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Old 06-28-2018, 06:49 AM   #1
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Oil Leak on Auction Bus

There is a bus in auction that I am watching that says it has an oil leak but runs fine. How concerned should I be about the leak if the price is right? Thanks.

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Old 06-28-2018, 08:33 AM   #2
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as long

if you can keep enough oil in the engine then you just have to keep the level good. That could mean stopping and adding oil every 5 miles.... Just don't know until you can assess the leak. if the leak is from the rear main seal. you might have four hours labor to remove and replace the transmission, so what $90 an hour? plus $15 to $20 for a seal?

does this help you any?

william
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Old 06-28-2018, 08:41 AM   #3
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Not knowing the location or severity of the leak makes it pretty hard to give advice. A rule of thumb is that all school buses leak at least a little bit, so the fact that it has a leak isn't shocking or even interesting. But not all leaks are the same.
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Old 06-28-2018, 09:19 AM   #4
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if you can keep enough oil in the engine then you just have to keep the level good. That could mean stopping and adding oil every 5 miles.... Just don't know until you can assess the leak. if the leak is from the rear main seal. you might have four hours labor to remove and replace the transmission, so what $90 an hour? plus $15 to $20 for a seal?

does this help you any?

william
It does, thanks. I'm going to see if I can find out where the leak is.
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Old 06-28-2018, 09:19 AM   #5
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Not knowing the location or severity of the leak makes it pretty hard to give advice. A rule of thumb is that all school buses leak at least a little bit, so the fact that it has a leak isn't shocking or even interesting. But not all leaks are the same.
I'm going to see if I can find out where the leak is.
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Old 06-28-2018, 10:24 AM   #6
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if you can keep enough oil in the engine then you just have to keep the level good. That could mean stopping and adding oil every 5 miles.... Just don't know until you can assess the leak. if the leak is from the rear main seal. you might have four hours labor to remove and replace the transmission, so what $90 an hour? plus $15 to $20 for a seal?

does this help you any?

william
Last time I checked 2 places, mainseal replacement was $1300 and $1500. Where do you know that will do a tranny R&R for $380?
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Old 06-29-2018, 06:18 AM   #7
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When I asked where the leak was, I got this response.

Oil leaks in multiple places primarily side cover. Crank seal may need replaced as well.

Probably should stay away from that one?
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Old 06-29-2018, 07:22 AM   #8
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Again, without knowing the location *and severity* it's hard to say. Those places are going to leak a little bit on any bus.
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Old 06-29-2018, 07:25 AM   #9
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Again, without knowing the location *and severity* it's hard to say. Those places are going to leak a little bit on any bus.
I get it. I appreciate the input, at least I know a leak isn't the end of the world, depending on where it is and how severe it is. Thanks again.
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Old 06-29-2018, 07:31 AM   #10
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The reality is, most of us just let them leak. My short bus uses about a gallon of oil every 5000 miles and I'm happy with that, it holds almost 5 gallons of oil so that's a drop in the bucket.
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Old 06-29-2018, 07:34 AM   #11
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The reality is, most of us just let them leak. My short bus uses about a gallon of oil every 5000 miles and I'm happy with that, it holds almost 5 gallons of oil so that's a drop in the bucket.
That's good to know, what type of oil and how much does it cost? Thanks.
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Old 06-29-2018, 07:48 AM   #12
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The reality is, most of us just let them leak. My short bus uses about a gallon of oil every 5000 miles and I'm happy with that, it holds almost 5 gallons of oil so that's a drop in the bucket.
Also, how often are you changing the oil based on your "usage" of burned oil?
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Old 06-29-2018, 07:56 AM   #13
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both of my busses leave a few drops of oil on the ground every morning... I drive em both all over the country... check the oil at every fuel stop and occasionally I pour a little in..



since im changing the trans in one bus I may very well replace the leaking rear main seal in that one since ill be right there.. ever notice the trucker parking spaces at any rest area or truck stop? lots of oil stains on the ground and those guys are driving 1000s of miles a week in those trucks...



-Christopher
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Old 06-29-2018, 08:06 AM   #14
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I've got the T444E in my short bus, which Navistar specifies oil changes every 10k, and that's what I follow. With a couple top-offs in between of course.

My big bus has the cummins 5.9 which they specify 6000 mile intervals, and I haven't driven it enough yet to know how much it loses/consumes....
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Old 06-29-2018, 08:08 AM   #15
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as for oil changes.. i change oil in both my busses at 6k. and use Rotella-T4 15W40. I change the oil filters every 3k on both busses.. (one filter change in between oil changes)
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Old 06-29-2018, 08:25 AM   #16
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Ah yes I too use Rotella, you can buy it at Walmart in 2.5 gallon jugs. I bought the 5 gallon bucket once and it was too hard to work with and only about a dollar cheaper.
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Old 06-29-2018, 08:36 AM   #17
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same here on the 2.5 gallon jugs!
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Old 06-29-2018, 10:54 AM   #18
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That's good to know, what type of oil and how much does it cost? Thanks.
I get 5 gallon buckets of 15w40 for $35.
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Old 06-29-2018, 10:55 AM   #19
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Ah yes I too use Rotella, you can buy it at Walmart in 2.5 gallon jugs. I bought the 5 gallon bucket once and it was too hard to work with and only about a dollar cheaper.
They make a hand pump that goes on those buckets.
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Old 06-29-2018, 11:35 AM   #20
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I didn't have one at the time, so I used a red solo cup.

I should look into it though especially if I'm going to try doing the rural king discount diesel oil.
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