Diesel engine question

racer4919 · 01-03-2013, 09:02 PM

I am looking to buy a used toterhome. I find lots of them for sale with the Catapillar 3126 engine. I have heard a lot of bad about this engine, but thought I would ask here if anyone has had good or bad experience with it. Thanks, Wayne

HR9121 · 01-04-2013, 01:28 PM

No personal experience but do know that some of the earlier models of this engine had trouble with the block cracking. I think these were late 90's and early 00's. Most cats are good motors but be prepared to shell some money out when you do have trouble. We run 2 kenworth's with cats and have had little trouble but when we do they have to go to the dealer because you have to have special tools to work on them in most cases. All of our logging equipment has cummins motors in them and they are much easier to maintain and work on in my opinion. I would try to find something with a cummins motor if it were me. Just my preference though. Good luck.

Run to Rund · 01-04-2013, 05:39 PM

x2 on cummins

Greg Hill · 01-05-2013, 08:29 AM

I have a freight liner fl70 with a 3126b cat motor. It is a motor home with a 26' box. It has 100,000 miles and I have had no problems with it. I would try and find something that has been well maintained. I am pulling a 28' stacker and my truck does okay until you get into hills.

mr305 · 01-08-2013, 09:58 PM

I happen to have some knowledge of these engines, in the past 2 weeks I have put 4 sleeves in the blocks that have came through my machine shop do to them cracking. Now they also do not offer a oversize piston for this engine but only repair sleeves so the cost of an engine overhaul is quite expensive as is all repairs with a cat engine. I can tell you this much if you can find one with a 8.3 ISC cummins in it you will be much happier with the power and fuel mileage. Plus they are somewhat affordable to work on an pretty straight forward. Happy hunting if you have anymore questions feel free to give me a shout at the shop 574-583-2888.
Aaron disinger
327y
Gt/ha

james schaechter · 01-12-2013, 03:03 PM

We have an 8.3 Cummins in ourRV and rebuilt itlast year. It had one liner fail. Since we were paying a shop to do it, it made more sense to us togo all out and do all new liners and piston kits. The sleeves push out. They might have been able to do it in frame, but they preferred pulling the engine out the back and rebuilding it on a stand. It looked pretty straightforward. I think any engine with the removable sleeves is a smart move. I would see if you have a connection to a local shop familar with commercial diesels. They will tell you the pros and cons. None of the toters and rvs take the abuse the work trucks do. If they survive that torture, then it won't be a problem for a toter. I would look at the maintainance that was done. Some of the toters I have seen got zero upkeep and just a lot of run time. That can come back to haunt the next owner. One thing is the ph of the antifreeze. If it is not monitored, it can ruin liners or in the case of a cat for example, cause pinholes in the cylinder walls.You do need to know how much a total redo will cost and decide if you can stomach that if it comes up.

01-03-2013, 09:02 PM	#1
racer4919 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 53 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Diesel engine question I am looking to buy a used toterhome. I find lots of them for sale with the Catapillar 3126 engine. I have heard a lot of bad about this engine, but thought I would ask here if anyone has had good or bad experience with it. Thanks, Wayne

01-04-2013, 01:28 PM	#2
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,353 Likes: 112 Liked 2,869 Times in 641 Posts	Re: Diesel engine question No personal experience but do know that some of the earlier models of this engine had trouble with the block cracking. I think these were late 90's and early 00's. Most cats are good motors but be prepared to shell some money out when you do have trouble. We run 2 kenworth's with cats and have had little trouble but when we do they have to go to the dealer because you have to have special tools to work on them in most cases. All of our logging equipment has cummins motors in them and they are much easier to maintain and work on in my opinion. I would try to find something with a cummins motor if it were me. Just my preference though. Good luck. __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA

01-04-2013, 05:39 PM	#3
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 574 Likes: 6 Liked 44 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Diesel engine question x2 on cummins

01-05-2013, 08:29 AM	#4
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,994 Likes: 63 Liked 270 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Diesel engine question I have a freight liner fl70 with a 3126b cat motor. It is a motor home with a 26' box. It has 100,000 miles and I have had no problems with it. I would try and find something that has been well maintained. I am pulling a 28' stacker and my truck does okay until you get into hills. __________________ Greg Hill 4171 STK

01-08-2013, 09:58 PM	#5
mr305 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Monticello Posts: 159 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Diesel engine question I happen to have some knowledge of these engines, in the past 2 weeks I have put 4 sleeves in the blocks that have came through my machine shop do to them cracking. Now they also do not offer a oversize piston for this engine but only repair sleeves so the cost of an engine overhaul is quite expensive as is all repairs with a cat engine. I can tell you this much if you can find one with a 8.3 ISC cummins in it you will be much happier with the power and fuel mileage. Plus they are somewhat affordable to work on an pretty straight forward. Happy hunting if you have anymore questions feel free to give me a shout at the shop 574-583-2888. Aaron disinger 327y Gt/ha

01-12-2013, 03:03 PM	#6
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,928 Likes: 1,071 Liked 1,212 Times in 249 Posts	Re: Diesel engine question We have an 8.3 Cummins in ourRV and rebuilt itlast year. It had one liner fail. Since we were paying a shop to do it, it made more sense to us togo all out and do all new liners and piston kits. The sleeves push out. They might have been able to do it in frame, but they preferred pulling the engine out the back and rebuilding it on a stand. It looked pretty straightforward. I think any engine with the removable sleeves is a smart move. I would see if you have a connection to a local shop familar with commercial diesels. They will tell you the pros and cons. None of the toters and rvs take the abuse the work trucks do. If they survive that torture, then it won't be a problem for a toter. I would look at the maintainance that was done. Some of the toters I have seen got zero upkeep and just a lot of run time. That can come back to haunt the next owner. One thing is the ph of the antifreeze. If it is not monitored, it can ruin liners or in the case of a cat for example, cause pinholes in the cylinder walls.You do need to know how much a total redo will cost and decide if you can stomach that if it comes up. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK Last edited by james schaechter; 01-12-2013 at 03:06 PM.