Cat C7 Service Costs

[Jim Stewart]

What can I expect as far as costs are concerned for a radiator flush, coolant replacment with ELC and to replace the two thermostats?

It is on a Safari rear radiator stacked charged cooler.

[wagonmaster2]

Will be watching for any responses to your question as I have the same situation on a Cat C-7 330 HP engine with rear radiator. I assume a lot of the cost will depend on the time it takes the tech to reach the top and front of the engine.

Wagonmaster2

[Jim Stewart]

Wagon, guess no one has had this done on their Cat C7! I may be the first.

[hondo122]

Here's my previous post.

I was scheduled to change out the thermostats and coolant when we returned from FL. On the way home I noticed oil under the engine, so I asked Ransome Cat Bensalem PA, to look things over. Well long story short the went over the entire engine. They found in no particular order leaking water pump, exhaust leak(new manifold gasket), timing chain cover leak, and a bad sensor. The service rep called with the bad news. They would have to pull the CAC/radiator to get to the work. Everything was covered under warranty. I went up to check the damage and he suggested that I replace the hoses and airfilter while everything was apart. Since the oil leak had sprayed the CAC/RADIATOR they separated them and steam cleaned them, the belts were ruined and replaced. They ended up having to drop the oil pan so I got an oil change. My total labor charge was 3 hours. Parts about $450. The total P&L $7100. Thank God for Cats great warranty, my total out of pocket $850 By the way they had quoted $650 for just the stats and coolant. Them having to open everything for the warranty work saved my butt.

[Jim Stewart]

Whoa...................thank you for the info. I think your story (although covered by warranty) would speak to the benefits of extended warranties or service contracts.

Thanks Jim

[hondo122]

Most after market policies don't cover gaskets and seals, so Cat saved my butt.

[aztortuga]

I just changed the coolant in my c7 cat in an travel supreme envoy (2005)
I did it myself and found the following:
A. It took quite me all probably eight hours of labor. Everything was new to me so next time it will be much easier. Most of the time was spent flushing out the old coolant, clean out the flusher cleaner I put in to cleanse the system, and getting the residual water and old coolant completely out of the system. This amounted to: drain the old coolant, flush the system with water, flush a second time, fill the system with water- run the engine- flush again. Now all the old coolant is out, fill the system with water and install two can of cat radiator flush-run the engine at normal temp for a time- I took mine out for a 25 mile drive to get thorough circulation through the system including the heater circuit. Again flush several time using the radiator drain, heater hose disconnect at the engine, and disconnect a lower radiator hose. After this final drain, I used my air compressor to "blow" out the residual water from the heater circuit and all other access points open for the water to drain from. Wow alot of work but not hard or technical work. Just drain and flush until you are satisfied that it is completely clean and not able to contaminate the new coolant.
B. Install two new Caterpillar thermostats (temperature regulators) cost of these two items $16.13 each, plus a new gasket $1.87
The install of these thermostats was again a bit of labor with moving hoses, getting the right socket to fit in several tight spaces etc., but really fairly straight forward if you have good access to the top of the engine.
C. Cat cooling system cleaner, two pints at $14.23 each.
D. Finally the coolant, I bought 18 gal at $11.71 each. This was the premixed coolant. My local cat dealer said he didn't carry the concentrated elc coolant. I did not use all of the coolant ordered and took four back. I now have an extra gal for replacement if needed and two for my generator coolant change out .
So total cost of parts at 18 gallons of ELC coolant was 273.37
This will give all a general idea of what one can expect. Jim

[Jim Stewart]

Thank you very much for your response, sounds like a lot of work (time). This gives me a ballpark!

Jim

[Jim Stewart]

Follow up:

Had the service done the last several days at Ring Power the Cat Dealer in Palm Bay, Florida.

2 Thermostats at $13.71 each, 1 gasket at $1.47 for total parts of $28.89. 12 gallons of ELC Coolant 50/50 pre-mix $11.99/gallon for a total of $143.88. 4 hours of labor at $94.50/hour for a total of $378.00. Grand total $550.77 included the labor to fill and flush system twice with water, did not require cleaner due to low mileage.

Replace transmission filters on MH3000, 1 high capacity filter kit $68.23, (No Transynd required, unit was previously slightly overfilled), labor $105.00 for a total of $173.23.

Replace both V-Belts, 1 at $36.81 and 1 at $12.64, total parts $49.45, labor $110.00 for a total of $159.45

Water temp gauge not working, diagnose problem, bad gauge, labor $110.00, gauge ordered.

Florida State Environmental Fee of 1 at $35.15

Hopes this gives someone else a heads up for what this type of service may cost. This is on a 2005 Safari Cheetah with Cat C-7, rear radiator with stacked charged air cooler, and Allison MH3000. Access to engine is from bedroom floor and bedroom closet.

[aztortuga]

Jim Stewert thanks for the nice thread and your postings. When I changed out my coolent to the ELC, I disabled my coolent filter which was not only a filter but a means of adding SCA to the older coolant.
Question: did you have a coolant filter and if so did the repair facility shut it off or replace it with a non sca additive filter?
I am planning on replacing my non functioning sca coolant filter with just a normal coolant filter but am looking for a part number to replace the cat 9m6123 sca type. Thanks Jim M

[vagabond8400]

I must have missed something here. $450 parts, total P&L = $7100 means 3 hours labor was $6650 or about $2200 per hour????????

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondo122 My total labor charge was 3 hours. Parts about $450. The total P&L $7100. Thank God for Cats great warranty, my total out of pocket $850 By the way they had quoted $650 for just the stats and coolant. Them having to open everything for the warranty work saved my butt.

[hondo122]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vagabond8400 I must have missed something here. $450 parts, total P&L = $7100 means 3 hours labor was $6650 or about $2200 per hour????????

Sorry my total labor was in the $400 range out of pocket.

[Jim Stewart]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aztortuga Jim Stewert thanks for the nice thread and your postings. When I changed out my coolent to the ELC, I disabled my coolent filter which was not only a filter but a means of adding SCA to the older coolant. Question: did you have a coolant filter and if so did the repair facility shut it off or replace it with a non sca additive filter? I am planning on replacing my non functioning sca coolant filter with just a normal coolant filter but am looking for a part number to replace the cat 9m6123 sca type. Thanks Jim M

Thanks, mine does not have a filter, I can't help on that one.