Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Topic: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey (Read 3992 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Cat 3126 Fail

Reply #75 – March 18, 2020, 10:46:28 pm

Appears the silver leaf may not reflect actual mpg.. I've had owner operators leased to me sure they were getting 7.9 mpg by the truck display.. I bought the truck from the owner operator and figured mileage old school way / gallons into miles and driving conservatively I saw 6.5 and as low as 6.. I'm not familiar with Silverleaf so won't speculate but I do know the economy readouts on class 8 trucks is not a true reading of a units mpg.. This engine was a ISX Cummins 500 hp. That experience made me doubt the trucks calculating .. Only reason I bought several of those KW's set up that way was bogus mpg claims.. Bought 3 of them in 2 weeks and they are at point of selling.. Will replace with Detroit series 60. Still won't have high mpg in fuel but parts for the engine are a fraction of the ISX.

Re: Cat 3126 Fail

Reply #76 – March 18, 2020, 11:01:34 pm

Followed your work 2 years back and am glad it worked out for you. A truck shop won't take the care and attention to detail you and your friend did.

Re: Cat 3126 Fail

Reply #77 – March 19, 2020, 01:17:33 am

I think there are changeable multipliers in the various fields in the VPMS screen.

I think Roger here knows if the actual mpg can be what the screen shows?

My particular setup seems very accurate.

Good enough to be able to factor in the diesel side of the aquahot and/or the gen at .44 gph using the gens hour meter.

I do lean the coach to fill the tank to the top

Re: Cat 3126 Fail

Reply #78 – March 19, 2020, 10:06:28 am

Quote from: Dub – March 18, 2020, 10:46:28 pm

Appears the silver leaf may not reflect actual mpg.. I've had owner operators leased to me sure they were getting 7.9 mpg by the truck display.. I bought the truck from the owner operator and figured mileage old school way / gallons into miles and driving conservatively I saw 6.5 and as low as 6.. I'm not familiar with Silverleaf so won't speculate but I do know the economy readouts on class 8 trucks is not a true reading of a units mpg.. This engine was a ISX Cummins 500 hp. That experience made me doubt the trucks calculating .. Only reason I bought several of those KW's set up that way was bogus mpg claims.. Bought 3 of them in 2 weeks and they are at point of selling.. Will replace with Detroit series 60. Still won't have high mpg in fuel but parts for the engine are a fraction of the ISX.

Thanks for the compliments

Did it the old fashion way.

Left with full tank, returned with full tank.It was total gallons used divided by total miles driven. so it was actually 8.5+ MPG for whole trip average.

The silverleaf showed 8.3 average for the trip.

It reads 3- 4 MPG on mountain roads, so that is what kills the mileage over all when you start averaging.

We have gotten even better, like 9.5-10 mpg when driving to Leavenworth Wa., which is flat, no hills, no toad,and driving in the sweet spot of 1775 rpm's.

BTW, The mileage included 4 hours of gen running...10K Kabota 4cyl. We were also towing a Jeep Wrangler, and was fully loaded down, more returning home with all those goodies we bought in Mexico and Yuma. You know TP and paper towels!

All of this is better, considering last trip with the sour engine, it got 6 MPG, and 1 qt oil every 90 miles!

Cheers
Chris

Re: Cat 3126 Fail

Reply #79 – March 19, 2020, 11:17:42 am

Quote from: Dub – March 18, 2020, 10:46:28 pm

Will replace with Detroit series 60. Still won't have high mpg in fuel but parts for the engine are a fraction of the ISX.

Don't you mean DD13 or DD16? Coupled to a DT12 auto/manual, you should get better mileage and without smog maintenance the others have.

Pierce

Re: Cat 3126 Fail

Reply #80 – March 19, 2020, 04:18:43 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 19, 2020, 11:17:42 am

Don't you mean DD13 or DD16? Coupled to a DT12 auto/manual, you should get better mileage and without smog maintenance the others have.

Pierce

I seriously considered changing engines, when going through all that back then. But it isn't easy, very complex. Torque converter, cooling, dash cluster, cruise control, it goes on and on.

Even the next year 3126 B wasn't easy, trust me, I spent 2 months on the subject every day.

Not saying it can't be done, With the right amount of money, and patience, anything for the most part can be done.
But it's not like pulling a SB chevy out, and putting a BB in!
Chris

Re: Cat 3126 Fail

Reply #81 – March 19, 2020, 04:43:35 pm

With our silver leaf from Roger, we are averaging right at 8 mpg overall. Happy with that and keep rpm's under 1500 as well with a speed in the 64 mph range. Like you mentioned Chris, the hills and mountains are a killer for sure! Being full time, we are not in any hurry for sure!

Re: Cat 3126 Fail

Reply #82 – March 19, 2020, 05:20:53 pm

Quote from: juicesqueezer – March 19, 2020, 04:43:35 pm

With our silver leaf from Roger, we are averaging right at 8 mpg overall. Happy with that and keep rpm's under 1500 as well with a speed in the 64 mph range. Like you mentioned Chris, the hills and mountains are a killer for sure! Being full time, we are not in any hurry for sure!

