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05-21-2019, 06:01 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 60
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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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05-21-2019, 06:10 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Good engine, short on torque but OK in lighter RV's
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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05-21-2019, 07:52 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,896
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bootstrap
Looking at a 05' DP with 7.2 Cat. Any good/bad experiences with this motor?
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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
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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05-21-2019, 08:49 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FIRE UP
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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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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05-22-2019, 01:47 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Blairsville, GA & WPB, FL
Posts: 3,993
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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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05-22-2019, 04:00 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Near San Antonio, TX
Posts: 441
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivylog
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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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.
__________________
Montyhp
2005 Discovery 39s Cat C7 330hp, AF1 brakes,
2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited Sport S, Blue Ox Towbar
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05-22-2019, 04:10 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Near San Antonio, TX
Posts: 441
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Quote:
Originally Posted by montyhp
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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Recommend this video: https://youtu.be/pS0i3f5hYhk
__________________
Montyhp
2005 Discovery 39s Cat C7 330hp, AF1 brakes,
2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited Sport S, Blue Ox Towbar
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05-22-2019, 11:32 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,896
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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
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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05-22-2019, 02:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ & Plover, WI
Posts: 6,403
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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.
__________________
2006 Monaco Executive 44 Denali
2013 43 QGP Allegro Bus ( SOLD )
2013 Avalanche
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05-22-2019, 02:36 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D
Good engine, short on torque but OK in lighter RV's
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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.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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05-22-2019, 02:57 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 6,557
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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.
__________________
97 Monaco Windsor- Sold
07 Monaco Executive McKinley- Sold
04 Monaco Signature Chateau IV
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