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D6c cat loss of oil pressure

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,156
Location
Canada
Sureway didn't start off with a big fleet. I'm just saying the dealer could admit they made some mistakes and keep the customer happy regardless how big they are. Steve isn't arguing over a $100.
 

JS300

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
455
Location
Texas
Occupation
Power Plant and Cattle
I’m with most everyone else on here Steve, Ziegler should make things right and get you a running machine. Even if you told them “patch up the engine and get it back to me” ( which I don’t think you did) they should have at least warned you about all the things that needed to be checked out with a rebuild. We have a couple excellent independent mechanics around here that are probably more capable than any corporate shop, problem is most don’t have insurance for mistakes and a bill like this would sink them. That’s why major repairs go to certified Corporate dealers. If the guys on here warned you about all the things that would make the rebuild go south the shop should have too. The radiator, gauges, and anything that has oil running through it should have all been checked on an engine failure. You would think Ziegler had a gauge pack they would hook up during testing to do a stall test and make sure all vitals were correct especially on a dozer this old. I would fight them pretty hard. All you are wanting them to do is what you paid them for the first time. Did they ever mention or ask about the radiator or systems during the rebuild process? If so what did you tell them.
 

Steve.ahlgren85

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
399
Location
Darwin, mn.
Thanks for the response .Nothing was mentioned about the radiator until they tore into it the second time.I and the shop manager were going over just what they had done to the engine the second time, not finding the cause of the engine failure, we were brainstorming what to do next ,did he mention pulling the radiator ,checking it out and finding the tubes 50%plugged with water scale and small stones. It was an afterthought that they pulled the radiator out..
 

Steve.ahlgren85

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
399
Location
Darwin, mn.
They are covering most of the parts and most of the labor but I would still have to pay for the camshaft and lifters replace ,parts and labor. Also pay for radiator recore expense and radiator in and out labor charge ,still a pretty hefty sum of money. That is where are at now. It's going to have to sit up there for at least another two weeks ,we are on spring break vacation .They let it sit for a whole winter while I had to wait, and then I was the one who had to call and get updated, even though I asked for updates
 

Steve.ahlgren85

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
399
Location
Darwin, mn.
Also ,as far as I know, they didn't check out the camshaft and lifters after pulling the head off the first time. Is that a standard practice to check out camshaft after finding pistons melted ?I don't know, I am just asking..
 

oarwhat

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2009
Messages
817
Location
buffalo,n.y.
Thanks for the response .Nothing was mentioned about the radiator until they tore into it the second time.I and the shop manager were going over just what they had done to the engine the second time, not finding the cause of the engine failure, we were brainstorming what to do next ,did he mention pulling the radiator ,checking it out and finding the tubes 50%plugged with water scale and small stones. It was an afterthought that they pulled the radiator out..

Steve I don't remember how long you ran it but I don't think it was long enough for a serious overheat. I have a Cat 980B loader with the same engine we use for snowplowing . It pushes a 18' snow box in a large mall. It always ran hot when used hard. We probably ran it into the red on the gauge 4 or 6 times. We tried flushing the radiator, new thermostat, etc. with no help. One day it started leaking antifreeze out of the orings around the pre cup chambers. We replaced the orings and the next time out they blew again. The engine didn't over heat either time. The orings were from Cat. I tried getting help from the dealer but they had no idea what it could be. I asked for a guy with gray hair but they've all retired.
So I asked the question on here and got the answer right away. The oil cooler was plugged at least 70% with rust pieces!! That helped a bunch but after a while it started creeping up more and more. So I got a look at the top of the radiator and it was plugged with the same junk probably close to 50%.

Anyways the reason for my long post is I have the same engine ran for many hours with a 50% plugged radiator and oil cooler. It NEVER scuffed a piston or had any trouble. I can't believe a 50% plugged radiator blew you engine in such a short time. I'm glad your getting somewhere with Cat. Keep after them and good luck!
 

Steve.ahlgren85

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
399
Location
Darwin, mn.
That's what I thought too .Why would it fail after just a short time running?My worst fear is to go through all this rebuild again and have it fail agai!! I just CAN'T go through that again, even with a full parts and labor warranty. I am really hesitant to want to run it again!
 