Good news Joe. I treat ours like a fine sewing machine, or a back hoe running at steady, even, low RPM's.

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #83 – March 19, 2020, 05:56:57 pm

Trading trucks not just engines. The 3 ISX have made it to a million miles so can't complain about the engine life they just never got the mpg advertised and cost to inframe is double that of a Detroit..That's good fuel mileage Chris, that fresh Cat looks like will make you a good one.

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #84 – March 19, 2020, 06:07:36 pm

Chris,
Great job of fixing the old CAT. I have 149,000mi on my 1997 and it does not use any oil and gets the same milage as you do. You had me concerned after re-build on first trip when you stated milage. Then I saw it was without toad on level road. I seem to always be heading west into a strong headwind or climbing over 10,000 feet in Colorado. Congratulations on a job well done.
John

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #85 – March 19, 2020, 06:10:37 pm

Quote from: John and Stacey – March 19, 2020, 06:07:36 pm

Chris,
Great job of fixing the old CAT. I have 149,000mi on my 1997 and it does not use any oil and gets the same milage as you do. You had me concerned after re-build on first trip when you stated milage. Then I saw it was without toad on level road. I seem to always be heading west into a strong headwind or climbing over 10,000 feet in Colorado. Congratulations on a job well done.
John

Brothers from different mothers!...Coach numbers are close.
I probably worked on your coach at some time, if it ever hit the left (west) coast
Looks like the bad injector did it trick permanently for you....Thanks for your past help John
CW
CW

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #86 – March 19, 2020, 06:21:09 pm

Coach was originally a Kansas coach and Jcus had her for a short time, I have had her for 6 years now.

Injector fixed the problem and keeping the oil at the bottom of the full range on the dipstick eliminated all blow-by.
John

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #87 – March 19, 2020, 06:34:19 pm

P.... Have had 60's that I'm not sure of displacement. Have had 6 or 8 Rated from 430 to 515 hp.

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #88 – March 19, 2020, 06:53:20 pm

Nothing like having a fresh engine like Chris has now with zero questions about the guts.. Nothing like going down the road with complete confidence in the engine.

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #89 – March 19, 2020, 07:08:52 pm

Quote from: Dub – March 19, 2020, 06:53:20 pm

Nothing like having a fresh engine like Chris has now with zero questions about the guts.. Nothing like going down the road with complete confidence in the engine.

Ah, the smell of a fresh engine (probably just the paint)

And yes, still amazes me, all those parts spread all over the shop and bench, and they are all going up and down, and around perfectly.

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #90 – March 19, 2020, 07:19:08 pm

Quote from: John and Stacey – March 19, 2020, 06:21:09 pm

Coach was originally a Kansas coach and Jcus had her for a short time, I have had her for 6 years now.

Injector fixed the problem and keeping the oil at the bottom of the full range on the dipstick eliminated all blow-by.
John

Good point. I calibrated the stick, when I did the engine. It is at the lower mark now, which is about 2 qts low. I may just run it there a while through the summer, before I add, and just see what it does,

As I mentioned, it seems to stay at the full mark, till about 2K miles, then use just a little.About the time the oil starts to darken, Zero leaks, zero blow by.

1st oil was 15/30 (recommended by Cat because of the HUIE pump), second oil change is 15/30 -15/40 mix (same brands). Going all 15/40 next time. Changing at 4K miles. Oil is cheap.

Running Mobile Delvac. It's re- labeled for Cat , as Cat oil, researched it. Going to stick with it. Good enough for Cat, good enough for me.

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #91 – March 20, 2020, 09:42:08 am

Hi Chris and all,
I have a '94 Cat 3116 in a '95 U-240. No one thought they could get the engine out of the coach. I found a guy in Pasadena, Tx that bored my block here in Lufkin,Tx while engine still in the coach. He bored the block, pressed(hammered) in sleeves, then bored the sleeve back to Cat standard size. My shop then installed all the new standard pistons, rings, rod and main bearings, new oil pump, my old head(rebuilt locally). I now have 40K miles on the 250hp 3116 kittyCat and it is running strong with oil consumption at about 2 qts per 1500 miles. I am happy. I am also amazed that the oil pump puts out 61 psi at anything over 1500 rpm @ 190 degs.

Pat

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #92 – March 20, 2020, 11:37:05 am

Hey
I actually tried to bore the bad cylinder in the coach. A friend had a boring bar, but could not get a piston big enough to fit the size we would have had to bore it to.

I called all over the NW, Portland, Seattle etc. No one does in chassis boring or crank turning.One would be lucky to get anyone to fix the engine like you and I did. Lost trade. Now they just replace them. Probably because of all the warranty issues they have.

It was easy to get the engine in and out with just a standard cherry picker.

