Should I?
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Should I?
OK, got a chance to get a new service vehicle. a 1999 E-450 ambulance. It has about 100K miles, 7.3, of course, and seems to be in decent shape. I'm not really concerned engine wise, I am pretty familiar with them. The biggest concern I have is the automatic tranny (I haven't driven it yet, and my other diesel runs through a 6-speed). Any big tip-offs to look for? What other major things should I look for on the chassis? Anybody running one, and know roughly what kind of fuel economy I will get? Anything else I should look at?
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 1
From: North Cackalacky
First check the trans fluid and make sure it is clean and dont have a burn smell. Add a trans cooler, tru-cool or one from a 6.0L. Change the fluid and filter. Install a JW or BTS valve body, cross your fingers and hope that it lasts a long time.
Its a crap shoot for the most part on the trans, some die before 100k and some last a very long time. Bdrummons has over 300k on his original stock trans.
As far as the chassis, check the ball joints, brakes, steering, differential, etc.
Best to service everything when you buy it so you wont have any doubt about when it was done and then you can keep it on schedule.
Good luck.
Its a crap shoot for the most part on the trans, some die before 100k and some last a very long time. Bdrummons has over 300k on his original stock trans.
As far as the chassis, check the ball joints, brakes, steering, differential, etc.
Best to service everything when you buy it so you wont have any doubt about when it was done and then you can keep it on schedule.
Good luck.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 957
Likes: 112
From: NC
I'm a medic for a county EMS agency and we cover a city of about 250K and our E-Series ambulances get the snot beat out of them. We trade a truck in at about 100K miles because the chassis in worn out. City streets and high speeds take their toll. If it's coming from a small town or volunteer service it will probably be in good shape. The 7.3's we had all ran great when traded.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Washington
If it doesn't see many runs, its probably serviced well and okay. I know most of our rigs at work typically go from 0-60 in a heartbeat, but they all have block heaters as well. Can be a little hard on them compared to a daily driver with an easy warm-up drive. All in all, most organizations are pretty religious about maintenance on their rigs. Ours are maintained every 3 months or 300 hours, whichever is 1st (usually 3 months), which keeps everything in tip top shape. Plus anything suspicious that shows up is repaired immediately due to the nature of the business. Good luck!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
Likes: 5
From: Kiowa CO
Another thing to consider is ambulances do idle a lot on calls. Not to say it's a bad thing but something to consider.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Washington
Good point. Most are set-up that way. I like that our's is set up, due to the electrical load, to automatically run at hi-idle when the parking brake is engaged. Most of the other one's I see don't operate that way.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Just went and drove it. It has 100K miles, and 8100 hours. It seems very sluggish to get going, rides and handles nice, however. I think it is a lot heavier rig than I realized. I believe I will keep looking for another van to replace the current one...
