Why the rebuilds?

[Stephen Birtles]

Bearing in mind that new 3208's have not been produced since 1991 or 2
your only option is to to either rebuild your engine or repklaceit
with a re-manned engine
3208 has some quirks likes the tendency to drop valves or the fuel
pump leaking
But overall the amount of engines that were produced it has been
reliable there are still a lot of boats trucks heavy equipment and
buses that have the original engine installed some with many thousands
of miles and boats with many thousands of hours
The preconceived notion that a diesel engine is bullet proof is wrong
it is just heavier built. all the components usually weigh more to
combat the stresses of compression ignition
The problem with a coach is that it sits for long periods of time and
then is used and abused for a vacation then sits again for long
periods of time.
A diesel likes to run at a constant RPM for long periods of time with
little fluctuation
that is where the longevity of a diesel starts to appear
an example would be prime power for a communication shack in an
isolated area these gennys are the same you and I would buy except for
an extended oil pan they are set up with 2000 gallon fuel tank and a
500 gallon oil tank once setup and started it is not unusual to see
20,000 or even 30,000 hours of service they stay there till they die
then are replaced with new the old hulk is not returned because of the
cost of moving it. they are checked on remotely and serviced when
being refueled that is it.
My coach has had three motors in it the first dropped a valve for the
previous owner in 1996 the replacement for that was just plain junk
was replaced in 1999 compliments of caterpillar should have never been
rebuilt the third is a beauty low oil consumption reasonable mileage
no problems yet. It sits unloved and unwanted and not plugged in from
mid November until mid May every year and has not failed to start yet
when brought out from storage june is reserved for fixing the stuff I
broke last year.Right now I am chasing a coolant leak it will proabbly
turn out to be a head gasket solution pull the head check it replace
the gasket new bolts and away we go it will be done this winter still
have to go to riv and rats
Don't let a rebuild dissuade someone from buying a reasonable coach
3208 are a reasonably priced rebuild try rebuilding a 8v92 then you
will see sticker shock
Stephen 77fc35
Dupree Valves
Wanderlodge Vintage Parts




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
wrote:
>
> Dan, I just bought my PT-40 a few months back and I had the same
> question you have. Just too many rebuilds sitting around out there -
> are these bad engines, or what? Here's what I found: Every coach ad
> that interested me but had a rebuild, I contacted the owner and asked
> why. Every one of them had been overheated.
>
> So, there's your answer. Don't overheat the engine and it should last
> you a long time. Keep up on maintenance - coolant, oil, filter
> changes, etc, etc. Watch your gauges. The 8V92 will pull a hill like a
> bat out of hell if you tell it to, but that doesn't make it OK. Also,
> from what I was told, the slobber tubes discharge oil which tends to
> fly around the engine compartment and often gets sucked through the
> radiator, clogging it up and reducing cooling capacity. Keep your
> radiator clean (I power-washed mine when I got the coach home, even
> though it was already clean).
>
> When you stop, look things over. Every time I pull into a rest area,
> or stop for lunch, etc, I turn the high idle on and let the engine run
> for a few minutes to cool down - while this is happening I take a walk
> around the coach and check things out. This way I have an opportunity
> to hear, see and smell a nice hot engine while it's running, and just
> generally check the coach over, look at the tires, etc. Make this
> walk-around a habit so you can really be "in tune" with your coach.
> When you can start to feel how she's behaving, you'll be able to catch
> problems before they turn into disasters.
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
> Tri-Cities, WA
>
> On 9/3/07, bingomaster05 wrote:
> > I am new to your forum, and plan on purchasing a Wanderlodge
within the
> > next two years. I feel that a used "Bird" is better than most new
> > coaches on the market. But here is the question: If a diesel
engine is
> > capable of up to a million miles, why do so many units I have found
> > listed for sale have rebuilt engines? Most of these units have just
> > slightly over 100,000 miles. Is this mainly due to being poorly
> > maintained and general neglect, or the fact that they sit for
extended
> > periods of time. I see units with about 100,000 miles and think they
> > are hardly broken in, yet they may need rebuilt, it will make it
harder
> > to know what to choose. Thanks alot..this is a great site.
> >
> > Dan Thomas
> > PT 40 (soon)
> > Central PA
> >
>