I like that 61 PSI oil pressure, ours is 40 PSI @ 185, which is what the motor was dyno'd at new. I have all the sheets on our exact motor. A old Cat diesel mechanic had access to them.So it's OK.

Chris

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #93 – March 20, 2020, 12:44:56 pm

Some models are easier to get the engine out. The last of the GVs have a big engine door that makes everything less of a hassle.

I looked at ours to see how hard it would be. If you remove the aluminum strips above the bumper and then make a careful cut under where they were, then you could glass in a steel 1/8" strip to attach the bumper and the wrap around sides. You could then cut and then flange the cross member with some grade 8 fasteners to keep it securely in place. Removing the engine would then be easy with a floor jack/brace arrangement with four heavy duty wheels. The bumper would go back in place, screws installed and then the aluminum trim strip replaced so you would never notice the joint.

A Euro bus driver showed me his big air cooled flat diesel. He said the shop had a dolly on wheels so they just raised the coach with air, rolled the dolly under, lowered the coach to attach it, raised the coach again with air and rolled the engine out. It was all modular and the fan was not attached but above the engine so the R&R could be done in under 20 minutes. I remember as a kid, two of us replaced a VW clutch and had it running again in 17 minutes. Four engine bolts, fuel line, heater controls/ducts, the funny little accelerator clip/wire cable at the carb plus generator wires.

Pierce

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #94 – March 20, 2020, 01:01:29 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 20, 2020, 12:44:56 pm

Some models are easier to get the engine out. The last of the GVs have a big engine door that makes everything less of a hassle.

I looked at ours to see how hard it would be. If you remove the aluminum strips above the bumper and then make a careful cut under where they were, then you could glass in a steel 1/8" strip to attach the bumper and the wrap around sides. You could then cut and then flange the cross member with some grade 8 fasteners to keep it securely in place. Removing the engine would then be easy with a floor jack/brace arrangement with four heavy duty wheels. The bumper would go back in place, screws installed and then the aluminum trim strip replaced so you would never notice the joint.

A Euro bus driver showed me his big air cooled flat diesel. He said the shop had a dolly on wheels so they just raised the coach with air, rolled the dolly under, lowered the coach to attach it, raised the coach again with air and rolled the engine out. It was all modular and the fan was not attached but above the engine so the R&R could be done in under 20 minutes. I remember as a kid, two of us replaced a VW clutch and had it running again in 17 minutes. Four engine bolts, fuel line, heater controls/ducts, the funny little accelerator clip/wire cable at the carb plus generator wires.

Pierce

I had this rear engine Ford Econoline I built in the late 70"s Very road worthy, was in 20 car mags including Hot Rod twice.
Had a 400 Chrysler via custom V drive. (the Hot Rod write up was wrong. Wasn't a Chevy).
Could pull the engine trans in 20 minutes.
Went through 3 different stages in it's life.
Drove it thousands of miles with no issue's to Van runs. Was still being driven last I saw it. Traded it for a Chevelle.
Chris

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #95 – March 20, 2020, 01:18:32 pm

Good photos! So good to take photos in the crazy years. I just found some old photos and even a super 8 movie that I will have digitized.

Car makers should turn over their prototypes to hot rodders before production. Sure would have cars that would be easier to work on and probably safer too.

Pierce

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #96 – March 20, 2020, 01:34:06 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 20, 2020, 01:18:32 pm

Good photos! So good to take photos in the crazy years. I just found some old photos and even a super 8 movie that I will have digitized.

Car makers should turn over their prototypes to hot rodders before production. Sure would have cars that would be easier to work on and probably safer too.

Pierce

Costco does a great job. Expensive.

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #97 – March 21, 2020, 04:16:11 pm

Quote from: gracerace – March 20, 2020, 01:01:29 pm

I had this rear engine Ford Econoline I built in the late 70"s Very road worthy, was in 20 car mags including Hot Rod twice.
Had a 400 Chrysler via custom V drive. (the Hot Rod write up was wrong. Wasn't a Chevy).
Could pull the engine trans in 20 minutes.
Went through 3 different stages in it's life.
Drove it thousands of miles with no issue's to Van runs. Was still being driven last I saw it. Traded it for a Chevelle.
Chris

I remember seeing that van in HRM ! way kool

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #98 – March 21, 2020, 09:53:45 pm

Quote from: Hans&Marjet – March 21, 2020, 04:16:11 pm

I remember seeing that van in HRM ! way kool

Fremont !!! Loved it ....70 Kawi 500 Triple....13.2 .....Wow what a ride..

Re: Cat 3126 Rebuild Odyssey

Reply #99 – March 22, 2020, 10:20:37 am

Quote from: Hans&Marjet – March 21, 2020, 09:53:45 pm

Fremont !!! Loved it ....70 Kawi 500 Triple....13.2 .....Wow what a ride..

Drove the van there once from Santa Rosa. It was a Mopar race. Didn't race it,
Was a great track. Ran my Cuda there once.
Hang Over Nations of New Years day....Wow!

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