1993 Grand Villa U300 with Detroit V692TA

June 21, 2018, 01:15:29 am

Hi there! Looking at well kept unit with 197,000 miles all maintenance and new Turbo and injectors. Looking for feedback on this engine option and experience at higher mileage. She was run and well cared for by Detroit techs only her entire life. Any reservations about nice coach that was actually run over the course of her 25 year life? Many thanks

Re: 1993 Grand Villa U300 with Detroit V692TA

Reply #1 – June 21, 2018, 09:26:37 am

Mine has 225k on the dial and doesnt miss a beat... Check the typical stuff and records is important if they have it .. Look around the motor for leaks and check all filters, air, decadence filter and so on

Re: 1993 Grand Villa U300 with Detroit V692TA

Reply #2 – June 21, 2018, 09:31:59 am

My '93 GV has 207K and runs well. These 6V92 engines can go a million miles.

Re: 1993 Grand Villa U300 with Detroit V692TA

Reply #3 – June 21, 2018, 10:32:44 am

Just do or have someone do a thorough inspection. Make sure all house systems work along with mechanical systems, brakes, radiator, batteries, tires. Also check the bulkheads carefully, as these great coaches age almost all of them need some attention in this area.

Re: 1993 Grand Villa U300 with Detroit V692TA

Reply #4 – June 21, 2018, 10:57:08 am

I would start with the undercarriage as no matter how well the Detroit techs did the maintenance, it's the lack of corrosion that sell the coach to me. Bulkheads with broken bolts. Look at all documentation for maintenance and what else has been done. Check for active and stored codes on the engine and Allison. Has a low sulphur #40 weight oil been used? Check the hydraulic pump/motors belt for condition. Yours will have a 8 rib belt like ours and check the belt alignment. Nice if it's a later '93 as it will have the plumbing and high air cleaner intake. If you can, pull the screws on the radiator louvered cover and check for radiator rot. Winter driving on treated roads is very hard on all pushers. The 1993 will have the twin fans. Check Jake brake for operation. You will love it. The switch is labeled "retarder" on the dash but is a 2 position Jake. I leave ours on all the time but we live in the mountains.

Unless the engine has been abused by overheating, wrong oil, etc, they should go forever. In the fire service, we were all Detroit 2 cycles and my bus was a Detroit also. No failures ever related to normal emergency service. Did have a couple burn up at campaign fires. No rack to run like older mechanical Detroits as the engine is electronic and has most all the computer safeguards to make it idiot proof.

Ours does get warm in summer on long grades in the west. 350hp is max for that radiator. Block heater is in the wrong position and not on the block on most Detroits. Takes a long time to warm the engine and it should have an external block heater or one located under the AC compressor. No heated screen on a Detroit to aid in starting.

Super smooth idle at 600 RPM. The engine is absolutely glass smooth at all speeds. Ours has averaged exactly 8.0 mpg since new and got 9.95 on the last trip w/o toad. A Detroit shop can read all the data for codes, mpg, gallons used since new, etc.

A 1993 is a good choice with the air cleaner intake, nice carpet headliner, etc. The 4 speed Allison is pretty bullet proof and has lockup part way up in second gear and higher. 2130 rpm is fuel cut off at 82 mph. My only wish would be for the great 6 speed Allison but they didn't make a trans that would handle the torque at the time. Ours uses almost no oil in over 100K miles.

Turbo replacement may be related to heat soak from shutdown without allowing 5 minutes of fast idle for the oil to cool after pulling grades. This has to be considered on all brands of turbocharged engines. Might ask why the unit injectors have been replaced. The lower compression ratio turbo Detroits may stutter or a few seconds on cold starts unlike their non-turbo brothers.

If it has the older style air cleaner intake behind the rear wheels, check the air cleaner and restriction gauge. Ours had a couple of inches of dirt on it. Air cleaners are not cheap and the restriction gauge should be checked frequently. Rain will give a false high reading.

Call or PM for more info. Nice to have some member in your area help with a pre-purchase inspection.

Pierce

Re: 1993 Grand Villa U300 with Detroit V692TA

Reply #5 – June 21, 2018, 11:29:07 pm

Thanks for all the feedback, extremely helpful:)

Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 15, 2025 ...