Got A Work Van On GovDeals Today!

[cadillackid]

I change my oil filter every 3,000 miles and oil every 6000 on the busses...

fuel filter every year or every 15k (whichever comes first)..


coolant on the red bus I test but its 150k / 15 year coolant.. and i rarely add any .. it doesnt go down much at all..



coolant on the DEV I test with strips several times a year.. its the green stuff ao it'll probably get changed this spring.



I wont change a water pump unless its starting to seep or I noticed there is a little more play in the bearing than i like... I chanjged the water pump i nthe red bus a couple years ago as I noticed a bit of play in the bearing when I had the bus apart already so i changed it..



dognose busses are easy to work on compared to others.. as much fun as i think it would be to have one of those shortie flat nose thomas busses.. I dont like the PITA they are to work on...

-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I only change my oil like once a year on everything. You've seen me change oil on buses which is really rare on this site! You've got the wrong idea totally. I do change my oil but no more than anyone is supposed to. I change synthetic every 5k but conventional every 2-3 thousand. I do own a LOT of machines that require oil changes, but that's cool I like machines.

Once a year on the vehicle you keep. How many vehicles have you owned in the last 18 months?

How old is the oil in your bus?

More than 2 yrs old. It's been used twice in that time; driving back from WV where I bought it and once to Watkins Glen and back (~400 miles). The coolant was a super bright green when I picked up the bus, got a good vibe from Charlie Justice (can't make up names like that) at the school yard. Haven't changed any of the fluids on the bus (yet). But then it doesn't go anywhere either. The last time it moved was in 2018 when I pulled it forward 60 feet so I could move it over a couple of inches from the trailer next to me. Backed it up and got it where I wanted it the first try. Round trip... 120 feet and that's being generous. Probably closer to 100 feet.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

dognose busses are easy to work on compared to others.. as much fun as i think it would be to have one of those shortie flat nose thomas busses.. I dont like the PITA they are to work on...

-Christopher

Knock on wood and all that jazz but if/when I have to work on mine, I'm hoping the RE will make it easy. I've been back there several times and everything looks easy to get at but then I haven't tried pulling the radiator or turbo. Those look the toughest.

[Sleddgracer]

someone should invent a quick release for the drive line and a slide out for the motor and transmission for all the 'hard-to-get-at-the-motor' vehicles - lol

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Once a year on the vehicle you keep. How many vehicles have you owned in the last 18 months?

In 18 months we just drove the van and subaru. This year I've changed the van oil once before selling it and the subaru got changed and is good for another year.
More than 2 yrs old. It's been used twice in that time; driving back from WV where I bought it and once to Watkins Glen and back (~400 miles). The coolant was a super bright green when I picked up the bus, got a good vibe from Charlie Justice (can't make up names like that) at the school yard. Haven't changed any of the fluids on the bus (yet). But then it doesn't go anywhere either. The last time it moved was in 2018 when I pulled it forward 60 feet so I could move it over a couple of inches from the trailer next to me. Backed it up and got it where I wanted it the first try. Round trip... 120 feet and that's being generous. Probably closer to 100 feet.

Since you've known me I've had a 98 GMC, 2003 Dodge van, and now this truck. My wife has been driving my Subaru since we've been together although her stepmom gave us a barely running 03 Focus. I put about $400 into the focus since it was free and we proceeded to enjoy it for about a year. Then we sold it for $1200 to a friend.
I bought a cop car for $1200 and then sold it for $2900. I'd put about $150 into that car.

I've had several buses but admittedly YEAH buses are totally just a hobby. I've not lost any money on this hobby though. Even with losing money on one I'm still ahead.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

In 18 months we just drove the van and subaru. This year I've changed the van oil once before selling it and the subaru got changed and is good for another year.


Since you've known me I've had a 98 GMC, 2003 Dodge van, and now this truck.

Fair enough. Was thinking it was more than that. Maybe it's the buses I was thinking about.

I've had several buses but admittedly YEAH buses are totally just a hobby. I've not lost any money on this hobby though. Even with losing money on one I'm still ahead.

