Jsneeb
Senior Member
Hi Folks,
I have owned Hoodoo, my 2002 Bluebird TC1000 Cummins 24V for 6 years now, and in the time I have owned it I have been the only one to do any work / maintenance to it. Meanwhile I had been putting away 1500-2000 per year for emergency maintenance fund, like if an engine or trans blew. But in the 6 years that has never been touched and is now a pretty hefty emergency fund. I would like to take the chance to use some of the money for more in depth preventative maintenance but I'm not sure what would be the best spend of the money.
Below is a comprehensive list of everything that has been done to the bus under my ownership and estimated mileages ( estimated because Odo doesn't work unless I plug in a computer to read it ) Doesn't include oil changes but rest assured those were done every 5000 miles or ever year if the bus was sitting, same goes for air filter which is regularly blown out with compressed air. Every other year I send in oil for analysis at Blackstone labs and it's come back good every time.
2019- 200,000 - Bus purchased
2019 - 200,000 - Two new batteries
2019- 200,000 - Air brake service at truck shop ( replaced air dryer cartridge, fixed a few slow leaks on air brake lines and inspected brake system, inspected OK )
2020 - 210,000- Crankshaft position sensor started flaking out - replaced with OEM
2020 - 210,000- Both fuel filters
2020- 215,000 - two new front tires
2020- 215,000 - greased every grease point on brakes suspension and driveline
2021- 225,000 - four used rear tires ( but only 3 years old )
2021 - 225,000- both fuel filters
2021- 225,000 - greased every grease point on brakes suspension and driveline
2022- 230,000 - oil pressure sensor died - replaced with aftermarket sensor
2023- 235,000 - replaced both trans filters,
2023 - 235,000 - replaced air brake cartridge again
2023- 235,000 - replaced both fuel filters
2023 - 240,000 - greased every grease point on brakes suspension and driveline
2023 - 240,000 - attempted to replace coolant but after draining it looked totally clean and fresh. put back old coolant.
2023 -240,000 - purchased 6 brand new Bosch injectors but never installed them.
2023 - 240,000 - replaced U join ( just to see if I could do it with the tools I carry onboard the bus )
2023 - 240,000 - replaced all silicone boost joints / couplings.
2024 - 250,000 - Brake system inspected again, mechanic said no need to replace anything
2025 - 255,000 - Two new front tires ( 5 year old fronts rotated to rear dual insides )
2026 - 255,000 - one new battery.
2026 - 255,000 - greased every grease point on brakes, suspension, and driveline.
So here is what I'm thinking but also looking for feedback and suggestions on what is important to do at this time. I can handle tasks like oil / filters / greasing / or inspection of regular items but cant do much that needs heavy tools.
1: Replace fan belt? ( it looks totally ok but its over 6 years old and looks like a PITA to replace - Id be happy to pay someone to do it rather than me have to do it on side of the road.
2: Inspect air brake system again?
3: replace air bags on air ride suspension ( they have dry rotting and cracks visible )
4: Replace suspension / torsion bar bushings ( they are cracked or broken but dont make any noise or anything )
5: Trans fluid flush and replace?
6: Trans has a slow leak, has had it since i bought the bus, get it fixed? ( leaks ~~ 1.5 Qt per year )
7: Replace hub oil on the front wheels?
8: Differential fluid flush and replace?
9: Get an ECM tune for more power?
Open to any and all ideas - Aftermarket fuel pressure gauge so I can monitor my Vp44? - KDP preemptive fix? - water methanol injection? - have a shop tear down the engine for an in-frame refresh/rebuild?
Overall the bus runs perfectly fine, start up hot or cold, doesn't smoke. Shifts ok in all gears, steers straight, gets 9.5-10.5mpg.
I'm in this unusual position that I have about 10 grand burning a hole in my wallet that I have allocated for bus maintenance-ing so what should I best spend it on?
I have owned Hoodoo, my 2002 Bluebird TC1000 Cummins 24V for 6 years now, and in the time I have owned it I have been the only one to do any work / maintenance to it. Meanwhile I had been putting away 1500-2000 per year for emergency maintenance fund, like if an engine or trans blew. But in the 6 years that has never been touched and is now a pretty hefty emergency fund. I would like to take the chance to use some of the money for more in depth preventative maintenance but I'm not sure what would be the best spend of the money.
Below is a comprehensive list of everything that has been done to the bus under my ownership and estimated mileages ( estimated because Odo doesn't work unless I plug in a computer to read it ) Doesn't include oil changes but rest assured those were done every 5000 miles or ever year if the bus was sitting, same goes for air filter which is regularly blown out with compressed air. Every other year I send in oil for analysis at Blackstone labs and it's come back good every time.
2019- 200,000 - Bus purchased
2019 - 200,000 - Two new batteries
2019- 200,000 - Air brake service at truck shop ( replaced air dryer cartridge, fixed a few slow leaks on air brake lines and inspected brake system, inspected OK )
2020 - 210,000- Crankshaft position sensor started flaking out - replaced with OEM
2020 - 210,000- Both fuel filters
2020- 215,000 - two new front tires
2020- 215,000 - greased every grease point on brakes suspension and driveline
2021- 225,000 - four used rear tires ( but only 3 years old )
2021 - 225,000- both fuel filters
2021- 225,000 - greased every grease point on brakes suspension and driveline
2022- 230,000 - oil pressure sensor died - replaced with aftermarket sensor
2023- 235,000 - replaced both trans filters,
2023 - 235,000 - replaced air brake cartridge again
2023- 235,000 - replaced both fuel filters
2023 - 240,000 - greased every grease point on brakes suspension and driveline
2023 - 240,000 - attempted to replace coolant but after draining it looked totally clean and fresh. put back old coolant.
2023 -240,000 - purchased 6 brand new Bosch injectors but never installed them.
2023 - 240,000 - replaced U join ( just to see if I could do it with the tools I carry onboard the bus )
2023 - 240,000 - replaced all silicone boost joints / couplings.
2024 - 250,000 - Brake system inspected again, mechanic said no need to replace anything
2025 - 255,000 - Two new front tires ( 5 year old fronts rotated to rear dual insides )
2026 - 255,000 - one new battery.
2026 - 255,000 - greased every grease point on brakes, suspension, and driveline.
So here is what I'm thinking but also looking for feedback and suggestions on what is important to do at this time. I can handle tasks like oil / filters / greasing / or inspection of regular items but cant do much that needs heavy tools.
1: Replace fan belt? ( it looks totally ok but its over 6 years old and looks like a PITA to replace - Id be happy to pay someone to do it rather than me have to do it on side of the road.
2: Inspect air brake system again?
3: replace air bags on air ride suspension ( they have dry rotting and cracks visible )
4: Replace suspension / torsion bar bushings ( they are cracked or broken but dont make any noise or anything )
5: Trans fluid flush and replace?
6: Trans has a slow leak, has had it since i bought the bus, get it fixed? ( leaks ~~ 1.5 Qt per year )
7: Replace hub oil on the front wheels?
8: Differential fluid flush and replace?
9: Get an ECM tune for more power?
Open to any and all ideas - Aftermarket fuel pressure gauge so I can monitor my Vp44? - KDP preemptive fix? - water methanol injection? - have a shop tear down the engine for an in-frame refresh/rebuild?
Overall the bus runs perfectly fine, start up hot or cold, doesn't smoke. Shifts ok in all gears, steers straight, gets 9.5-10.5mpg.
I'm in this unusual position that I have about 10 grand burning a hole in my wallet that I have allocated for bus maintenance-ing so what should I best spend it on?
