pro's and con's regarding external radiator side air dams for extra cooling

[luvrbus]

Rick, I have side cameras on my Eagle but still have the mirrors mine have to be switched manually ,they have a system now that automatically changes when using the turn signals next on my list of got to have

[buswarrior]

You want to kick whoever suggested to you that the mirrors obstruct enough wind to harm your fuel economy by a mile to the gallon. NOT true.

Folks, there is little that we, or the original owners of these coaches, who had a far bigger fuel bill than we'll ever see, can do to improve the fuel economy, short of just running the engine in the sweet spot, which means slower than the Warp speed that North Americans seem addicted to.

No effort or money spent by a busnut will ever be recouped in enough fuel savings to pay for the job.

Don't run the engine except to push the bus. stop idling. 8 cents of fuel a minute goes out the pipe on the idle, more on the fast idle. Accelerate with a gentle foot, don't floor it. Run at or below the speed limit, depending on your gearing. Nobody will mind, if you drive over in the right lane where a slower moving vehicle belongs. What treasures are you dragging around in the coach that should be staying at home?

Pushing wind, speed is your biggest variable, putting the coach on a diet will help a little.

As for the radiator scoops affecting fuel economy, the rad already sucks in vast quantities of air, which is as good as a wall, the scoops just make it easier for the fans to pull in a little bit more. You won't be able to measure the difference they may make in drag using your fuel bill.

So, here's another bunch of stuff you've read....

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[David Anderson]

Like Lin said, you need them most while climbing and that is when the speed is slow, so there will be little ram air effect.  Check out these old posts.  Maybe they will help.

David


http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=1464.0


http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=4808.0

[belfert]

Holding my throttle wide open and anything over 180 degrees.

If you are scared of anything over 180 degrees you would hate my Series 60.  It runs at 195 degrees all day long.  The mechanical temp gauge in the rear reads slightly higher.  Even crossing the Rockies on I80 I only went above 195 on one grade outside Salt Lake City.

Busted Knuckle says every factory installed Series 60 he has driven runs 195 to 200 all day long.

[luvrbus]

doesn't hurt a 2 stroke to run 195 all day either, I am not one for the band aid fixes i see guys running with the tail gate open spraying water with mister systems and home made air scoops if the engine is running hot there is a problem fix it and forget it

[Busted Knuckle]

Holding my throttle wide open and anything over 180 degrees.

If you are scared of anything over 180 degrees you would hate my Series 60.  It runs at 195 degrees all day long.  The mechanical temp gauge in the rear reads slightly higher.  Even crossing the Rockies on I80 I only went above 195 on one grade outside Salt Lake City.

Busted Knuckle says every factory installed Series 60 he has driven runs 195 to 200 all day long.

Brian while it is true that I did in fact tell you this. It was before we replaced the air to air charge cooler, and thoroughly cleaned the radiator out on my '95 Setra 45' 60 Series and B500! It now cruises all day long @160-165-170 while on cruise control.(yes I do use it as it saves fuel @ 74 instead of 80+/- mph). And for those time when I put my foot in it and "let 'r roll" at +/- warp speed it still never gets over 180-185!
So while all the others I have previously operated have run 195-200 all day long (including my 45' Setra running 200-210 all day long before the cleaning of the radiator and replacing the air to air cooler!), I have since found out that when RIGHT they do run cooler and better! FWIW  BK  

[belfert]

I've had the intercooler cleaned and holes fixed and replaced the radiator, water pump, and thermostats and it still runs at 195 degrees.

I'm not worried about it since it no longer rises above 195 degrees.  It used to start rising on the slightest grade.

[Lin]

BK,
     Are the scoops you have like the ones on Fred Hobe's site?  I though his were actually built onto the screen.  If they would work with my 5a, I'll take them if they are not spoken for.

[Busted Knuckle]

BK,
     Are the scoops you have like the ones on Fred Hobe's site?  I though his were actually built onto the screen.  If they would work with my 5a, I'll take them if they are not spoken for.

Lin,
I believe you meant BW, as I don't have any! No problem, just thought I'd correct it so BW would get the credit.    BK 

[Lin]

Boy, is my face red!  I've got to learn which way to point that rattle can.

BW, are you out there?

[buswarrior]

I have a pair of the smaller fibreglass ones that you rivet or bolt up to the back of the screens hiding somewhere in the shop, not the bigger ones that Fred has shown on his site.

As for the slower speed of hill climbing, you still get a breeze at 30 mph that can be taken advantage of...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Lin]

If I am going to do it, it might as well be as large as reasonable.  Besides, I like the idea of having them built onto the screens.  Thanks,

[Tony LEE]

Don't know about there, but here in Oz, only side-lights and rear-view mirrors are exempted from the width measurement. Anything else sticking out has to be within the 2500mm (98 1/2") maximum width. Adding a couple of Fred's scoops would put it over the limit.

[luvrbus]

Tony, here it is 102 inches and mirrors are exempt   
good luck

[buswarrior]

Fred's 3" scoops on a 96" wide coach keep it within the allowable North American 102" width.

The newer 102 wide coaches have larger radiators to begin with, so the playing field starts off on higher ground if you are in need of re-power cooling.

happy coaching!
buswarrior