Doug N
San Diego, Ca
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Joined: 05/08/2008
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I'm considering the purchase of a used diesel pusher and have heard Caterpillar engines are much more expensive to service. If this is true, can you explain why?
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NotQuiteWT
Central IL
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Joined: 05/26/2005
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Not sure what facts you were given to justify this but there are several factors. Are you talking PM or major overhaul? What models? Current or discontinued? I think there are too many variables to give an accurate answer but I do know that PM items such as filters are comparable.
2006 Excursion 39L - Spartan 350hp Cat
2008 GMC Acadia
2001 Chevy HD lifted 4x4
1995 HD Badboy
All Black!
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Two Jayhawks
lenexa ks
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Joined: 03/17/2003
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Doug N wrote:I'm considering the purchase of a used diesel pusher and have heard Caterpillar engines are much more expensive to service. If this is true, can you explain why?
Not true.
2002 Safari Zanzibar
CAT C12 455/1550
Allison 4000
Saturn Vue w/ReadyBrake
FMCA# 390819
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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Joined: 08/11/2007
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I believe that it is a old wives tale. It use to be said that the only place you could find a Caterpillar mechanic was at a construction site because Caterpillar was popular in construction equipment. And he was a union mechanic getting union wages. And that you could find a Cummins or Detroit Diesel mechanic at a truck shop and he was getting paid what ever the market would bear.
It was also said, that a Cummins will always get you home. But that was in the days of the 220 and 250 diesels. You can tell that I am partial to Cummins.
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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Both companies make fine engines.
Preventive Maintenance parts are close to the same price for both.
Have no idea how cost of major overhaul parts compare-- you will NEVER wear out either company's engines in an RV.
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
Caterpillar RV Engine Owner's Club: www.catrvclub.org
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Happy Harry
Redding, California
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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I put 45,000 miles on a new 2000 Cat 300hp diesel pusher and I didn't find the service to be out of line.
I had the valves adjusted at 12,000 miles and that cost me $177 bucks at a Cat dealer. I bought my oil filters from Cat and they were about $12 bucks..I have a feeling that the service costs probably run about the same..I really liked the 300hp Cat, it pulled very well,and I never had any problems with it..If I were looking for a used motorhome, one with a Cat motor would be high on my list.
Good Motorhome buying to you,
Harry
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Ames
South Central Florida
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Joined: 01/05/2001
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We have A CAT and belong to the FMCA CAT Rv Club Chapter and have had a CAT engine in our last two motorhomes.
Hoever if we were looking to trade and we were interested in a motorhome and it had Cummins it would not make a difference. They both cost about the same to service.
The trick is to find the correct service point. Doing routine service your self is cheapest followed by (for us) a mobile service at $60 per hour (CAT Certified) or truck service point. Most expensive are the franchised dealers at $100 plus per hour. The main reason the difference is fixed overhead.
Richard and Babs and a Bob Tail Cat
97 Beaver Patriot 40 Kitchen Slide
330 HP Member FMCA, BAC, Good Sam, CAT RV Club
Toad 04 Durango HEMI
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KOG
Winterville GA
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It depends. Varies by engine and by shop so you can't make a blanket statement. I happen to prefer Cummins 5.9s (older mechanical ones at that) for my own personal use, but CAT certainly makes excellent engines in most cases. Both makers have had some problems with current emissions standards and will continue to have problems.
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travelalot
USA most of the time
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Joined: 12/19/2003
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I have 108,000 miles on my CAT 3126 2004. I had a Cummins in the last motorhome. Monoco Windsor, I do alot of the maintenance myself but there isn't really a difference between the two in maintenance costs.
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v8q
Oviedo, FL
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Joined: 04/11/2005
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wolfe10 wrote:Both companies make fine engines.
Preventive Maintenance parts are close to the same price for both.
Have no idea how cost of major overhaul parts compare-- you will NEVER wear out either company's engines in an RV.
With proper maintenance... :-)
Dave Head
Oviedo FL
95 Foretravel U320C SE
M11, HD4060
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