump running. I also added a section of clear fuel line so that I could observe the actual fuel flow.

My experience has been that this is only a problem when I leave the engine setting for weeks if not months without starting These days I run it every other day'. And I've had no problems sense.

[shortstuff]

Thanks guys ,

You've been lots og help to us . At least it's off the chcken pen now,haha. He can pull down the hood and get to the engine . When you hav a bus broke down theres not many things to pull it somewhere else .

I'm having technicle problems with my webtv today the little line is jumping .

[yankeflyer]

You can pressurize the fuel tank with a metal valve stem available at your local parts stor- see pic -http://www.skoolie.net/gallery2/v/Skoolies/84+Thomas/triptokla+088+_2_.jpg.html
http://www.skoolie.net/gallery2/v/Sk...8+_2_.jpg.html

[yankeflyer]

The fuel tank cap Is not airtight so no significant air pressure really builds up using the bicycle pump that I was using.

At the time the bus was parked at an unfortunate nose down angle and I felt the positive pressure could not hurt and may have future possibilities for locating air leaks and fuel leaks.

[shortstuff]

Thanks for replys . I have been busy so just getting back here .

I have a 7.3 diesel shorty International it weighs 10,000 lb.s . How many MPG should I get ? We never put pedal to flor, and seldom go over 55 or 60 at most .

[shortstuff]

Originally Posted by Nicky

Well i just spent a whole summer traveling my bus around to differnt parties all over BC (here in Canada) and all i have to say is.

THANK GOD FOR DUAL FUEL
The only time im using gas is up a hill, other then that im on propain baby and its CHEAP.
my bus doesnt do over 80km's an hour most of the time im driving it and has max weight were talking 10-19 people + everyones 5 days worth of camping gear food and water AND BOOZE.



PS i hope oil goes rly high cuz i RLY need to go back to work in the patch drilling for it i only have 40$ in the bank.... Gulp i think i can last 35 days on instant noodles and rice.

I did'nt know you could run on propane . Did it cost alot to convert it ?

[lapeer20m]

Originally Posted by meerkat

i read a bumper sticker on the back of an old model T this summer:

"this car only has 2 gears, you won't like the other one either!"