Update on My Reno Status - My 3 Choices....

[Rob Robinson]

Standby Andy you'll get some good advice I'm sure. There are people out
there in the forums who have actually rebuilt these engines and I would
trust their advice. Mike H comes to mind.

On 14/09/2007, Andy Coleman wrote:
>
> Fellow Wanderlodgers:
>
> Just got off the phone with my mechanic in Reno today. As he had
> promised me, he removed the heads on both sides of my 3208 motor and
> inspected the top end. Being on a stand, it is now much easier to do.
>
> On the side of the engine that blew the head gasket, he said there was
> anti-freeze staining on the inside of all four cylinders. He said he
> could probably removed the staining with a very fine emory cloth. He
> inspected the head gasket, and noted that it had probably been going
> bad for some time. It didn't just blow from my trip. The head was
> etched from antifreeze going places it should not have. He
> recommended that I have the head rebuilt. He said it was also
> possible that I had some antifreeze leakage without knowing it. I
> changed the oil before leaving for my trip - and noticed nothing unusual.
>
> The head on the other side appeared fine, so did the cylinders and
> gasket. He recommended that since I have the engine out, I might want
> to go ahead and rebuild that head too, and of course replace the
> gasket on that side.
>
> He also told me to consider installing a new re-man 3208. With the
> engine already out and all the parts and labor required to re-build my
> old one, he said it was something to consider. When I told him that I
> plan to keep my FC for another 10+ years, he seemed to recommend this
> option more.
>
> The service supervisor ran some numbers and boiled it down to three
> options for me. Brace yourself!
>
> 1. Install 2 new head gaskets & put the engine back together - total
> cost $8,100.00.
>
> 2. Install 2 reman heads and gaskets. Put the engine back together.
> Total cost $9,700.00.
>
> 3. Install a cat re-man (and warrented) engine and put everything
> back together. Total cost $20,400. The engine itself - $11,750.00.
>
> I did some engine research weeks ago when I first had my problem. I
> found that the Rhino engines
> http://www.rhinoengines.com/caterpillar3208engines.htm re-mans a 3208
> for under $7,000.00. 24-month unlimited nationwide warrentee. The
> service guy told me they had two bad experiences with Rhino engines in
> the past, and would not install them. They have a manufacturer in
> California called Ariva (Sp?) that they buy re-man engines from. It
> would cost me around $9,700.00, but not have the full nationwide
> warrentee a Cat re-man does. They don't purchase engines from any
> other re-man firms.
>
> I asked the service guy if he could send my existing heads to a
> machine shop to be re-built, over buying two new re-man ones. He said
> they could, but of course had no idea what that would cost.
>
> Well, there you have it... The decision that I must make in the next
> few days... I am leaning towards #2, and sending my two heads off to
> be re-built at a machine shop. If they are not in too bad shape, it
> might cost me less than buying two re-man ones.
>
> I'm also basing my decision on the performance of the engine so far -
> it did not even burn a quart of oil on the first 5,000 miles of my
> trip! It ran smooth, sounded really good, had plenty of power (for a
> 250 HP turbo 3208), and did not smoke.
>
> I'm sharing all the ugly details of my experience with all of you in
> the hopes it might benefit somebody in the future. I also would like
> to hear if you guys agree with my choice of #2. And of course, I'm
> bracing myself to hear "you are being ripped off" responses.
>
> Thank you all for the many offers of advice and sympathy. If I didn't
> have this list to consult and vent, I don't know what I would do!
>
> Andy Coleman
> 83' FC-35 250 HP Turbo 3208
> Spring Lake, NJ
>
>
>



--
Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
94 WLWB


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