| Author |
Message |
christopher l cole sr. (Muziklvr)
Registered Member
Username: Muziklvr
Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 68.119.228.79
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 6:44 pm: | |
does anyone know anything about how reliable a 3208 cat diesel is,or any info on this engine as far as that goes.engine runs great, but has 299k on it |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 149
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 206.40.238.38
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 7:41 pm: | |
Chrie,
The 3208 is not a great bus engine. It is a high rev, small displacement engine used mostly in fire trucks, water pumps and garbage trucks because it works well with an AT. I have one in one of my fire trucks.
It is not even listed by Cat as a vehicle engine but is shown as a pump engine. If you don't drive very many miles a year it would probably be ok but it is recommended that the bearings be replaced every 75,000 miles.
I wouldn't advise getting one unless it is newly overhauled.
Some people call it a throw away engine but I'm not sure why because Cat does a big business giving them factory overhauls.
My main complaint is that it smokes like no other diesel upon first startup of the day and the exhaust really stinks. |
David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member
Username: Dmd
Post Number: 63
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 71.125.20.202
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 9:29 pm: | |
they are called trow aways i believe as they dont have liners and kits , must be rebored. |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member
Username: Pvcces
Post Number: 974
Registered: 5-2001
Posted From: 65.74.70.16
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 10:07 pm: | |
That's not what makes them stink; we have a similar Cat engine that makes people sick if they can smell the exhaust.
I have no idea how Cat managed that. If anyone knows, please tell me.
Thanks.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska |
Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach)
Registered Member
Username: Cowlitzcoach
Post Number: 116
Registered: 4-2001
Posted From: 206.163.13.34
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 10:12 pm: | |
On a scale of one to ten, one being use it for a door stop and ten the opposite, the 3208/3208T is about a five.
If the engine at which you are looking has seen school service it is not likely to have 299K miles. Rarely do they go much more than 150-175K in school service without major work.
On a vehicle with 299K miles it is more likely the second or third engine.
To know for sure check for a reman plate somewhere on the block under the exhaust manifold (I can't remember which side but I think it is on the opposite side from the starter). The reman plate will have a date which can give you some idea of how old the engine really is.
When Cat designed and engineered the 3208/3208T engine family they built it with some cost saving features. One of those cost saving features is the way in which the pistons were cast.
The pistons are cast in an oval shape. As the engine warms up to operating temperature the theory is they expand and round out. Which explains why the 3208/3208T do not like to start when it gets cold and why they smoke so very much when they start up.
In school service, about the time the engine got all the way warmed up, the engine was shut down. Over time, because the engines were below operating temperature so much of the time, the pistons wore the cylinders oval. Which explains why older 3208/3208T's make such great mosquito foggers.
When the 3208/3208T's need work it is much better to get a reman from Cat. It is less expensive than trying to do any of the work yourself. When Cat reman's the engine they always include the upgrades they have figured out over the years. In other words, the reman will be a better engine than the engine you are swapping out.
On the flat the 3208/3208T's will move right out. I have one bus with a 3208T that will top out above 80 MPH. That is until it sees a hill and then it just about stops.
The 3208/3208T would not be my first choice but they are an infinitely better choice than the Cummins 555 and the DD 8.2L.
All I can say is good luck.
Mark O. |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 152
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 66.175.159.99
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 4:22 pm: | |
To add to what Mark said, I forgot that the 3208 is made in a wide range of HP. I'm away from home but the best I remember is that they go from about 185 hp to 250, maybe higher now. The higher HP ones have turbo chargers which may cut down on the smoke. The one in my fire truck is the smallest one.
They work well with AT because the AT allows them to rev.
Mark,
That is a lot of good background on the 3208. Do you follow the 75K mile bearing replacement routine I mentioned? |
Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach)
Registered Member
Username: Cowlitzcoach
Post Number: 119
Registered: 4-2001
Posted From: 204.245.250.157
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 11:20 am: | |
The top HP rating for the 3208T in automotive trim is 250 HP. Marine applications go way up, some even over 400 HP. The difference is when you have the whole ocean to cool the engine and you are running steady speed hour upon hour you can squeeze more HP out of an engine.
Since we don't run that many miles I tend to do things by the calendar. When things slow down during the slack time of the year we will spin in a set of rods and main bearings about every other year.
It doesn't cost that much and it keeps them running a little bit longer.
Even still, 150K is about average and 200K is way outside the norm for a 3208/3208T.
Mark O. |
Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member
Username: Bob_greenwood
Post Number: 67
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 65.150.47.78
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 09, 2006 - 9:17 am: | |
I drove a 3208 100,000 miles,started smokeing real bad,burned 12 gallons of oil between L.A. & Ok. disasembly ,three broken compression rings,here is the kicker tho.they only have ONE compression ring per piston,I payed 100 extra in the new kit for pistons with two rings,drove it another 100,000 & traded it off,the new owner,had a piston separate about20,000 miles later, I vote no on 3208 engines,CAT made a REAL mistake !!all their 6 cylinders are wonderful tho |