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CAT 299D3 XE

big ben

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FYI Cat 1U-9891 is a very common additive on machines with tight cylinder seals or chatter. The sales
manager was correct in saying to add it. The part about it not being the correct viscosity is questionable but adding the friction modifier is the correct step for the symptoms described.
 

KSSS

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Well there is documentation on that, then its good to go, but the same guy that in one breath tells me that the OEM uses the incorrect viscosity oil in my brand new machine from the factory, then says Oh hey put this modifier in and 25 hours it will all be fine.....Sounds like someone selling Amway.
 

Welder Dave

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Sounds like the guy had an idea what might work but used the wrong wording. Curious why the service department didn't think of it earlier???
 

Cmark

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Australia
Known in the trade as Snake Oil. There's nothing to be lost in adding it. If it's going to make a difference you will know within an hour.
 

Mark250

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if you use it don't overdose. it has been known to restrict oil flow through oil coolers
just add a little bit at a time and try
 

Nige

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KSSS, This might give you some idea. For "Wheel Loader" in the article read "SSL/CTL/MTL".
With the hydraulic system being of much lower oil capacity than a wheel loader the quantity of 1U-9891 additive required ought to be much less.
 

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LostBoulder

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First I want to compliment everyone here on being such a insightful and helpful group, not often one finds such a quick responses and helpful insights so thank you very very much to everyone, it actual makes the situation slightly bearable.

So the modifier was added today however I wish I had read these response sooner, as the whole bottle was added per instructions from service. I've now run the 299d3 for about 4+hrs and it seems to be slightly less obnoxious with respect to pump noise however the chatter issue remains (I question why CAT doesn't simply add this 1U-9891 additive during manufacturing if it helps these larger builds).

They've requested I run the machine for 20hrs and bring it to them and they will give it a "full system evaluation" and that "Cat has agreed to offer a loaner during this time and support your operations. We can then ensure the additive has properly made its way through the system and evaluate the machine." Thankfully my original salesman stepped in and said they would come pick the unit up and drop off a loaner.

When asked what if the additive does not correct the issue, they are unwilling to commit to anything yet. I hesitate to let them take the unit as every time the local service folks touch the machine the results are more issues and a the equipment being a filthy mess... i.e., debris seals knocked off, put on backwards, loose drain plugs, oil spills, and my favorite one finding a tech working on my 306 Mini when he was supposed to be here working on the 299... they don't even know what equipment they are supposed to be working on, it's so bad it's nearly comical, if I didn't have so much invested in this thing, I'd laugh.

Hoping they didn't overdue it with the additive and also assuming/hoping this won't effect my brush cutter or other hydraulic attachments? Last thing I need is more problems. Will report back as I run the machine more this weekend to hit my required 20hr running with the CAT miracle oil additive. And Again, thanks everyone for taking the time to offer insights and suggestions my blood pressure is slightly lower now.
 

Nige

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If you want to lower your blood pressure a bit more, rest assured that you are not the only one fighting the factory.

I've just put together a new loader valued at something in excess of $4 million. There's a thread about it iin the Shop Talk forum. When we were doing the PDI on it we found the engine oil level was too high. It was actually above the joint between the oil pan and the cylinder block. After getting hold of some drawings it turned out the dipstick tube was wrong, it was 4" too long. Factory (not the dealer I hasten to add) response - "you can work it like that while we work on a solution".
My answer "Get f**ked. The customer has just paid in excess of $4m for this machine. It has to be right BEFORE it goes to work, not whenever you can find the time to sort out the problem."
 

Nige

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A fiurther comment regarding the 1U-9891 Oil Additive.
We use it as SOP in all Cat Wheel Loader axles that have inboard brakes, M-Series grader implement hydraulic systems, and all the large off-highway truck suspensions. In each case it is used as an anti-squeak/anti-rattle additive. However in every case it is put there because the maintenance manual for the machine model in question specifies its use.
 

LostBoulder

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Appreciate the insights and completely agree while at the same time beside myself that a $4mil piece of equipment can't have basic items properly spec'd and manufactured. It reminds me of the 306 we recently got that came with the wrong size bucket because CAT had labeled all the 12" buckets incorrectly... it only took 2 months for them to investigate and deliver the correct bucket. Of course I had to prove it with the Service and Sales folks which required 2 visits and me showing them with a tape measure how the pins were not the right spacing and wrong width. Prior to that they delivered the wrong machine. Was supposed to be a 306 with the pivot blade but they delivered one with a standard fixed blade. Attention to details seems to be a constant miss. Only makes you wonder, what else under the hood is missed?
 

Cmark

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I think you underestimate the size of the Cat organisation. This is a screenshot of the about a third of the reworks and other information released in just one week. Even Nige's $4m loader will have to take its place in the queue.

list.jpg
 
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Nige

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The dipstick tube story gets better .....

"When the issue was first reported the stock of tubes were pulled and checked against print. Originally it was reported that they were all incorrect with measurements between 4" and 6.5" longer than spec. Today the tubes were re-measured on a measurement machine and all were found to correspond to print."
My first thought - WTF is wrong with this picture...?
 

LostBoulder

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I think you underestimate the size of the Cat organisation. This is a screenshot of the about a third of the reworks and other information released in just one week. Even Nige's $4m loader will have to take its place in the queue.

View attachment 224333
Oh I understand CAT is huge... I would just think from a business perspective, you can argue a company may get too large to maintain a focus on the quality customers looks for and expect. If an organization is unable to manage the size and complexity of its operations, it should asses, retool, assure proper accountability and improve its quality assurance testing. I just don't buy the "well because the company is big they should be held to a lower threshold of producing quality products and support because it's too complicated and hard." That to me is a pretty good approach to losing business. It's the same pitfall many automakers have fallen into.
 

Welder Dave

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I would think Cat is ISO registered too which is basically supposed to be very high quality control, check, double check and then check again.
 

Cmark

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The dipstick tube story gets better .....

"Today the tubes were re-measured on a measurement machine and all were found to correspond to print."
My first thought - WTF is wrong with this picture...?

One of these measurement machines perhaps?

tape.jpg


I would think Cat is ISO registered too which is basically supposed to be very high quality control, check, double check and then check again.

ISO9000 and the like are pretty meaningless. It just means that you you stick to your own internal quality control procedures. It doesn't mean that those procedures have to be any good.
 

Welder Dave

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I kind of thought that it's just something that looks good but doesn't mean much. I worked in a shop that got ISO certified but X-rays and other quality was already in place that is more carefully followed.
 

LostBoulder

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Just thought I'd drop and update in. Put about 14hrs on the 299D3 w/ the "1U-9891" additive and chattering issue still persists. <sigh>
 
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