Cat 3126e RUns Badly

[Ikester]

Sirs,
From nearly the beginning we have had episodes of the engine not running well, not developing power, and smoking.
We travel from the Olympia, Washington area to the Phoenix and back every year via Twin Falls, Idaho, and Wells and Ely, Nevada.
The first episode was in the high country it ran roughly, belched smoke and mostly couldn't climb the slightest grade faster that 25 mph. We took the motor home to Tacoma Diesel (Cat) and they determined there was a bolt missing from the turbocharger. The next episode was
outbound through Idaho. We took it into Meridian Cat. They found nothing on the computer, but a leak test of the turbocharger revealed a leak. Clamps were tightened and the air filter was replaced. This solved the problem again, temporarily.
On our way back this year it again started running badly in Idaho. We got it home and once again took it to Tacoma Cat. They could find nothing except the air filter seemed dirty. So we replaced it again. Unit now has 50,000 miles.
This week we went to the Oregon coast and it is still running badly. Now it's doing it at SEA LEVEL.
Have you heard reports of this condition? What can be done to fix it permanently? Upon arrival back at home I crawled around the engine compartment and was able to tighten several clamps, a few as much as ¼"�.
Thank you for any help you can provide.

[Ikester]

Sirs,
From nearly the beginning we have had episodes of the engine not running well, not developing power, and smoking.
We travel from the Olympia, Washington area to the Phoenix and back every year via Twin Falls, Idaho, and Wells and Ely, Nevada.
The first episode was in the high country it ran roughly, belched smoke and mostly couldn't climb the slightest grade faster that 25 mph. We took the motor home to Tacoma Diesel (Cat) and they determined there was a bolt missing from the turbocharger. The next episode was
outbound through Idaho. We took it into Meridian Cat. They found nothing on the computer, but a leak test of the turbocharger revealed a leak. Clamps were tightened and the air filter was replaced. This solved the problem again, temporarily.
On our way back this year it again started running badly in Idaho. We got it home and once again took it to Tacoma Cat. They could find nothing except the air filter seemed dirty. So we replaced it again. Unit now has 50,000 miles.
This week we went to the Oregon coast and it is still running badly. Now it's doing it at SEA LEVEL.
Have you heard reports of this condition? What can be done to fix it permanently? Upon arrival back at home I crawled around the engine compartment and was able to tighten several clamps, a few as much as ¼"�.
Thank you for any help you can provide.

[RedT]

If your local CAT dealer can't resolve the problem, my advice would be to post your problem statement on the CAT-RV Club forum at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/CATRVCLUB/

Brett Wolfe, past-president of the club is quite knowledgeable, has contacts within CAT that might be of great help to you. Good Luck.

[Silvertrac51]

I don't know if this would be a fix. However, I have a 330 Cat in a '02 Horizon and at least three times the engine would lug and slow way down on the slightest incline.
Changed the water/fuel sep all three times and run like a champ for another 10k miles.
Seems I get about 10k miles and it starts all over again.

It will be fairly cheap to try this, to see.

Good Luck !!