Gaining Fuel Economy with the Cummins 5.9L

[GreyEagle]

You didn't say from where you would be coming but???
If at all possible use I-80 ........ pretty much flat except for the climb out of Utah into Wyoming.......
or drop down to I-40....... I-70 is a heck of a climb but the scenery is much better than I-80 or I-40......
Best of luck either way..... have a safe trip.

[crazycal]

My guess is you have an AT545 trans with a non locking TC. Change it to a MT643 and you'll probably pickup 1-2 mpg. I doubt the aftermarket intake breathes more than what is already on your bus.

[opus]

More air in, more air out is the ticket. No gimmicks needed. Make it a leisurely trip and you'll do your best economy....but you probably knew that.

[keith]

i pull off my muffer off and put a cold air box on ,5.9 at 545 and i get 13 mpg for a 72 passger bus. that big air filler on the bus that came with it.it reduce the air flow,so rerout the air intake and put a dodge air filer on it for a cummins.

[bansil]

Keith
I am about to pull muffler off and move exhaust to the pass side to make room for some tanks etc.

How loud is it inside your bus?

I know the pickups here with 6 and 8 in exhaust and no mufflers are stupid loud; I plan to just cut off the 4 foot tip and then cut off muffler and reattatch the original size

I plan the air filter mod also...once the ground dries enuf to lay on it

[keith]

I cut mine off at the back wheels area just in front of the axels and face it down and i don't even here it,i use all the pipe i toke off. MY bus just had a new muffer put on befor i bought it,,so if anyone needs a new one,,here it sits


also the cold air box is just behine the bumper alone the frame... makes that tubo sing

[bansil]

Mine runs down pass frame,and then after the 4 foot muffler,it swoops in a big circle and passes over to the driverside (all that extra tubing just so kids didn't get smoked out when dropped off at the curb at school)

[keith]

yep b/b did all there that way. fed law

[frank-id]

Removing a muffler on a 5.9 is a good thing as the turbo reduces any loud exhaust. Consider leaving about 5-6 ft of exhaust under bus and install a 90 degree fitting to direct exhaust to the side of bus.
TC means torque converter which is the coupling between engine and transmission. The Allison MT643 has a lock up converter. The AT 454 cannot be retrofitted with a lock up converter. Consider changing the rear axle gears for better economy. For a bit more power, consider water/alcohol, LPG, or nitrous gas. Check lots at google. Frank
Remember advice is worth what is paid. Not all advice is good. Use lots of research to prove every bit of information.

[frank-id]

In many cases, advice has a value equal to any payment. He said, she said, is bad information. Get a measuring device and go to a tire store and measure lots of tires with 22.5 and 24.5 wheel size. I think there is about just 1 inch difference. Rear gear change is the best for making better fuel economy. Frank

[opus]

I agree, gear change

[bansil]

Originally Posted by Omerta

When looking to save on fuel economy these are the the first to cross my mind:


Subtle aero mods

Does this mean waxing the bus

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A brick is a brick after all

[keith]

tire on mine 12 x 22.5 from a 10x 22.5 pick up 3 miles an hour. biger the tire,lest the roution