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Old 01-20-2019, 11:22 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Hager City WI
Posts: 36
Year: 1996
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT 466 Mechanical spicer 6+1. & 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 65
Tips in traveling in extreme cold

I have a DT 466 mechanical, I am going to be traveling about 400 miles total, however they are calling for the high temp of 3 Degrees. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help the reliability of having it be a successful trip.

Thanks!

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Old 01-20-2019, 11:33 PM   #2
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 218
Year: 1997
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: Genesis
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 84
  • Dress for outdoors while driving. It will likely be cold and breezy.
  • Don't turn off the engine.
  • Bring insulated beverage container of hot/warm beverage.
  • Consider 12v heated beverage holder.
  • Winter washer fluid.
  • Make sure wipers are not dead.
  • Drain the air tanks of water.
  • Figure out if heater loop is on and defroster works.
  • Make sure batteries are not near death.
  • Consider anti-gel additive to the diesel.

I live near Houston, but that seems a good starter list?
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Old 01-21-2019, 12:00 AM   #3
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Greater Boston
Posts: 504
^ Pretty much what he said.


Make sure that your water and waste tanks are either emptied, or won't freeze.

Find comfortable gloves - its really easy to put on a coat or a hat, but cold knuckles suck.
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Old 01-21-2019, 06:16 AM   #4
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 started the 800 mile trip home with icicles inside the bus when I bought the Ward Senator up in KY. It was like 10f.
Bus started with only one battery!
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Old 01-21-2019, 06:31 AM   #5
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
i do everything but dress for outside.. I toss my coat hat N gloves in the back seat and crank every heater theb us has up on high and leave them there.. then I open the driver window when it gets too hot.. keeps me nice N warm but not too hot and keeps the windows from fogging up.



if the heaters diont work in the bus I'll fix em or not drive it.. No bundling up and freezing for this boy inside a bus..



as for not turning off the engine.. be sure if you leave yoyr bus run for extended periods of time that you either set high idle, auto-idle adjust, or turn off your heater fans.. you can idle and have the engine stay warm but not with more than one heater fan on.. any more than that and you will cool the engine down.. diesels dont like idling cold..



there are stickers on the dash of both my diesel busses that say run up the RPMs when idling in cold weather.. if you plan on lots of cold weather travel where you might idle.. and are equipped with the DT-466E or T-444E.. enable the CAP setting in your computer.. it will automatically adjust your idle speed to maintain a coolant temp of 165-170. appratently from what ive read it also enables a protective shut-down mode so if your oil pressure drops or engine would happen to lose coolant and overheat that it will shut down..

-Christopher
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Old 01-21-2019, 07:30 AM   #6
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Picton,Ont, Can.
Posts: 1,956
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: GMC
Engine: Cat 3116
Rated Cap: 72
High temp of 3 should make that engine thrive on that drive. Don't get low on fuel or carry a few extra gallons to be sure. Cold weather eats it up quicker.
For comparison, this morning is -35C with windchill. Buses all ready to go but with winds at 22mph whiteouts are bad so somebody made the call to cancel the runs for school.
Whether C or F, -35 is deadly out here.


John
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