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View Poll Results: What kind of mileage do you get?
3-5 with Gas 13 2.97%
5-7 with Gas 40 9.15%
7-10 with Gas 46 10.53%
10+ with Gas 18 4.12%
3-5 with Diesel 2 0.46%
5-7 with Diesel 27 6.18%
7-10 with Diesel 160 36.61%
10+ with Diesel 131 29.98%
Voters: 437. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 11-05-2015, 07:31 AM   #101
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 218
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP ER
Engine: Cat 3126b 210 HP 605 ftlbs
Quote:
Originally Posted by porkchopsandwiches View Post
On our 9,000 mile trip this summer, the trip average in my 1999 Thomas bus with 3126b CAT (electronic engine) and 6-speed Allison MD3060 (6th gear enabled), cruising at 65 with foot buried most of the trip, weighing in at about 24,500 lbs, we averaged 8.2 mpg. Best was 9.3 going SE through Yellowstone on 287, worst was on PCH (route 1) at about 6.5 (constant hills and stop-and-go letting people pass).

Edit: 4.62 rear gears turning ~2,100 rpm at 65.
Porkchop,

Did your bus come stock with the 4.62 or did you change the carrier?

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Old 11-12-2015, 04:35 PM   #102
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Maryland / Boulder
Posts: 347
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: CAT 3126b Rotella-Chugger
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by ism minerals View Post
Porkchop,

Did your bus come stock with the 4.62 or did you change the carrier?
I do not know for a fact that it is 4.62 but judging by RPM at 65 and wheel diameter, I calculated it to be 4.62. I did not touch it, it came with it if it is in fact a 4.62.
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Old 11-13-2015, 08:55 PM   #103
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Snowflake, Arizona
Posts: 343
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American Rear Engine
Engine: C-8.3-300 Cummins MD3060
Rated Cap: 40 Prisoners
By my calculation if you sixth gear is opened up it is .65 ratio overdrive and you have
11X22.5 tires with a diameter of 41.3 inches and your doing 65 miles per hour at
2100 rpm that would make the rear differential ratio 6.2 or there abouts. My bus has
5.38 differential ratio and 43 inch diameter tires 12X22.5 tires running only 5th gear
which is .75 ratio overdrive, at 2000 RPM I am doing 65 MPH.
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Old 11-27-2015, 03:57 PM   #104
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: HDX
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
I averaged 7.5 on a trip from Kanakee, IL to Billings, MT.
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Old 02-10-2016, 05:11 PM   #105
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 66
Year: 1956
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: Ford B-600
Engine: Ford Big Block FE
1047 miles from Allenton, WI to Charleston, SC. 7.6 MPG.
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Old 02-10-2016, 06:26 PM   #106
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,343
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 2 elderly children, 1 cat
After almost 5000mi, still at 11.5 mpg. We tow almost always with 2 setups. One is 3200# the other 4500#. Not towing= SAME!
20,000# verified wt, 5.9 185hp w/545. 3:54 ratio and 55-60 mph.
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Old 02-10-2016, 07:18 PM   #107
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 13
Year: 1971
Coachwork: Gillig
Chassis: 743
Engine: Cummins Diesel
With my Gillig its gallons per mile
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Old 04-04-2016, 09:52 AM   #108
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 3
fuel mileage

We want to buy a school bus to make a rv. Looking at two the first one is a 8.2 diesel allison trans. The second one is a 454 chevy 5 speed . Can someone give me an estamat on fuel mileage for both?
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Old 04-04-2016, 09:55 AM   #109
Bus Geek
 
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Numerous other factors. Size of bus...gear ratios for trans & rear end...tire size...normally aspirated or turbocharged...intercooler (diesel only)...

That said...most any diesel will get better mpg than the 454. Anyone else care to chime in here?
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Old 04-04-2016, 10:03 AM   #110
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,343
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 2 elderly children, 1 cat
FWIW my 454 powered 10,000lb MH got 5-7.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:38 PM   #111
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2kool4skool View Post
FWIW my 454 powered 10,000lb MH got 5-7.
what transmission auto or standard?
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Old 04-04-2016, 02:33 PM   #112
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,760
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
my last bus was a shortie blue bird with a 454 Chevy in it that I did some work on to make it nice N fresh.. cammed with an RV cam and it got 5-6 on average.. I dont know the exact transmission... 545 maybe? it was a 4 speed auto

-Christopher
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Old 04-04-2016, 02:37 PM   #113
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Posts: 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by joey View Post
what transmission auto or standard?
5 speed standard
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Old 04-04-2016, 02:52 PM   #114
Bus Geek
 
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
I'd hold out for a better drivetrain than gas or the fuel pincher.
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Old 04-04-2016, 02:56 PM   #115
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,343
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 2 elderly children, 1 cat
Quote:
Originally Posted by joey View Post
what transmission auto or standard?
th400....,
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Old 05-22-2016, 11:05 PM   #116
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 404
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird Mini-Bird 24'
Chassis: Chevy P30
Engine: Chevy 6.2L Diesel
Normally I get ~13-15 mpg, although I'm having a transmission problem with a shift solenoid that's keeping me out of overdrive, so it's 7-8 at the moment.
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Old 08-04-2016, 06:34 PM   #117
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 64
I recently purchased a 92 ford b600 bluebird 52 passenger bus. It also has the 6.6 inline diesel in it. I get from 10- 15 mpg with it. Its also a 10 speed manual transmission so maybe that has something to do with it.
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Old 01-19-2017, 02:00 AM   #118
Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Tavares, Florida
Posts: 157
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: Caterpillar 3116
Rated Cap: 78?
Around ten mpg with the old Bluebird, 6.6L Caterpillar 3116, auto, empty tanks on the road. Around 65 on the flats, not too shaby.
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Old 02-23-2017, 10:08 PM   #119
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: GMC B6000
Engine: 350 on Propane
Rated Cap: 24
Not an option on the poll: 5-6 on Propane

24 Passenger, 350 with manual 5 speed
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Old 02-23-2017, 10:47 PM   #120
Bus Nut
 
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 272
Year: 1998
Chassis: TC 2000 bluebird
Engine: 5.9 cummins
Rated Cap: 66
I have a 1998 Bluebird 34' tc2000 with a 6bt 5.9 cummins. I got 9.98mpg driving it from Baltimore Maryland to Saginaw Mi before the conversion.

We will see what it gats after.

Bill
Michigan
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