Cat 3208 opinions

DGH

Member
I am looking at a Chev 5 ton with the Cat 3208 motor. What kind of miles can one expect to get from these engines? This one runs well now with no know issue.
 
Have heard in a truck application around 215 HP they are OK but in a constant speed application like an excavator they aren't the greatest. Better engine than the 8.2 diesel in some Chev. and GM trucks though.
 
I ran 2 Louisville or L8000 Ford tandem dumps with these, 13 spd. Ford specified trans, not a bad combo, some said throw away motors, but these ran for years with regular maintenance, not exactly a power house, but reliable, stalled one of these and coasted backwards once they will run backwards. Loud though, both these trucks a '77 and a '78, performed well.
 
Great in 50k-60k gvw trucks but you must maintain them. back them with a Allison auto or RT6613 13 speed and 5.29 gears and they last a looong time.
 
Hello, I am certified in the 3208 cat engines from back in 1998. I don't know what all happened after that however. You are right when you say that the 3208 doesn't make a good stationary engine. They were designed to be a truck or bus engine. They are great engines and work very well as long as they are maintained according to the cat recommendations. They operate at anywhere from 210 hp to 425 hp and that 425 one would be the marine application. I have rebuilt the 3208 engines before and I know for a fact that they are very heavy duty and very well designed. There are however a couple of items I would have changed if I were designing the engine. One thing I don't like is the accordion plastic tube that goes from the front of the head and threw the front cover and then connects to the inlet on the water pump. That is definitely a weak link that will fail in time and that is a guarantee. Also there is a little plastic and rubber seal on the front of the crank at the lower portion of the engine that I thought was totally stupid to put there. If it fails the oil will poor out. Of course you have such a large oil pan that it will leak for a long time before it kills your engine. If you are observant you will see the oil pooring out as soon as you stop te truck or whatever you are driving. I mean you can't miss it if there is a river o oil flowing across the parking lot, lol. I think if you do some research you can by better parts to take the place of the ones I have mentioned. The accordion tubes on the heads can be replaced with some steel lines which are much better than that crap that cat put on in the first place. The oil seal is another problem that you would have to research. I have been told that there is a better one that you can get on after market parts places. Be sure that the turbo stays with in the factory spec range and make sure the o rings and all seals on the turbo stay in good condition. Any kind of leaks there will lead to trouble. Well, good luck with it. I think you will like the cat as long as you follow the cat prompts. It is a dependable engine and has a lot of torque for halling heavy loads and pulling heavy trailors. Let us know how the cat engine does for you? Take care everyone and have a very nice day. Richard E Gwinn,,,
 
It would have been better if Cat had put 3 ring pistons in them from the factory. I don't think they were primarily designed as a truck engine based on all the machines they put them in. I think the 3200 series were designed as a lower cost engine(no liners). They aren't near as heavy duty as the 3300 series engines. I have a 3204 non turbo in a track loader that most say should last a long time because they aren't pushing the limits of it. The turbo 3204's in 953 loaders are known for needing more frequent rebuilds.
 
had customers with them in Chevy dump trucks, ran a long time, I ran a ford with 1, was OK. they have a double disk clutch behind the flywheel, that clutch set up is noisy, that is the nature of them. If I was going back in the trucking business I would buy more of them. Make sure the oil you put in is the correct Cat Spec oil.
 
250 miles would kill a strong percentage of the 3208's...
The way I look at it is this... you have a truck old enough to have a 3208 under the hood. That puts it before 1990. If the engine is a decent runner you might put 1500 into a truck like that unless there's mitigating factors like new rubber, etc.
I would expect a fair discount on a 3208 powered truck vs an IH466 or C series Cummins engine. I wouldn't jump through many hoops to get a truck with a Cat 3116 or 3126 either.

Rod
 

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