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Old 05-21-2019, 06:01 PM   #1
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Thoughts on the Cat 7.2??

Looking at a 05' DP with 7.2 Cat. Any good/bad experiences with this motor?
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Old 05-21-2019, 06:10 PM   #2
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Good engine, short on torque but OK in lighter RV's
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Old 05-21-2019, 07:52 PM   #3
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Looking at a 05' DP with 7.2 Cat. Any good/bad experiences with this motor?
Well,
You don't say what year/make/model/chassis etc. The C-7 is a good engine. Our coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with CAT C-7 330HP, now has right near 90,000 miles on it and it has been flawless for the 8 years and almost 50K miles we've put on it. We have several friends with that CAT engine and not one of them has had any issues. While not a race engine, (which diesel engine is?) it's got quite a bit of power and torque, based on what model length etc. coach it's installed in.

Like stated, ours is a 36' unit and, it has ZERO issues towing either of our two toads. One is a '15 Jeep JKUR and the second one is an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 which, is much of the time, loaded with a Rampage lift and an '08 Honda GL 1800 GoldWing that hovers in the 900 lb. region. So, with that setup, we're dragging behind us, about 6,700 lbs and, it moves right along with that load.

Depending on the steepness of a given grade, we do actually quite well for most of the time. Also as stated, we've got friends with various versions of that C-7, i.e. the 300, 330 and 350HP versions. All of them are really happy with those engines. The prime key to a successful life of a C-7 is TIMELY OIL CHANGES. I've done lots of front engine maintenance, i.e. fan bearing replacement, idler bearing replacement, tensioner bearing replacement, belts and hose replacements etc. Most all of what I replaced was still in good shape but, it was in coordination with radiator work so, why not?
Scott
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Old 05-21-2019, 08:49 PM   #4
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Well,
You don't say what year/make/model/chassis etc. The C-7 is a good engine. Our coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with CAT C-7 330HP, now has right near 90,000 miles on it and it has been flawless for the 8 years and almost 50K miles we've put on it. We have several friends with that CAT engine and not one of them has had any issues. While not a race engine, (which diesel engine is?) it's got quite a bit of power and torque, based on what model length etc. coach it's installed in.

Like stated, ours is a 36' unit and, it has ZERO issues towing either of our two toads. One is a '15 Jeep JKUR and the second one is an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 which, is much of the time, loaded with a Rampage lift and an '08 Honda GL 1800 GoldWing that hovers in the 900 lb. region. So, with that setup, we're dragging behind us, about 6,700 lbs and, it moves right along with that load.

Depending on the steepness of a given grade, we do actually quite well for most of the time. Also as stated, we've got friends with various versions of that C-7, i.e. the 300, 330 and 350HP versions. All of them are really happy with those engines. The prime key to a successful life of a C-7 is TIMELY OIL CHANGES. I've done lots of front engine maintenance, i.e. fan bearing replacement, idler bearing replacement, tensioner bearing replacement, belts and hose replacements etc. Most all of what I replaced was still in good shape but, it was in coordination with radiator work so, why not?
Scott
It's a 2005 Fleetwood Excursion 39S. It has a 350 HP 7.2 Caterpillar motor, 6 speed Allison transmission and an exhaust brake with 33k miles
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Old 05-22-2019, 01:47 AM   #5
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A 04 3126 is a good engine but the 05 C7 Acert is not as good because of the additional pollution systems...still a OK engine.
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Old 05-22-2019, 04:00 AM   #6
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A 04 3126 is a good engine but the 05 C7 Acert is not as good because of the additional pollution systems...still a OK engine.
I don't think that is an ACERT engine. (I think ACERT uses a diesel particulate filter which my C7 does not have). I could be wrong about that but I think the complaints about ACERT were due to the DPF regen cycle.

Recommend subscribing to Adept Ape on youtube and looking at his old videos. he is a cat mechanic and videos many of his repair procedures.

On the C7, some potential trouble areas are the fuel pump (called a huei pump) and the turbocharger. These are two items that can break and cause a fairly expensive repair. The HUEI pump runs off high pressure oil and can have trouble if your oil gets dirty. I change mine fairly frequently, 1 to 2 times a year depending on my miles driven.

Having said that, I have never had a HUEI or turbo issue. My C7 has been reliable for the last 4 years (40,000 miles). I did have a problem with the air conditioning compressor that left me stranded, but not directly engine related.
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Old 05-22-2019, 04:10 AM   #7
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I don't think that is an ACERT engine. (I think ACERT uses a diesel particulate filter which my C7 does not have). I could be wrong about that but I think the complaints about ACERT were due to the DPF regen cycle.

Recommend subscribing to Adept Ape on youtube and looking at his old videos. he is a cat mechanic and videos many of his repair procedures.

On the C7, some potential trouble areas are the fuel pump (called a huei pump) and the turbocharger. These are two items that can break and cause a fairly expensive repair. The HUEI pump runs off high pressure oil and can have trouble if your oil gets dirty. I change mine fairly frequently, 1 to 2 times a year depending on my miles driven.

Having said that, I have never had a HUEI or turbo issue. My C7 has been reliable for the last 4 years (40,000 miles). I did have a problem with the air conditioning compressor that left me stranded, but not directly engine related.
Recommend this video: https://youtu.be/pS0i3f5hYhk
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Old 05-22-2019, 11:32 AM   #8
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As STATED, ours IS an '04 and it IS a C-7, 330HP, NOT a 3126. It does say ACERT on the valve cover but, does not have some of the ACERT technology the later C-7s have. We have NO particulate filter and no DEF of any type.

Our chassis production date is 10/03 and the coach production date is 11/03. The "in service" date is 1/04. The coach is labeled as an '04. The 3126 had multiple versions and, was a good engine. The C-7 is just an improved version with differences in HEUI pumps, heads and a few other items. AGAIN, the C-7 has show great service in not only motorhomes but also:

1. Fire trucks
2. Over the road trucks
3. Cement trucks
4. Local delivery trucks
5. Marine applications which by the way, offer 400HP versions.

The '05 coach/C-7 the OP is considering, is a GREAT ENGINE. With proper care and maintenance, they'll have ZERO issues with it.
Scott
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Old 05-22-2019, 02:27 PM   #9
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We had the 330 hp C7 in a 40' 03 Phaeton bought new in 2003 and traded in 2011. It performed great with adequate power and decent fuel economy. No issues in 8 years and 67,000 miles.
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Old 05-22-2019, 02:36 PM   #10
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Good engine, short on torque but OK in lighter RV's
I should have added that they are native bore engines and don't have liners. Some consider them "throw away" engines due to that. It is possible to bore them out and put liners in but it reduces the piston diameter meaning less displacement.
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Old 05-22-2019, 02:57 PM   #11
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First, why are you asking?
I recommend reviewing the Cat section on this and other forums.
Caterpillar Engine Forum - iRV2 Forums

Are you planning on towing and where (what part of the country) do you plan on traveling? The reason I ask is it takes more torque to tow out west in the mountains and high temperatures than it does back east.

The C7 is often nick named the "school bus" engine as it is not designed like larger Cat engines and does not have replaceable cylinder liners. It has had it's fair share of issues with the HEUI system and would not be my first choice.

Having said that, IF the previous owner kept up with the oil maintenance then you may get good service out of it.
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