So long as you don't mind the effort and stay in the black it's all good.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Fair enough. Was thinking it was more than that. Maybe it's the buses I was thinking about.


So long as you don't mind the effort and stay in the black it's all good.

FFS Bob, I'm loving life, man.

Gona sell a couple moped projects if anyone is interested in some Tomos stuff. And I'm gona get rid of a few extra lawn tools. I've been cleaning out the garage slowly. Getting ready to rebuild the roof out there.
Once we sell the Sube and a few other things I'll have some bus money again.
I do plan to get started on the paint and body of the bus now that I've got my own wheels again. Got new insurance for only $168 a year on the bus!!!! AND got it retitled as MH so I'm a paint job away from parking it in my own yard!!!!!


Happy as a clam here, man!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

I change my oil filter every 3,000 miles and oil every 6000 on the busses...

fuel filter every year or every 15k (whichever comes first)..


coolant on the red bus I test but its 150k / 15 year coolant.. and i rarely add any .. it doesnt go down much at all..



coolant on the DEV I test with strips several times a year.. its the green stuff ao it'll probably get changed this spring.



I wont change a water pump unless its starting to seep or I noticed there is a little more play in the bearing than i like... I chanjged the water pump i nthe red bus a couple years ago as I noticed a bit of play in the bearing when I had the bus apart already so i changed it..



dognose busses are easy to work on compared to others.. as much fun as i think it would be to have one of those shortie flat nose thomas busses.. I dont like the PITA they are to work on...

-Christopher

The guy who's had the truck since 2006 told me beforehand that the radiator was original to the truck and in his opinion should be replaced. It doesn't leak and its working but its just pitiful to look at lol.
Can't mess around with cooling systems here so I'm going to heed his advice. I can get an upgraded aluminum 4 core for a couple hundred and the water pump is thirty bucks. The hoses and belts appear to be nearly new so I will hold off on those. But I'll pop for a new pump and t-stat when I do the rad.
Since this engine has less than 5k miles on it I want to make sure its up to snuff so I can maximize its lifespan. I figure I'll get it running perfect and dialed in and have a nice solid truck for a while. Unless someone wants to come along and triple my money on the truck! lol

[Mountain Gnome]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

I change my oil filter every 3,000 miles and oil every 6000 on the busses...

fuel filter every year or every 15k (whichever comes first)..


coolant on the red bus I test but its 150k / 15 year coolant.. and i rarely add any .. it doesnt go down much at all..



dognose busses are easy to work on compared to others.. as much fun as i think it would be to have one of those shortie flat nose thomas busses.. I dont like the PITA they are to work on...

-Christopher

I've done 3 oil changes, with filter, in 10,000 miles, and changed the tranny oil and spin-filters twice since then, tranny pickup filter once.

I change the fuel filter with the oil.

Water pump was caught dripping after a blown 20-year-old hose left me stranded and near overheated. All new hose front to back was done then.


In the process, I took the front bumper off, and the front grill, turbo intercooler, and radiator. Working on the water pump was super easy then. The dognose bus I looked at before I bought mine looked like I would need to be on a ladder, straining my lower back, as I hang over the wheel well to reach down into the motor compartment to access the water pump, or, pull the grill, intercooler, and radiator.


Looks to me like I could roll the whole motor and tranny combo out the front on 4 floor jacks to change it, as opposed to needing a lift or a-frame hoist.


The interior lets me sit next to the top of the motor to work on it, no ladder or reaching or straining.


My 1977 Dodge Van was like this. Easy to work on. My friend's Ford van motor was centered under the firewall, and was a pain-in-the-ass to work on.



As a mechanic, my biggest complaint is the stress on my knees and lower back as I lean over a motor compartment for a long time (as a small-framed skinny guy, I would often remove radiators and fans, and climb right in with the engine; the other mechanics would just look in wonder...). I don't have to do that with my bus so I'm not sure I agree with the "easier to work on" thing, but then I never actually owned or worked on a dognose bus!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Mountain Gnome

I've done 3 oil changes, with filter, in 10,000 miles, and changed the tranny oil and spin-filters twice since then, tranny pickup filter once.

