Valve adjustment

[MO Fred]

I recently purchased my coach and I now understand that Catapillar recommends an initial valve adjustment at 30,000 miles and another one at 100,000 miles. My coach has 60,000 miles on it and I am not sure it even had an initial adjustment. How can I know whether or not the adjustment was done?

[twinboat]

Check the rocker box, cover bolts for cracks in the paint. If the paint is intact, they haven't been off.

[JNSNWT]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Check the rocker box, cover bolts for cracks in the paint. If the paint is intact, they haven't been off.

That's an excellent suggestion that's so obvious I didn't think of it. I assumed the OP would have to adjust his valves and go from there.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Is the valve cover gasket reusable?

[2 Stroker]

Have your S/N in hand and call the Cat Hot Line. If it has been done at at a Cat shop they can tell you and any thing else that has been done to your motor.
1-877-777-3126
2 stroker

[AB7OH]

Hello

It's not hard to check the valve adjustment yourself. If you own a feeler gauge and have a helper to pin the engine, it takes about a hour to do it. That way you know it's done.


CAT 3126B

[MO Fred]

Originally Posted by 2 Stroker

Have your S/N in hand and call the Cat Hot Line. If it has been done at at a Cat shop they can tell you and any thing else that has been done to your motor.
1-877-777-3126
2 stroker

Thanks, I’ll give it a shot. I looked for it but can’t seem to locate it. Where would that S/N be located on the motor?

[2 Stroker]

Originally Posted by MO Fred

Thanks, I’ll give it a shot. I looked for it but can’t seem to locate it. Where would that S/N be located on the motor?

Mine you open the back door and there is a white label with the S/N on it.
2 stroker

[MO Fred]

Found the SN and called CAT. They have no record at all of any work ever been done on my motor. Also, finally reached the PO and he is not sure if it was ever done. So... at 60,000 miles what would you do?

[Fkrel]

Originally Posted by JNSNWT

That's an excellent suggestion that's so obvious I didn't think of it. I assumed the OP would have to adjust his valves and go from there.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Is the valve cover gasket reusable?

When I worked for the KW dealer some people wanted the gaskets changed others wanted them used over We always asked if they wanted them changed if the customer wanted them reused we told them and made a note of it that if a leak was to happen it would not be covered under workmanship warr and the cost would be the customers. Alot of people used them over and had no problems but once in a while one would leak.

[2 Stroker]

Originally Posted by MO Fred

Found the SN and called CAT. They have no record at all of any work ever been done on my motor. Also, finally reached the PO and he is not sure if it was ever done. So... at 60,000 miles what would you do?

Fred
Well if he can't remember if it has been done I would say it has never been done.
When I took mine in I removed the mirrors and track in the bedroom pulled up the floor and cleaned the motor. I used air to blow it off first then solent and a brush to get it clean. I did not want any dirt in my motor, remember there time is your $$$$
2 stroker

[JNSNWT]

FKREL, that makes perfect sense to me... I'll roll the dice on mine and reuse it.
But I will give myself a generous "lifetime " warranty

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[MO Fred]

Originally Posted by 2 Stroker

Fred
Well if he can't remember if it has been done I would say it has never been done.
When I took mine in I removed the mirrors and track in the bedroom pulled up the floor and cleaned the motor. I used air to blow it off first then solent and a brush to get it clean. I did not want any dirt in my motor, remember there time is your $$$$
2 stroker

Thanks for your response. I called a CAT dealer closest to me and talked to the service department. They looked up my motor too and again said it has never been worked on by CAT. At 60,000 miles he said the motor should be ok but I should get the valves adjusted sometime over the next few months. He also said it is more of a MPG issue than the threat that the motor will blow up. I am currently getting 8.1 miles per gallon on my C12 455 HP and he indicated that I should be happy with that. So.... it still makes me wonder if the valves have already been adjusted. I will keep researching the past maintenance... maybe I will get lucky.

[Soppy]

It's quite possible the valves have never been adjusted . Valves used to go out of adjustment more on real old engines , but there is very little change on the newer engines.

[CountryB]

Originally Posted by MO Fred

I will keep researching the past maintenance... maybe I will get lucky.

If you get lucky you save, maybe, $500 on the overhead adjustment.

If you're unlucky it could cost you $30,000 for an engine.

So:

"you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?'"?