Driving a New MCI J4500 Bus to Purdue

[@berylwhite2983]

You're just like the guy you went to work for you don't want to drive the bus you just want to do it so you eat at different restaurants. PS you did a great job I'm proud of you. You make some really good videos and your an excellent driver....

[@alblua]

I have to start building up a catalogue of good places to eat! :)

[@berylwhite2983]

@@alblua well get out there and do it I certainly would stop at every place you did. But my days of going are done past so enjoy every minute! And I will enjoy knowing where you have went. And I'm glad to see your boss got back from California because I seen he was a guest on the one prison bus I thought I was going to have to send you out with bail. Or at least go over and explain to his wife what happened to him! Lol you'd be the one that got stuck with jobs like that I'm sure. You've got the temperament.... I really enjoyed today's video.

[@alblua]

Haha I had a kick telling my coworkers our boss was in jail 🤣

[@rmui4305]

My alma mater, Boiler Up!! Thanks for this trip down memory lane, so much had changed. And it’s great to see the campus “out of construction” for once.

[@alblua]

I found it to be a very nice campus! Everything seems to be very new

[@_Jin_Kim_]

something about your video is just calming and quite addicting lol

[@alblua]

I guess I'm doing something right 😅

[@JordanCoby-de2fw]

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and my Transit Agency is AC Transit and they have 2022 MCI D45-CRT-LEs and it crazy how they accelerate so fast and drives as almost as fast as traffic when the light hits green, They also brake faster too.

[@alblua]

Those buses do accelerate fast! The boost on the Cummins X12 is pretty strong once it kicks in

[@JordanCoby-de2fw]

@@alblua agreed, Do you know if your new 2024 MCI J4500 has the same Cummins X12?

[@alblua]

Yup, D45 CRT's and J4500's since 2020 have the Cummins X12. Standard spec is 410 HP with 1450 ft-lb, but the J4500 actually can spec up to a X12 with 455 HP with 1550 lb-ft.

[@JordanCoby-de2fw]

@@alblua that’s so cool.

[@brad_Ca]

I've been enjoying all of your videos, I hope you can keep the coming. The only thing that I would like to see you do is to do some narrating when able, that would be great.

[@alblua]

Thanks for watching! My video style dictates I don't speak; I let the viewer enjoy the sounds without me talking over it and I put captions for those that want dialogue.

[@squib3083]

Great footage. Really love your enthusiasm! God bless you.

[@alblua]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@dougd120]

I like the trip of taking a bus.

[@ednajohnson8771]

Thank you for your videos of how you handle of driving a charter bus(Tour bus)

[@alblua]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@nms_777]

You were in my city! :) Love your videos.

[@alblua]

Woo! Thanks for watching 😊

[@JPlum4090]

Like that new dash start with the MCI in a blue box but i would think it would be cool to put the old MCI logo in that blue box and in the center of the steering wheel!

[@alblua]

If it ever falls off (which they do) you know what I'm replacing it with 😅

[@ericlind454]

Nice Coach but what is with the white gloves?

[@alblua]

They make driving more comfortable (better grip and cooling) and it's the level of service I try to provide for my passengers. It's common for drivers in Japan.

[@MottocksHub]

These drive so nice !

[@alblua]

Nothing beats a trustworthy MCI J4500 👍

[@Brian-vh7gb]

Why did you have that sudden boost when you left the garage but then did not have the same acceleration later? Is turbo boost greater when engine and turbo are cooler but then lost when engine and turbo heat up?

[@alblua]

I'm not sure, that was the only instance where I lost all boost on acceleration during the trip. Typically, I find the Cummins X12 to actually give better acceleration as it warms up in the various coaches I've driven with it.

[@Brian-vh7gb]

What was the Detroit engine in previous MCI version and why do you like the Detroit better than Cummings X12?

[@alblua]

There was the Detroit Series 60 the early J4500s had and then the Detroit DD13 for later years. You can only get the Cummins X12 now. I really love the Series 60 for it's acceleration and we have a lot of coaches with the DD13, so I just prefer it for the fact of being used of it. Cummins X12 has a boost lag I'm not particularly fond of; once it kicks in it really throws you back on the seat and it's rather inconsistent. However, Cummins don't make bad engines at all, I just have mild Detroit brand loyalty 😅

[@Brian-vh7gb]

@@alblua What's your thoughts on the 60 series versus the DD13? The 60 series in your 2007 coach would have been before much of the emissions equipment was put on. The DD13 should have all the emissions equipment. I'd like to hear a professional driver's perspective on their preference of one over the other. Thanks! Great content!

[@alblua]

I prefer the Series 60! It has far superior acceleration compared to the DD13. As you mentioned, it also does not have emissions, so you don't have to worry about DEF. The DD13 definitely feels choked down with all the emissions equipment. The Series 60 is very loud, however. When there are buildings echoing the engine back at you, it's really hard to hold a conversation outside the bus. The jake brake is very satisfying to listen to when one is passing by, though!

[@Brian-vh7gb]

@@alblua that's great to hear and much appreciate you sharing your experiences. I was leaning towards a pre-emissions Series 60 for a conversion but have no experience with any. Just want reliability and solid power that doesn't bog down on hills or in the heat as many of the old 2 strokes seem to do. FWIW, I think loud is great! Keep up the good content!