I change the fuel filter with the oil.

Water pump was caught dripping after a blown 20-year-old hose left me stranded and near overheated. All new hose front to back was done then.


In the process, I took the front bumper off, and the front grill, turbo intercooler, and radiator. Working on the water pump was super easy then. The dognose bus I looked at before I bought mine looked like I would need to be on a ladder, straining my lower back, as I hang over the wheel well to reach down into the motor compartment to access the water pump, or, pull the grill, intercooler, and radiator.


Looks to me like I could roll the whole motor and tranny combo out the front on 4 floor jacks to change it, as opposed to needing a lift or a-frame hoist.


The interior lets me sit next to the top of the motor to work on it, no ladder or reaching or straining.


My 1977 Dodge Van was like this. Easy to work on. My friend's Ford van motor was centered under the firewall, and was a pain-in-the-ass to work on.



As a mechanic, my biggest complaint is the stress on my knees and lower back as I lean over a motor compartment for a long time (as a small-framed skinny guy, I would often remove radiators and fans, and climb right in with the engine; the other mechanics would just look in wonder...). I don't have to do that with my bus so I'm not sure I agree with the "easier to work on" thing, but then I never actually owned or worked on a dognose bus!

I've had FE and CE and the engine in FE is much harder to get at. BB has a bit better engine access on their FE models than the IC's.

[Kubla]

I have never changed the oil on my golf, never plan to �� both the buses up here need oil and filter jobs

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Kubla

I have never changed the oil on my golf, never plan to �� both the buses up here need oil and filter jobs

had a neighbor who was a heavy duty mechanic who was adamant about oil changes - his brother in law was a salesman who drove 100,000 miles per year ( back in the days when 80,000 miles was VERY high mileage on a car ) - granted it was all highway driving and virtually no short trips to the corner store - the brother in law never changed oil in his car because he bought a new one every year, and claimed he saved all that money he would have spent on oil changes - the two of them would come close to blows about the pros and cons of oil changes - lol

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

had a neighbor who was a heavy duty mechanic who was adamant about oil changes - his brother in law was a salesman who drove 100,000 miles per year ( back in the days when 80,000 miles was VERY high mileage on a car ) - granted it was all highway driving and virtually no short trips to the corner store - the brother in law never changed oil in his car because he bought a new one every year, and claimed he saved all that money he would have spent on oil changes - the two of them would come close to blows about the pros and cons of oil changes - lol

That many miles and he's going to trade it in anyway, I'm with the B-I-L.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

That many miles and he's going to trade it in anyway, I'm with the B-I-L.

I always thought he had a point, but I kept my mouth shut - lol

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

had a neighbor who was a heavy duty mechanic who was adamant about oil changes - his brother in law was a salesman who drove 100,000 miles per year ( back in the days when 80,000 miles was VERY high mileage on a car ) - granted it was all highway driving and virtually no short trips to the corner store - the brother in law never changed oil in his car because he bought a new one every year, and claimed he saved all that money he would have spent on oil changes - the two of them would come close to blows about the pros and cons of oil changes - lol

The golf in question is electric.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

The golf in question is electric.

and then there is that

[EastCoastCB]

Truck got a new steering stabilizer/damper this week. Big difference.
The old one had literally lost its guts and was just a rod rattling around in a tube with the bushings long gone too.
Not too bad, only $30.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Truck got a new steering stabilizer/damper this week. Big difference.
The old one had literally lost its guts and was just a rod rattling around in a tube with the bushings long gone too.
Not too bad, only $30.

Should have used an old tire found in the field and cut your own.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Should have used an old tire found in the field and cut your own.

LoL
Its a hydraulic shock absorber, man.

[EastCoastCB]

Next up will be the brake booster and M/C. Looks like about $120 for both and a fairly easy job.

And eventually I want to start getting the engine tuned. Its most likely in a rich mode due to the emissions stuff being chucked. Still gets WAY better mpg's than the van did. Probably 50% better.