Community Forums

billn · 04-06-2013, 07:19 AM

I looking at a 2005 Fleetwood with a 330 Cat. A friend says stay away from Cat as they are more trouble than Cummings and they smoke alot on start up.....I have no experiance with either. Please comment on your experiance.....Thanks

Davdeb1 · 04-06-2013, 07:29 AM

I have a 330 cat. They are no better or worse than a Cummins. If the engine runs well, get

Davdeb1 · 04-06-2013, 07:30 AM

I have a 330 cat. They are no better or worse than a Cummins. If the engine runs well, get the oil analysed and see if you can get service records.

Its the old Ford vs Chevy thing,

vraines · 04-06-2013, 07:36 AM

I have several of both and as was mentioned, mileage, and proper service with records are the critical considerations. Have it inspected if any questions. Other considerations are is this a rear or side radiator? Good luck.

Chuck 1935 · 04-06-2013, 07:39 AM

I have a 330 Cat with 96,000 miles and it works great. No problems, no smoke, just a trouble free strong engine. I truly believe that, with all of this stuff, it is the sitting around that causes all of the problems.
I am just finishing a 5,000 mile trip, towing my Honda CR-V and am averaging 7.5 MPG, with an average speed of 70 MPH when on the Interstates. When you hear of problems with this or that on sites such as irv2, remember that there are over 100,000 folks posting about their problems with whatever. It is such a small percentage and should be considered as such.

RustyJC · 04-06-2013, 07:55 AM

Neither engine brand would necessarily be a deal-breaker for me if the MH was otherwise one that I wanted. One differentiating factor to be aware of is that Caterpillar no longer supplies engines for the over-the-road market, so there MAY be some ramifications in the long term with the ready availability of parts and service as the population of Cat engines on the highway declines.

Rusty

greezykid · 04-06-2013, 08:02 AM

Another 330 cat with no problems.

doc · 04-06-2013, 08:21 AM

Had both. Like Rusty says, would not be a deal breaker if other things were what I wanted. The 300 Cat we had needed the puke pipe extended and before I discovered that the radiator had gummed up with oil smoke and dust. After correction it ran fine.
It may be just me, but it felt like the Cat revved faster than the present Cummins

Skip426 · 04-06-2013, 08:59 AM

X2, Ford vs Chev.
Anyone who says Cummins is better , no trouble , has never done warrenty work at a Dodge dealership. Vf-44 pumps, lift pumps, dowell pins,#53 blocks, in 14 years I saw a lot and at one time in those years I was the only tech in a city of 100k doing the work. Ive seen most of the bad Cummins had to offer. Now I have had a Cat in my coach for 3 years.
Slobber tube ( Cummins has them too ) a persistant oil leak, oil pan rust, water pump.
You can have problems with either engine.
Would I avoid a coach because of the type of engine , No , size maybe.