Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-16-2019, 11:02 AM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 4
Year: 1999
Coachwork: International
Chassis: Bluebird
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 32
T444E Running Hot - Question

Hi All,
I have a bus I need to get out of the Mountains to a repair shop 500km away.

It's running at 220 on the flats and will have some climbs to make on the icefields parkway out of Jasper.
Would you guys run a Bus at 220 - 230 for 500km?

Thanks

88Busescape is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 11:47 AM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
Not unless you wanna risk ruining the engine ... however, is it actually running 220, or is the gauge showing a wrong reading?
Brad_SwiftFur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 11:49 AM   #3
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Foot of the siskiyou mountains Oregon.
Posts: 222
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas / international
Chassis: International
Engine: Dt 360/ spicer 5 speed
Rated Cap: 42
I wouldn't do it! I think that could be asking for trouble. I have seen many a post in the skoolie comunity about the t444e running hot. My best guess is that there cooling system is at capacity and can't take many blows. Clogged radiator, week or inadequate fan clutch,failing water pump, low coolant could all be factors. I would get it looked at asap. If the fan clutch is up for replacement maybe try a heavier duty version as I have read about that being a long term fix. Some have had success adding an electric aux. Fan on the radiator to help increase airflow. That's my 2¢ anyway. Good luck
SolomonEagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 12:04 PM   #4
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 4
Year: 1999
Coachwork: International
Chassis: Bluebird
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 32
Thanks Guys,

Brad....we are looking the gauge to see if it is working correctly.

Two issues with getting it fixed in Jasper...It's really busy and expensive but I understand...engine damage is also expensive.
88Busescape is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 01:00 PM   #5
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by 88Busescape View Post
Thanks Guys,

Brad....we are looking the gauge to see if it is working correctly.

Two issues with getting it fixed in Jasper...It's really busy and expensive but I understand...engine damage is also expensive.

Simple suggestion - get one of those non-contact thermometers and get a reading off the hose/radiator when the engine is at temperature. Within 5-10 degrees, the gauge is probably accurate, or "close enough".


As for why it's running so warm, there's a dozen possible causes, and with an older bus, it's likely a combination of several simply due to age and wear. How old is the coolant? Is it full? Is the thermostat faulty? Is the system partly clogged or is the coolant sludge? Is the fan engaging at around 210 (it should be)? How's the water pump and belts? So many factors at play here.
Brad_SwiftFur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 01:04 PM   #6
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
And when I ask if the fan is engaging, I don't just mean "turning a little bit". I mean is it "engaging" and moving a *LOT* of air?


I had a vehicle that had a tendency to run warm/hot and I carefully pressure washed the radiator from behind, careful to aim "straight on" and not bend any of the fins. I washed out several pounds of dirt and debris, greatly improving cooling with a $2.00 car-wash fix.
Brad_SwiftFur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 01:18 PM   #7
Skoolie
 
WARGEAR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Fingerlakes region NY
Posts: 204
Year: 1999
Coachwork: AmTran/Wolfington
Chassis: 3800
Engine: International DT466E 190HP variant
Rated Cap: 72 pax 29500 GVWR
What speed and RPMs are you running at? If your goal is to “limp” to a shop you can keep the engine safe by reducing speed and engine load.

Check what you can fix without tools:

Blockage in front of radiator?
Low coolant level?
Coolant boiling?

Simple things like that. Next step would be to get a thermometer of some kind that can measure the temp of the radiator. Perhaps the gauge is inaccurate. Most here are familiar with the terrible IH gauge clusters. If the gauge is accurate and you’re hellbent on getting to that one shop, baby the motor all the way there. Stop frequently, check for leaks, allow the engine to cool if it does at idle. I’ve been in your scenario a couple times. Patience is required!

Let us know how it goes!

-Nick
WARGEAR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 01:30 PM   #8
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
Hopefully you won't have to resort to such an extreme, but ...


a 500KM tow bill would still be cheaper than a ruined engine.
Brad_SwiftFur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 11:21 AM   #9
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 4
Year: 1999
Coachwork: International
Chassis: Bluebird
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 32
Thanks for all the suggestions big and small.
When I can get a ride to Jasper I'm going to give a go.

Thanks again.
88Busescape is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2019, 08:58 PM   #10
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 4
Year: 1999
Coachwork: International
Chassis: Bluebird
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 32
Thumbs up

Well...I made it.
7 hours and 60 litres of water to cover 420 km the bus travelled from Jasper to Red Deer.
We stopped every 100km to let the engine cool and add fluids. I did not know at the time but the rad cap was shot so the coolant was steaming out.

Replaced the viscous clutch with an electric clutch, new rad cap, thermostat and water pump.

Bus is running at 180, much better than 235

Now to install a toilet.

Thanks to ETR trucking in Red Deer for fixing me up.
88Busescape is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2019, 10:27 PM   #11
Skoolie
 
WARGEAR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Fingerlakes region NY
Posts: 204
Year: 1999
Coachwork: AmTran/Wolfington
Chassis: 3800
Engine: International DT466E 190HP variant
Rated Cap: 72 pax 29500 GVWR
Good job! Glad to hear it
WARGEAR is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:45 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.