Thomas Freightliner FS-65 2nd Cold Start

[bennyboy4646]

Yeah, the glow plug light should be labeled INTAKE HEATER in the Freightliners. Some of the older Freightliners (02 and older) may have a squirley glow plug light like in the pickups. However, that was the older dash (non digital odometer).

[1988diesel]

@arcofadiver is that bus a 5 speed?

[SheppardDriver85]

The fact that is a stick makes me hate you.....LOL. Not really just really really jealous! :)

[bennyboy4646]

you should let the INTAKE HEATER light go out before cranking that engine. Not only does that heat the block causing the engine to fire sooner, it is also one less thing drawing on the battery when starting in cold weather. Why put stress on the engine and components when you dont need to?

[Bluebirdvision91]

@bennyboy4646 I dint think there was one on these buses im used to seeing WAIT TO START

[schindlerman96]

@bennyboy4646 dont know how true it is but I have been told that is normal behavior for a Freightliner in cold weather although I wouldnt know my bus driver has a 2006 IC CE300 with an International DT466

[knightrider1545]

why at the end it was losing rpm?

[schindlerman96]

this bus dont like the cold to much

[schindlerman96]

my districts older internationals usually crank better and quicker than the FS-65's yesterday it was like 50 degrees during the morning H-38 a handicapped bus which is a FS-65 it started fairley quick but the way it sounded it sounded like it was going to hesistate to start but it was at the school and the driver hadnt had it shut off maybe for 10-15 minutes

[schindlerman96]

the bus radio looks similar to the brand new ones in our buses

[arcofadiver1]

@schindlerman96 This radio is only a couple years old. It is not as old as the bus.

[schindlerman96]

@arcofadiver1 well my districts buses radios were only put in at the beginning of the 10-11 school year during the late summer right before school started

[matts4290]

Someday I'll add a bus with a manual transmission to my fleet. I just love driving them! Too bad its got a cat motor. They aren't my first choice.

[Stetsonater]

Wow, Don't Find a 5 Spd. in a Bus anymore. Cummins or CAT?

[arcofadiver1]

@Stetsonater All of our buses have the CAT engine. And yeah, most of the FS-65s I've seen are automatics. The 5-speed shifts very nicely though. Way better than a Spicer clutch.

[Stetsonater]

@arcofadiver1 Crap and 5 spds. are nice I thought it might have been a Cummins 6.7 but thanks

[arcofadiver1]

@Stetsonater I'm pretty sure it's a Cat but I could be wrong. What does it sound like to you?

[Stetsonater]

@arcofadiver1 It sounds like a Cummins 5.9 its just got the idle of it

[arcofadiver1]

@Stetsonater Well I recently purchased a '97 Freightliner for my private company and it has a Cummins 5.9 which sounds WAY different than the bus in this video. The bus in this video also has more power. Do you know how much the Cummins 5.9 changed between 1997 and 2004?

[Stetsonater]

@arcofadiver1 i think they went to 24 Valve in 2000

[Stetsonater]

@arcofadiver1 i think they went to a new starter and went 24V in 2000. now to think of it this might be a Mercedes or a CAT. i remember CAT 3126's got the same style of idle the cummins does.

[arcofadiver1]

@Stetsonater This bus actually does say Mercedes-Benz Powered on the hood. I'm not sure exactly what type of engine is in it though. I am curious myself.

[Stetsonater]

@arcofadiver1 I wondered that too... if I'm Right (and research is) It is a Mercedes MBE900 6 cyl. Diesel. (Detroit Diesel Designed it) and its between 170-330 Horsepower.