Looking for service information on an RV I am buying - CAT powered
Hello,
I have had a few campers over time, but this is my first class A. It is a 2005 Coachman Encore.
Is there a write up or manuals I can buy on how to service the generator and engine with the basics.....filters, oil changes, etc? I have had a Cummins powered Ram for almost 20 years, so I am somewhat familiar with diesels. I haven't picked up the coach yet because the dealer lost the title and is waiting for a replacement so I don't know what model engine is in it other than a 330 CAT.
I have looked at youtube and there seems to be different info on capacity. Also, I always used Fleetguard filters on my Ram. Are they acceptable for CAT, and if so where is a good place online to buy them from?
Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place. Please move if necessary.
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Search for 2005 cat 3126 and you will get your answers. Open up Diesel rebuild kits 3126B 170/330hp. 6 pages of info. I had one for 9 worry free years.
Search for 2005 cat 3126 and you will get your answers. Open up Diesel rebuild kits 3126B 170/330hp. 6 pages of info. I had one for 9 worry free years.
Thank you. Where is the rebuid kit info located? On this site?
If that Sportscoach Encore is black and silver, it may be the one I used to own. The engine is a 330 horse C7 (7.2 liter) HEUI motor (Hydraulic Electronic Unit Injectors). HEUI motors use the engine oil as hydraulic fluid to fire the injectors. It is therefor critical to keep clean oil in that engine. Only CAT brand filters should be used in a CAT engine as they are the only ones who guarantee filtering down to 2 microns which is required for the HEUI injectors. HEUI systems rarely fail, but when they do it is often due to contaminates in the oil. The only problem I had with the C7 was the difficulty adjusting the water pump belt on a rear radiator coach. There are many discussions online about this issue. I traded the Sportscoach for a Beaver with a CAT C9 400 horse (also a HEUI motor). Since CAT exited the on-road engine market in 2009, some CAT dealers refuse to service motorhomes, but I have never had a problem with independent shops. Good luck and happy travels.
Richard
If you do not have adequate service records when you get the coach, then I would recommend you go through and change all the fluids. Use good quality 15W40 oil, most owners like Shell Rotella T4. (Caution, many of the C7's had an incorrectly calibrated dipstick. Yours should require 19 quarts. If you overfill it, it will cavitate and blow the excess out the breather and make a mess on your rear radiator which is a real pain to clean.) The Allison transmission may or may not have Transynd in it. If you don't know, then change it and put new filters in it. Transynd is expensive but it is good insurance for the longevity of a Allison transmission. The C7 is a bored block motor, so you do not have to worry about coolant additives that are required in sleeved motors. So, any good quality automotive coolant is adequate. That's all I can think of. Good luck.
Richard
I would recommend you go online and create an account with your local CAT dealer. You will need the serial number of your engine. CAT does NOT go by the year of the vehicle like cars do since their engines get installed in different year vehicles. In my case, my CAT C9 was built in 2004, installed in late 2005 and registered as a 2006. So, the year becomes meaningless.
Richard
Fuel filters I wouldnt use anything but Caterpillar filters. Oil filters are open for discussions. At one time Fleet filter were bad, Baldwins were the worst- Wix were great. But with aftermarket filter companies it depends on the management of the time. Years later Fleet was a good filter and Baldwin was one of the best and Wix had fallen. I got to see the test results run by Caterpillar over the years.
I think the engine manufacturers have more skin in the game over the long term to have good filters and oil. So I think the filter quality stays more consistant with the engine manufacturers filter. HEUI pump need clean oil that purges foaming/aeration quickly and withstands the shearing forces in the pump system. So I like Caterpillar oil also. Safe Travels
If that Sportscoach Encore is black and silver, it may be the one I used to own. The engine is a 330 horse C7 (7.2 liter) HEUI motor (Hydraulic Electronic Unit Injectors). HEUI motors use the engine oil as hydraulic fluid to fire the injectors. It is therefor critical to keep clean oil in that engine. Only CAT brand filters should be used in a CAT engine as they are the only ones who guarantee filtering down to 2 microns which is required for the HEUI injectors. HEUI systems rarely fail, but when they do it is often due to contaminates in the oil. The only problem I had with the C7 was the difficulty adjusting the water pump belt on a rear radiator coach. There are many discussions online about this issue. I traded the Sportscoach for a Beaver with a CAT C9 400 horse (also a HEUI motor). Since CAT exited the on-road engine market in 2009, some CAT dealers refuse to service motorhomes, but I have never had a problem with independent shops. Good luck and happy travels.
Richard
Fuel filters I wouldnt use anything but Caterpillar filters. Oil filters are open for discussions. At one time Fleet filter were bad, Baldwins were the worst- Wix were great. But with aftermarket filter companies it depends on the management of the time. Years later Fleet was a good filter and Baldwin was one of the best and Wix had fallen. I got to see the test results run by Caterpillar over the years.
I think the engine manufacturers have more skin in the game over the long term to have good filters and oil. So I think the filter quality stays more consistant with the engine manufacturers filter. HEUI pump need clean oil that purges foaming/aeration quickly and withstands the shearing forces in the pump system. So I like Caterpillar oil also. Safe Travels
I have owned a Cummins powered truck since 2006 and have always used Fleetguard filters.
I have owned a Cummins powered truck since 2006 and have always used Fleetguard filters.
I worked at a Dodge dealership and did Cummins repairs for the last 14 years before I retired .
When looking for a coach and finding the one the DW liked the most was Cat powered ; I figured " it's a diesel it can't be that much different. " .
The fuel injection system is closer to Powerstroke than Cummins .
The HEUI system is explained in this pdf , on the 3126 ; the forerunner of the C-7 .
Oil capacity differences are attributed to the oil pan in the coach , steel pan 19 quarts ; and often the dipstick requires calibration , in order to be correct.
Aluminum oil pan holds much more.
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99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.