Steve.ahlgren85

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
399
Location
Darwin, mn.
Steve I don't remember how long you ran it but I don't think it was long enough for a serious overheat. I have a Cat 980B loader with the same engine we use for snowplowing . It pushes a 18' snow box in a large mall. It always ran hot when used hard. We probably ran it into the red on the gauge 4 or 6 times. We tried flushing the radiator, new thermostat, etc. with no help. One day it started leaking antifreeze out of the orings around the pre cup chambers. We replaced the orings and the next time out they blew again. The engine didn't over heat either time. The orings were from Cat. I tried getting help from the dealer but they had no idea what it could be. I asked for a guy with gray hair but they've all retired.
So I asked the question on here and got the answer right away. The oil cooler was plugged at least 70% with rust pieces!! That helped a bunch but after a while it started creeping up more and more. So I got a look at the top of the radiator and it was plugged with the same junk probably close to 50%.

Anyways the reason for my long post is I have the same engine ran for many hours with a 50% plugged radiator and oil cooler. It NEVER scuffed a piston or had any trouble. I can't believe a 50% plugged radiator blew you engine in such a short time. I'm glad your getting somewhere with Cat. Keep after them and good luck!
To add to that thought, the engine oil cooler was new on new long block. I am having a hard time understanding how that engine would get hot and not show hot on the gauge! The service manager said that those gauges are not very accurate ,they can be off a lot!
 

Wes J

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
649
Location
Peoria, IL
We don't know if the water pump is working or internal passages are blocked or anything else. It got hot enough to melt a piston twice and burn up a valve. They ruled out over fueling.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,156
Location
Canada
Steve, why are you brainstorming with the service manager? He should be brainstorming with his mechanics and/or Cat not you. If you knew the problem your machine would have been fixed a year ago. When you took your machine to Zeigler BECAUSE of an engine problem they ABSOLUTELY should have gone over it with a fine tooth comb and checked everything to do with the engine. It's almost like you're second guessing yourself and looking for excuses to let the dealer off the hook. Just when we think you're understanding they are the ones who messed up you do a 180 trying to find something you did wrong. You paid the Cat dealer to figure it out and they effed up plain and simple. Stop apologizing and making excuses for them. If your engine is done right you won't have to worry but should have a warranty to cover the odd occurrence of something going wrong. I also think you need to stop talking to the dealer. It is painfully obvious they are trying to manipulate you and they're doing a very good job at it. If they would have put that much effort into fixing your engine you'd probably have 1000 trouble free hours on it by now! It is time to let your lawyer do the talking and/or writing!
 
Last edited:

JPV

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2015
Messages
756
Location
S.W. Washington
I have seen 2 different 3306 engines run with the impeller separated from the shaft that didn't overheat unless loaded heavy, one in a 140G grader that only got hot pulling steep hills and a 966c when stall testing the transmission, they are tough and cool good. I have no idea what the problem is with your machine but the water pump should be looked at, only takes popping the cover off.
 

Tarhe Driver

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Messages
240
Location
Savannah, GA
Occupation
Comm. Real Est Appraiser-Retired cargo/helo pilot
and now you are going on "spring break"??

I think that Steve is saying that his public job (perhaps in a school system) is going on spring break, and he is losing or has lost that period of days for operating his machine because it is still broken....
 

Steve.ahlgren85

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
399
Location
Darwin, mn.
Does the 3306 have piston cooler nozzles?
I don't know if they do
Shop manager said that the water pump is showing wear. I don't know how they measure wear but ,I think he mentioned clearance gap between impeller and housing being too much.He said it needs a remanufactured pump .
 

Metalman 55

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2013
Messages
1,301
Location
Ontario
When my D6C showed evidence of needing a new water pump, it starting boiling over a bit, or should I say sort of slobbering out of the top of the rad pressure relief. Once the rebuilt pump was put on, the problem went away & has been fine ever since.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,156
Location
Canada
I don't know if they do
Shop manager said that the water pump is showing wear. I don't know how they measure wear but ,I think he mentioned clearance gap between impeller and housing being too much.He said it needs a remanufactured pump .

Now even more damning info is coming out. When did the shop manager know about the worn water pump, after your machine went back to them? You didn't run the machine long enough to wear out the water pump that certainly should have been checked. TAKE THEM TO THE CLEANERS!!!
 

Steve.ahlgren85

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
399
Location
Darwin, mn.
Now even more damning info is coming out. When did the shop manager know about the worn water pump, after your machine went back to them? You didn't run the machine long enough to wear out the water pump that certainly should have been checked. TAKE THEM TO THE CLEANERS!!!
That's a good question!!
 
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