Newbie wants an FC but worried about the Cat 3208 engine

[Mike Hohnstein]

You need to focus on '87 and up if a FC is what you want. The newer units are
much more serviceable and have the power to operate on today's highways. The
early FCs are weak in the power department and due to the engine cover of that
era, difficult to service. The result; service was usually put off, add
extensive down time and you have a recipe for a engine replacement sooner than
the odometer would suggest .
300 k miles on a 3208 is not an unreasonable number to talk about, but that
would be in terms of regular use. Sitting kills all things mechanical unless
they are prepped for storage. That is never done in RV use, owners don't take
the time to learn the details. I have shopped for used diesel RVs for years, 80
percent don't have adequate service, not even timely oil changes.
The truth is, diesels are more demanding of service than gasoline engines, and
much more prone to expensive problems. Sure comments are made about million
mile life spans, but ya still gotta change the oil and the anti-freeze. Most
owners are not willing to do the maintenance required due to the cost.
The FC can provide great value, but you can go very wrong with any used machine
if service documentation and maintenance history are incomplete.
Mike Hohnstein
Germantown, WI
83FC updated to newer specs.
----- Original Message -----
From: ohiofancydancer
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 2:37 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Newbie wants an FC but worried about the Cat 3208
engine


I've been looking at early FC's on eBay, etc. What I hope to find is
a 'Bird with the Cat 3208NA and air suspension, which means 1981, late
1980 or early 1982. I am concerned about the frequency of these 'Birds
having a new engine installed at 75K to 150K miles. Some of the threads
that I've read say that the 3208 "should" be good for 300K or more
before an overhaul or replacement.

Might most, or all, of these low mileage replacements be due to poor
maintenance? I'd really appreciate the advice of someone who has had
some experience!

Thanks,

Dan Snyder - the Fancy Dancer





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