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Cat 3208 t

Does anyone know how to turn up a cat 3208T I am only getting 2400 RPM's max and top speed of 65 MPH. I would like to get at least 2700 out of it. I am in the houston area.
Thanks
1985 35'ORED
Rat Rod Hauler
Build #2540
High School Teacher

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #2 –
Max RPM on mine is 2600, it's on those data plates. I run along at 2,200 to 2,300 works out in the 60+ mph and 10+ mpg.
  If you wind that Cat. up to 2,800 get ready to pick up the pieces. IMHO
Mick
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #3 –
My friend and I have identical MH and he runs maxed out 2700 with no problems but the last trip we took together he pulled the race car in a 30' trailer I was solo and he walked on me going up and down the road. I don't want a race car just want to keep up.
1985 35'ORED
Rat Rod Hauler
Build #2540
High School Teacher

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #4 –
Change third member in the rear end with one with a lower numerical ratio. There is a tag on it with the ratio. Don't wind it up any more, listen to Mick.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #5 –
Pierce is right, for more speed go with gears and not RPM.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Olde English –
Max RPM on mine is 2600, it's on those data plates. I run along at 2,200 to 2,300 works out in the 60+ mph and 10+ mpg.
  If you wind that Cat. up to 2,800 get ready to pick up the pieces. IMHO
Mick
22-2300 is where mine purrs along also, it is rated up to 2800 rpm. Mt-647 tranny 4:10 rear end.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #7 –
Low buck diesel power
 Some info .  The boats run them up to 2800 cruise..
 I have run mine to 2600 in third gear. 2600 in top gear is around 72 +-.
   
 My upper RPM is out 1 turn for 2600 .  Stock should be 2600 on the tag,  So maybe I am out 1 for 2700 but have never run it hard to the stop .
 My cruise is also 2300 = 10mpg but kinda slow at 64.

 I twisted my fuel up a 1/3 turn but found it happy in the stock position and turned it back.

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #8 –
Engine plate matches Oshkosh manual 300 hp at 2800 rpm, my torque is listed at 750 ft/lbs at 1400 rpm. Engine plate is on the starboard valve cover and gives max rpm, raise the bed to see. My engine is the 51Z1 series. Check the plate and raise the rpm to match. I ran across a 36' GV ORED for sale that the owner ordered a 175 hp naturaly asperated 3208NA.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #9 –
Phred that cat runs 2900 plus all day.  Although I never cross checked the oem tach.  250 was 2,600.

Trust me I drove these hard.  Never an issue. 

The babied ones only ran 2,800.  Want me to break yours in?

Irvine to telluride and back went from 2800 to 2950.  Almost exactly 90.

800 miles basically wide open.  8 mpg.

Coach I drove had 17k miles driven cautiously by a Bakersfield insurance guy.

I had it sold and talked with the next customer and asked if it was ok to run it hard to finally break it in.

They said fine.  Under warranty still. 

They put 50k on it over the next fours years and never put a wrench on it.  Fluids only.

Good coach. 

Make sure every belt is new or close to it and tightened correctly.  Use a gauge.

The belts loosened slightly 2k miles into the trip. 

What fun at -30 in New Mexico skiing.

No,an ORED does not do well tank wise and batteries at those cold of temps.

Not recommended just relaying actual events.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #10 –
Strange or a coincidence my tach marker is pointed is at 2900 rpm. May stretch the engine out to 80 mph in the wilds of Western Kansas to keep from holding up traffic. Telluride back then may have been great, hope it's not too spoiled now, bought the coach to explore southern co. NM and OK. May buy some land near buena Vista.as it's still cheap and unproductive. Still have 1325 acres of worthless acres in SE KS 100 miles to retreat to.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #11 –
To add to your  thoughts about not holding up traffic I noticed as the tach needle passed 2600  rpm and revved out the cars and others always disappeared in the rear view mirror. Especially up interstate grades,  like cheating.  Lots of big rig drivers on the cb cursing my power to weight ratio on grades back then.

Had a Texas customer bolt on a marine 375 hp twin turbo top end to his 250 cat ORED.  High gear only to get into it, 

What hills?  He used a radar detector

The moment the coach dropped to 60 mph I would downshift to third. 

More horsepower than torque.  Rev it. 

My m11 has just slightly more hp than torque also, 

I have rarely  seen any coach where the motor was broken in totally and sealed up.

Including my m11.  Noticeably better running, as usual,  after running it like you stole it for more than 30k miles

Downshift abd rev it up grades,  "moderation is for monks"

You are not going to hurt these engines.  We are so light it's not an issue.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #12 –
Wow now i am confused...
1985 35'ORED
Rat Rod Hauler
Build #2540
High School Teacher

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #13 –
Well after all that's been said I guess it comes down to the feel good thing.. I never owned but 1 3208 and Caflashbob and others obviously have the most experience.. Myself I feel better at a lower rpm even though the engine may feel better at higher. I feel the same about any diesel engine except a 318 Detroit and a 903 Cummins and the cummins being one you wont likely see now except maybe on a industrial pump situation and an old one at that.. There again my answer was based on my feelings and not data but at least it was free.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #14 –
If you live in the western us the Rockies may require alternative driving styles depending on your patience.

For most whatever way the engine can be made to pull the hills faster is the bomb.

A few really big engines like a N14 signature with 855 cu in could be left alone and torqued up every hill and  shortshifted.

A few 3176 cat Foretravels did better also. 

Midwest and east not as noticeable. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Dub –
I feel the same about any diesel engine except a 318 Detroit and a 903 Cummins and the cummins being one you wont likely see now except maybe on a industrial pump situation and an old one at that.. There again my answer was based on my feelings and not data but at least it was free.
They made 318s (9 liters) from 1938 to 1995. We had them in our fire trucks at a little more than 318Hp at up to 2400 RPM but Greyhound kept the RPM and HP way down and only got about 235 HP @ 1800 RPM out of the same engine. At lower the lower RPMs, they get excellent fuel mileage and our RV conversion never got below 10 mpg even with toad. It was geared for 86 mph top end so that's part of the reason for the fuel mileage. We used to cruise at 65 MPH at less than 1400 RPM. Our 6V-92TA gets punished with too many RPMs at highway speeds with the four speed Allison but still gets excellent mileage. Now if we only had the six speed Allison. :-)

Two cycles always sound like they are screaming as they fire on every stroke (but what a lovely scream) This with no exhaust stroke means glass smooth from idle to fuel cutoff. The required blower takes a huge amount of power at higher RPMs so modern 2 strokes are getting rid of the blower and using small electric motors to spin the turbo(s) until the boost is up. That's why the big engines on the ships can go slightly over 50% fuel efficiency.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Old phart phred –
Engine plate is on the starboard valve cover and gives max rpm, raise the bed to see. Check the plate and raise the rpm to match.
My guess is 2600 rpm like Mike's. Check to make sure throttle is going all the way open
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Cat 3208 t

Reply #17 –
Mine does in the flats of Florida 😆 at 2650 top about 74,5 mph(gps).  Getting about 10mpg.
Love it , but usually cruise around 2400rpm at 68mph.
Pedal to the metal

Sold 1990 U280 36' Build 3630