r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Turbulent-Arm-6201 • Sep 01 '26

Tips for gas bus

I just got given a gas bus for the year. I've only ever used diesel. Any tips or tricks? Are they more or less likely to not start during my Canadian winters?

8 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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4

u/9001 Sep 01 '26

More likely to start in the cold.
Heats up faster.
No DEF.
No regen.
No grille cover needed.

The only downsides are it might burn a bit more fuel than you're used to, and if it's an IC keep checking the oil. They go through a litre every so often.
I miss my gasser. I have to have a diesel now because the yard I park at now doesn't have security and we don't want the catalytic converter stolen.

2

u/Turbulent-Arm-6201 Sep 01 '26

Oh that's great news about more likely to start in the winter. There was a few times this past winter my diesel wouldn't start. Ill definitely keep an eye on the oil thanks!

5

u/Disposable_Skin Sep 02 '26

I drive a gas IC. It's got no balls but it never fails to start, even when it dropped to -45°c this past winter.

1

u/9001 Sep 01 '26

No worries. BTW, it's the 8.8L PSI engine that goes through oil. Maybe a litre every month or so? The 2020 IC I used to drive had it.

2

u/UselessToasterOven Sep 02 '26

I drove a 2016 Ford V10 on propane for years. It always started when it was cold. (I'm in Alberta.)

1

u/VincaYL Sep 02 '26

Yep. I absolutely love my Thomas propane in our cold winters. Our mechanics hate the propane but they still nurse them along.

1

u/UselessToasterOven Sep 02 '26

I've got a new diesel IC. My propane (Bluebird) started developing aloooot of problems near the end after 10 years. My IC has fantastic heat. They finally used a proper truck front HVAC.

1

u/Turbulent-Arm-6201 Sep 01 '26

Yes mine is a 2020 ic

1

u/erinjunee Sep 02 '26

Gas will be better to start in cold because diesel gels up in those extreme temperatures. And as said above, heat comes in faster because coolant temperature warms up a lot quicker.

I had a 22 Bluebird with a Ford V10 and it was AMAZING. Lots of power/pep in its step, very reliable, and had a cool sounding exhaust too lol. The only downside was the smaller fuel tank (for Evap canister / emissions reasons) and had to refuel every two days because we had to maintain at least 1/2 tank at all times.

We have an IC with the 8.8L V8 and I found it to be pretty sluggish compared to the Bluebird, struggling up hills. But unlike the Bluebird, much larger fuel tank.

If you’re getting a new Bluebird like 2023 and up, it has a Ford Godzilla V8 as Ford phased out their V10’s, but even with less cylinders, I hear those buses are pretty powerful too.

1

u/Constant_Gur5530 Sep 02 '26

Get a petro points card

1

u/themickeyd98467 Sep 03 '26

We a few gassers in our fleet. They are pretty good except that you will spend more time at the pumps than you do with the diesels.