Something to ponder over??? School Buses in disguise

[bubblerboy64]

Hi Jon, I am with you on this! The part about hoping for a lot more
miles on the ole 3208. Very complex subject for which I have no real
knowledge or understanding. I think if you studied the way the these
3208 cats are used in wanderlodges there might be some statistical
information which might tell us a lot about why there are winners and
losers on these engines. I am trying to mentally prepare for the
worst while hoping for the best.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC
>
> I was just reading something on one of the other bird sites that
> stated that one of the reasons for short engine life in these old
> birds was due to non-maintaince plus most commercial big rigs go
much
> farther in a year than some of these rigs go in 10.
>
> Well I was just thinking about the fact that our old Wanderlodges
are
> just big school buses in disguise. Now most school buses do not
make
> long runs on freeways for days on end but run four to five days a
> week. And of course they usually never get over 35 mph with a bus
> load of kids. And on top of that they stop at about every other
> corner that can be located in any given school district. So why do
> the old 3208 engines run so good? because they are built tough and
> made to run at given RPMS that match the oust of the bus itself.
>
> I have noticed on the various Wanderlodge sites of a few people
here
> that have had to replaced there engine or transmission early in the
> engine life but why??? I guess the one of the reasons most of those
> owners either never read there start up manuals or just drove them
> wrong. Or I sould say the previous owners operated there rigs
> without checking out there blue box.
>
> I would say the basic 3208 engine is almost bullet prooft and if
they
> can endure what the various school district put on there old buses
> than an owner should be able to run his old rig with no problems as
> long as it serviced and run accordily so.
>
> Now as to why our old buses seem to have alot problem on these
sites
> it simple only the owners that have Wanderlodges have problems show
> up here. And most of the problems are of the auxiliary parts of
the
> coaches such as heating systems, fresh water systems, ext.
>
> So with that said I hope to get another 150,000 miles out of my old
> reliable 3208 Caterpillar engine.. (I hope?)
>
> Jon (With lots of time on his hands)
>
> Rebel Bird
>