Community Forums

CountryB · 09-05-2018, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrinsfi

Scott I am very envious of the access you have to your engine bay.

LOL - I was about to comment how tight it looked.

I have the side radiator in my coach and the closet floor has a trap door opening above the engine - I can actually see the ground looking down from the top.
Looking at Scott's engine, it looks like you could not drop a credit card into that opening and have it make it to the ground.

FIRE UP · 09-05-2018, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrinsfi

Scott I am very envious of the access you have to your engine bay. Does a single cover fit over both the forward and rear openings? I recently had to change out my surge tank in my 07 Fleetwood Excursion and I could not gain access directly over the surge tank like you apparently can.

Jim,
When we purchased this coach, I was not all that schooled in access to engines, especially mine, as I am now. What you see in the two pictures is not as detailed as what's actually there. No, it's not a single cover for that engine compartment. It's two. The major one is lower or, closer to the foot of the bed and, is about 36" x 36" or so. The second one, is basically under the head or, pillows of the bed. It's about 36" wide by about 18" or so inches tall. There obviously is a support beam between the two sections but, that beam really doesn't hinder too much when I'm performing surgery on that engine.

Yes, with my arrangement, replacing that surge tank is CONSIDERABLY easier than without my type of arrangement. I have a buddy that just purchased an '05, 39' Winne Journey with the C-7 350HP CAT. One of the first things I noticed on his coach when I started inspecting it was the surge tank. WOW is that thing SEVERELY CRACKED in all directions. It's a wonder it has any coolant in it. It looks like some of the ice that the ICE ROAD TRUCKERS drove on in some of the frozen lakes. He's been advised to replace it IMMEDIATELY, prior to any intended trips.

But, the 39' Journey, has a bedroom arrangement that's considerably different than ours. Our bed is a North-South bed, his is an East-West. That makes for some very, awkward and very difficult engine access for any type of work. He's gonna have fun replacing that tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryB

LOL - I was about to comment how tight it looked.

I have the side radiator in my coach and the closet floor has a trap door opening above the engine - I can actually see the ground looking down from the top.
Looking at Scott's engine, it looks like you could not drop a credit card into that opening and have it make it to the ground.

Hey CountryB,
Well, those pics really don't show the whole scenario of my engine compartment. If you look at the one below, it's more of a true picture of my engine compartment, as viewed from a bit of an angle, not straight over head. I can assure you, laughing, I do have plenty of room for a credit card to fall through, all the way to the floor below, which you see in the pics. I do have considerably more work-a-ble area on the turbo side vs the HEUI pump (passenger side) but, I still have even some room there. I thought I had more pics of that engine compartment from different angles but, all I can find is what you see.

Now, surely I don't have the same access to some of the engine that you or many others have with a side radiator but, for my arrangement, It's better than many others with a rear radiator.
Scott

backagain · 09-07-2018, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

I just go by what's on the valve cover which, if you zoom in, you'll see C-7 ACERT.
Scott

03 and 04 were transition years for Cat before their final ACERT engines that started late 04 to 06, so I'm not surprised if you didn't have the catalytic muffler. Anyways, your complaint was about the noisy aftermarket muffler you had, which may be partially due to having a single turbo vs the twin turbos on my C13. How many turbos do you have?

backagain · 09-07-2018, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorcq

It is not about tuning, it is about Code being rewritten. Unless you have the source code, you cannot just go in and switch functions on/off. Tuning chips connected outside, all they do is change the timing signal - because they are connect prior to the injectors.

The source code has too many password protections in place. Even if someone has this, once all the changes are completed you then have to recompile the source code. And during this recompiling, there are many internal checks.

Next, even if you use the CAT certified code, you still cannot make changes to the fuel schedules. Nor can you just go into the code and delete sensors. They are all intertwined. You remove a sensor, and internally, you will get a error, saying something is wrong.

You can see the signals from the sensors and the timing, but you are right back. You cannot change it.

I have worked with programmers for engine controllers long enough to know what is and is not possible.

I am just stating, someone is not really the truth of what they are doing.

He said, "...well after 200 units a year. I've got it down to a science.
Cats are the easiest, especially 08"

I'm sure he's not perfect. If he did yours, maybe you'd be the guy that would end up with a cel code

CountryB · 09-07-2018, 03:37 PM

There is a You Tube video channel called "JPAY DIRT" where the guy swapped from this twin turbo C15 (ACERT engine) to a single turbo (Switchblade) and ending up needing some reprogramming work done to his ECM. It was able to get programmed - so it is possible.

gatorcq · 09-07-2018, 04:08 PM

This is all what the tech is able to do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpm1Dn1BPGU

He cannot change the code, but only change the customer programmable setting. Sorry, but this guy is not a programmer, nor is he changing the code. He may be downloading a different config file or changing a valve.

backagain · 09-08-2018, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorcq

He cannot change the code, but only change the customer programmable setting. Sorry, but this guy is not a programmer, nor is he changing the code. He may be downloading a different config file or changing a valve.