[@alblua]

Good luck with the project! Another benefit you'll get with older engines is you won't be saddled with purchasing proprietary software and diagnostics equipment; they are quite expensive!

[@Wade50]

WOW Alblua, Peoria Charters Buses are in Prestine Condition and super shiny clean inside and out👌 I think it's really cool you get to driver new equipment and from the looks of the instruement panel the buses of today sure have come a long way with most modern features and are pure luxury for the driver and passengers. And I like your taste in food that is most delicious looking meal you have at the restaurant🥩👍 It's almost midnite here in Virginia and now I'm craving beef brisket😋 hahaha Have a good one and I like your video A LOT and that bus you drove is show ready for sure!!🚌✨✨🎈🎈🏆

[@alblua]

Kudos to our wash crew that services our fleet every night! Hard to believe, but this was a lower level spec MCI J4500; there are a lot more options you can get we don't have. Hope I didn't make you too hungry for a midnight snack! 😂

[@robertfinley6288]

Great video I really enjoy you videos. That town had too many round abouts. I hate driving around them in a car and I sure would hate it in a 45 footer. That was a beautiful bus and very quite but I hate I can't hear the engine max out and the upshift being made, music to an old guys ears. Keep up the great vidos they make me feel like I am behind the wheel. One last question were are the Mercedes?

[@alblua]

Haha, roundabouts are fine in a car for me and I don't mind them, but definitely keeps you on your toes with 45 ft! The engines have gotten quieter and quieter over the years, I'll have to put a mic in the back of the bus one of these videos. The Tourriders are staying pretty busy with a lot of multiday trips! I actually have a driving video to still edit with the Mercedes-Benz bus ;)

[@littletrucker89]

Okay you have probably answered this. But I "meet" you through James " J Wang" YT Page. So like what exactly are thise "delivery vehicles" your talking about?? Are you talking about the like remote control vehicles on the sode walks?? If so, that cool I have not seen one before. What do theu deliver? Where from and where to??

[@alblua]

Yes, it's the little delivery robots you see on the sidewalk. They're made by a company called Starship and you can order food to be delivered by them.

[@mls515]

My company has some kei trucks for airport apron use. Makes sense, don't need to meet highway crash standards for low speed off road. I think the newer ones are Chinese versions in left hand drive. Here at my wife's place in the Philippines there's a whole industry remanufacturing Japanese surplus units into road legal left hand drive vehicles. Essentially in what are backyard workshops.

[@alblua]

They're great, small utility vehicles with the same bed size! The ones I saw look like Daihatsu trucks imported from Japan, they were right hand drive

[@football11248]

At least the parking brake knob is easy to release.

[@alblua]

I know, right! 😅

[@football11248]

Does this bus have a Cummins engine?

[@alblua]

Yes, it has the Cummins X12

[@matthewb9824]

I think your bus has picked up a stone chip in the windshield in front of the driver.

[@alblua]

Good eye, yes there was! We replaced the windshield after my trip

[@matthewb9824]

@@alblua, I had a stone chip in my motorcoach last year and had the windshield replaced. The next day I was driving early at dawn and had a kangaroo jump out of the darkness into the bus and cracked the windscreen. Needed another new one! Hate it when that happens, lol.

[@alblua]

Wow, that's some bad luck! Luckily, I haven't had a windshield crack on me yet 🤞

[@manishparashar2279]

Hi there. Hello from India 🇮🇳. Say hi to James from my side

[@alblua]

Hello! 👋

[@rogerr.7228]

Read the title, "driving a new bus, at first I thought " is it one of the new body style Prevosts?". Nope. By the way, from watching your vlogs, James's vlogs, and Captain John, I'm actually wanting to be a motorcoach operator myself. Though, I'll have to wait a few years. I'm expecting to be on kidney dialysis by the end of the year and in need of a kidney transplant. Gotta take care of that first and foremost. Then eventually someday when fully recovered from kidney transplant surgery, I'll attend CDL school, as long as I don't get medically disqualified from getting a CDL.

[@alblua]

One day I'll get to drive the new Prevost, we have three but they're based in Peoria. Best of luck on your CDL!

[@rogerr.7228]

@@alblua Also having vascular surgery on my arm next Monday. Getting a fistula put inside my arm to get me ready for dialysis. Appreciate you wishing me luck 🙏

[@Ash-pm2bl]

Love the video 😊

[@alblua]

Thanks! 😊

[@steverhinehart9794]

Why do you wear gloves?

[@alblua]

I take a lot of inspiration from Japan and it's my own distinct style here in the US. They also help me keep my hands cool, improve grip, and keep my hands clean (I have to wash them every week with how dirty they get from the steering wheel)

[@LifeOnCoach]

✌🏾

[@Varakai-x1d]

Why are you wearing gloves ?...

[@alblua]

Why not? 😅

[@Varakai-x1d]

@@alblua Do you have a better answer than that ?

[@jordanvega1907]

I actually love the gloves when I start driving again I’ll wear em too 👌🏾

[@Varakai-x1d]

@@jordanvega1907 ok thank's