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I'm at a crossroads; with so input on engines Gas verses Diesel! I will be going to several auctions this summer to find a full size bus.
To make my home and car for many years and miles
What are the yea for a gas engine and the yea for diesel eng?
Gas engines are very responsive to the throttle. Have a wide RPM operating range. They are excellent for vehicles that need to start and stop often, operate at low speed in town and high speeds on freeways. Which is why they are common in cars and skiboats.
Diesels have a narrow RPM range. To get maximum use of this narrow range, they need a multi-speed transmission. Which is why big rigs have 12 speeds, splitters, etc.
Diesels have torque, which translates to pulling power. Ever seen a gas locomotive, road grader or bulldozer?
In the boating world, the dividing line is 32 feet. Gas engines just aren't up to the job in a boat 32 feet or over.
Gas engines in buses get apalling fuel economy; 2-5 MPG. Diesels get about 7-10. An auto trans cuts about 2MPG from a diesel bus.
Finally: It's very hard to get diesel fuel to burn. Very safe fuel. Gasoline: 1 teaspoon, completely vaporized, in the bilges of a 24' cabin cruiser, is equal to 15 sticks of dynamite if ignited.
You can use diesel fuel to run hot water heaters, stoves and furnaces. Wouldn't try that with gasoline.
There some engines that are good engines and some that are best used as boat anchors.
In gas engines, any of the IHC engines are good, the 345/392 V-8 is the best. GM big blocks are super, small blocks just not enough HP. Ford engines are okay but most in school buses (331/361) just didn't have much go.
In diesel engines, inline sixes are okay and most of the V-8's are so-so. The Cummins old style 'C'-series (C-165/170/180/190) and '555' are engines you do not want. The IHC 6.9/7.3 are too small for full size buses and the 9.0L is a real loser. The GM 8.2L is so-so (it can be real good or real bad). The Cat 1160/3208 is so-so as well (it can be really good or really bad as well).
2-cycle Detroit Diesels have been used. If you understand the 2-cycle DD, it can be a great engine. If you don't understand them, they can become a real money pit.
The best diesel engines in school buses are the Cummins 'B' series (virtually indentical to Dodge pick-up engines), the new Cummins 'C' series (ISC), the Cat 3126, and the IHC DT466.
The DT466 has been in school buses the longest so it will be in the lower end of the price spectrum. The ISC, ISB, ISX, 3126, and DT466E are the newest and will be priced accordingly.
I think it's relate to the use you want to do. At 1-2K a year, don't bother with a diesel, but if more that 5K every year + if pulling a todd, look for a diesel. In a school bus the gearing is set for city driving, to have a decent MPG you will need to change the dif. ratio.
good luck wrench
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