Well, if you're talking about my guy, he does have a Russian background. So... just saying

backagain · 09-08-2018, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryB

There is a You Tube video channel called "JPAY DIRT" where the guy swapped from this twin turbo C15 (ACERT engine) to a single turbo (Switchblade) and ending up needing some reprogramming work done to his ECM. It was able to get programmed - so it is possible.

Yep, if there's a computer, there's someone who can hack it. I'm not sure why gatorcq is so convinced that a Cat ECU is bullet proof. Brady, my Russian hacker, was telling me this morning that he can pretty much change any programming. He can tell the ECU exactly when and how long an injector opens, which sensors to ignore, etc. He told me that he bought a special computer that allows him to do it. It cost him a lot of $$, but at over 200 DPF deletes a year, I think he's recouped his investment. His motivation was all the crappy running farm equipment on the 15,000 acre farm. California didn't think about the farmers trying to feed the world.

Captjake1 · 09-08-2018, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backagain

Yep, if there's a computer, there's someone who can hack it. I'm not sure why gatorcq is so convinced that a Cat ECU is bullet proof. Brady, my Russian hacker, was telling me this morning that he can pretty much change any programming. He can tell the ECU exactly when and how long an injector opens, which sensors to ignore, etc. He told me that he bought a special computer that allows him to do it. It cost him a lot of $$, but at over 200 DPF deletes a year, I think he's recouped his investment. His motivation was all the crappy running farm equipment on the 15,000 acre farm. California didn't think about the farmers trying to feed the world.

Agreed. If it were only 'customer programmable ' settings, I am sure I would be sitting stranded on the side of the road with my DPF delete. The mechanical portions alone would cause the ecm to throw codes... but it doesn't. Runs Like a top.

jbrinsfi · 09-09-2018, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backagain

Yep, if there's a computer, there's someone who can hack it. I'm not sure why gatorcq is so convinced that a Cat ECU is bullet proof. Brady, my Russian hacker, was telling me this morning that he can pretty much change any programming. He can tell the ECU exactly when and how long an injector opens, which sensors to ignore, etc. He told me that he bought a special computer that allows him to do it. It cost him a lot of $$, but at over 200 DPF deletes a year, I think he's recouped his investment. His motivation was all the crappy running farm equipment on the 15,000 acre farm. California didn't think about the farmers trying to feed the world.

I think one needs the source code to actually change the embedded firmware in the ECM. That said there are parameters that are "programmable" by someone who has the right knowledge and equipment. I believe thats all GatorCQ was saying.

CountryB · 09-09-2018, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorcq

This is all what the tech is able to do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpm1Dn1BPGU

He cannot change the code, ....
He may be downloading a different config file or changing a value.

I think it is the "config file" that we are talking about (regarding ACERT delete). That's all the engine parameters (timing, etc.).

In the Adept Ape video you can see all the parameters that are changeable (and as Josh mentioned, would need to be entered by hand on a new ECM if the old ECM file is not available to copy).

BOOZE TRAVEL · 09-13-2018, 02:45 PM

I got a hole in the muffler of our 02 Tradewinds with the 3126. Called Cat to figure out which muffler I needed. It had a catalytic muffler that cost over $3k! Ordered a Walker for $139 through O’rileys and swapped them. The original muffler weighed a ton so I’m sure it was clogged. The rig runs even stronger with the Walker Muffler and it was impressive before. I can’t notice a difference in sound level from where I sit.

CountryB · 09-13-2018, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOZE TRAVEL

3126. It had a catalytic muffler that cost over $3k!

What is a "catalytic muffler" (not DPF muffler)?

The 3126 was before diesel emissions so I don't know what a catalytic muffler would be for.

Googling this brings up nothing relevant. Now I'm curious! Standing by for answers.

Cat · 09-13-2018, 06:15 PM

There has been diesel emissions standards since 1974. They were fairly easy to meet with minor changes. If I remember correctly they got really serious 1994 on. As time went on they got harder and harder to meet by just doing internal modifications. The 2000s and later got a lot tougher to make. See for requirement and explanation www.dieselnet.com/standards/us