Community Forums

BHS · 05-05-2021, 07:55 AM

I do a complete filter and oil change out every year and we usually put around 5k yearly. My C7 runs perfectly and we tow a 2012 Jeep liberty every year to Pahrump NV from Atl Ga. In my opinion it's perfect. The 2005 freightliner frame with a back radiator works very well. My service mechanic checks fan belts, and all other drive systems each time. I put an extender on the manifold blow off tube to keep oil mist from getting to the radiator. My bus is a fleetwood 39V with 40,000 miles of great service. The wife and I go several times per year, the pahrump trip is 2100 miles from home, and our stay is about 4 months.
Safe travels to all and don't worry about the C7, just do your preventative service and enjoy the ride.

Leonandlisa · 05-05-2021, 09:15 AM

I have a 3126b, version before the C7, but very similar. It has 63,000, we have put about 4K on it since buying it. So far it’s been good, I just had to replace the fan last weekend due to insulation around engine bay getting sucked into it, based on my best guess. Had to pull the radiator and CAC to get to it, it was a whole weekend project, but now we are ready for a trip next month.

I couldn’t see the broken blade from
Below, only from the hatch in the closet, so keep an eye for that as it could have been worse if it broke more going down the road.

FIRE UP · 05-05-2021, 11:47 PM

The C-7 is a GREAT engine, in spite of some of the bad mouthing it's received on an RV forum. That engine was installed in Fire trucks, cement trucks, school busses, over the road trucks, short haul delivery trucks, motorhomes, and even Marine applications. There's still thousands of them running around all over this country.

Yep, some routine maintenance and preventative maintenance is a very good thing for the C-7, or any engine for that matter. We've had our '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP now for 10 years and 97,000 miles. I've replaced the radiator, fan bearing, all the bearings in tensioners and idlers, hoses, belts and other wearable items. That engine hauls a 30,000 lb. coach and a 5,300 lb. 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 with a Rampage lift and an 800 lb. 2015 BMW K1600 GTL Exclusive motorcycle around with out too much strain.

It's no rocket ship up some of the steeper grades but, I knew that before going into this operation. I'd get another C-7 if it came down to it.
Scott

Flyer 516NG · 05-06-2021, 05:45 AM

My Fleetwood Bounder 38N has a C-7 Cat also. Not a minutes worth of trouble with it. I had to fix a radiator hose once. I've put 20,000 miles on it since I bought it 7 years ago.

Bigd9 · 05-06-2021, 06:30 AM

My C7 has also been a pretty good engine. I've had to replace several sensors, the last being the waste gate solenoid, which fixed the "Check Engine" followed by the "Stop Engine" light and noise maker. While in the engine compartment I noticed the engine grid heater solenoid had a melted insulator on the 12 volt wire (see picture). I replaced it.

Word of unsolicited advise:
For those of you with the Cat C7, Freightliner chassis, carefully check the exhaust pipe leaving the exhaust brake and going to the muffler. When it burns through the intense heat can do $$,$$$ worth of damage. Mine burnt through while we were on our way to Pahrump, NV to visit with a friend who lives there!!!!

wolfe10 · 05-06-2021, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

Word of unsolicited advise:
For those of you with the Cat C7, Freightliner chassis, carefully check the exhaust pipe leaving the exhaust brake and going to the muffler. When it burns through the intense heat can do $$,$$$ worth of damage.

Actually, a good idea to check the exhaust system on any engine occasionally/part of routine maintenance.

JaminSamin · 05-06-2021, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

Word of unsolicited advise:
For those of you with the Cat C7, Freightliner chassis, carefully check the exhaust pipe leaving the exhaust brake and going to the muffler. When it burns through the intense heat can do $$,$$$ worth of damage. Mine burnt through while we were on our way to Pahrump, NV to visit with a friend who lives there!!!!

I couldn’t agree more! I wasn’t happy with the way the pipe Bigd9 mentioned looked on my Cat 3126E, it looked like it might blow through in a couple of spots, so I sent it to a ceramic coating company to see if it could be salvaged, luckily it was. Here are a couple of pictures showing the pipe before and after. Also while the pipe was out I lined the area the pipe came close to with a heat barrier to help keep the heat down.