Diesel additive

From CUMMINS...
CUMMINS FUEL ADDITIVES RECOMMENDATIONS

Bill,

Both greasable and sealed are available as REPLACEMENTS.

The 1/03 date is when the OE went from greasable to sealed.

wolfe10 wrote:
Caterpillar went from the greasable fan hub bearing on the 3126 to a sealed bearing beginning with engine production 1/2003.

All C7's have sealed bearings.

Both greasable and sealed are available.

Brett - you have me confused, but I'm probably just not awake enough up here yet.

You said "All C7's have sealed bearings."

And then you said "Both greasable and sealed are available."

If all C7s have sealed bearings, how can greasable ones be available on the engine - or did you mean they're available if you want to convert your C7 to greasable?

Bill

The only additive I EVER use is Marvel Mystery Oil. Just follow the directions. I have little lawn mower engines from the late 70's still cranking first pull.

Caterpillar went from the greasable fan hub bearing on the 3126 to a sealed bearing beginning with engine production 1/2003.

All C7's have sealed bearings.

Both greasable and sealed are available.

In order of my preference:
1. Greasable that you DO grease.
2. Sealed
3. Greasable that you do not grease.

As far as additives:

If storing diesel over 2 months in summer or 3 months in winter, add a BIOCIDE such as Biobor JF. Fill the tank full to minimize condensation.

If storing fuel you bought in summer or fall in to very cold temperatures, add an ANTI-GEL such as that made by PS and sold at Walmart, etc.

FIRE UP wrote:

Trackrig wrote:
FIRE UP said:

As for the Zerk fitting in the fan bearing, the 3126E version was pretty much the last of the zerk-fan bearing motors. And, although there's a tad bit of controversy about the actual change-over date, the last of the 3126E engines, in the Freightliner chassis, were installed about July to August of '03. Then the C-7 came along and, with that, the permanently lubed fan bearing. Our '04 Itasca Horizon with the Freightliner chassis has a chassis production date of Sept '03 and, as stated, is sporting the 330HP C-7.

That's what I thought about the change over, but within the last month someone on this site posted that their C7 had a zerk for the fan. I'll have to see if I can find the post and read it again.

Bill

Hey Bill,
As of this moment, I can't remember on what specific document or, printout, or CAT spec that states the C-7 was the new generation "Zerkless" fan bearing. I have heard and read in the past where some C-7 owners were a bit skeptical of permanent fan bearing so, they ordered up the 3126 parts and, installed them on their C-7s and they now had zerks to lube.

But, there may in fact, be a few early model C-7s out there with zerks but, the general consensus is, no zerk fan bearings on them. In some ways, based on advancing technology, a permanently lubed bearing if reassuring. But, to the sort of, diehard maintenance dudes, not having one is bad juju. I'll take my chances, I figure they've must know what they're doing in redesigning a part like that to be permanently lubed.

Scott

I knew I saw it. On 2/22/16, Fleetwood Couple, with a 2006 Fleetwood Expedition 38N and a 300 Cat, wrote "X2 on the Fan Hub Bearing, mine was neglected by previous owners and Maint techs and on our first long trip across the US it failed at 37,000 miles and cost about $1700 in repairs and a 3 day breakdown in a parking lot in Mobile AL in JULY! Luckily we didn't loose the radiator."

Fleetwood Couple with bad fan bearing.

Bill

Trackrig wrote:
FIRE UP said:

As for the Zerk fitting in the fan bearing, the 3126E version was pretty much the last of the zerk-fan bearing motors. And, although there's a tad bit of controversy about the actual change-over date, the last of the 3126E engines, in the Freightliner chassis, were installed about July to August of '03. Then the C-7 came along and, with that, the permanently lubed fan bearing. Our '04 Itasca Horizon with the Freightliner chassis has a chassis production date of Sept '03 and, as stated, is sporting the 330HP C-7.

That's what I thought about the change over, but within the last month someone on this site posted that their C7 had a zerk for the fan. I'll have to see if I can find the post and read it again.

Bill

Hey Bill,
As of this moment, I can't remember on what specific document or, printout, or CAT spec that states the C-7 was the new generation "Zerkless" fan bearing. I have heard and read in the past where some C-7 owners were a bit skeptical of permanent fan bearing so, they ordered up the 3126 parts and, installed them on their C-7s and they now had zerks to lube.

But, there may in fact, be a few early model C-7s out there with zerks but, the general consensus is, no zerk fan bearings on them. In some ways, based on advancing technology, a permanently lubed bearing if reassuring. But, to the sort of, diehard maintenance dudes, not having one is bad juju. I'll take my chances, I figure they've must know what they're doing in redesigning a part like that to be permanently lubed.

Scott

FIRE UP said:

As for the Zerk fitting in the fan bearing, the 3126E version was pretty much the last of the zerk-fan bearing motors. And, although there's a tad bit of controversy about the actual change-over date, the last of the 3126E engines, in the Freightliner chassis, were installed about July to August of '03. Then the C-7 came along and, with that, the permanently lubed fan bearing. Our '04 Itasca Horizon with the Freightliner chassis has a chassis production date of Sept '03 and, as stated, is sporting the 330HP C-7.

That's what I thought about the change over, but within the last month someone on this site posted that their C7 had a zerk for the fan. I'll have to see if I can find the post and read it again.

Bill

Trackrig wrote:
As for engine oil capacity, yes 19 qts should be correct. If you want to double check it, climb underneath to look for a sticker on the driver's side of the oil pan. With P/N and engine S/N, call Cat at 877.777.3126 and they'll tell you how many quarts it should. Then after you change oil, mark the dipstick accordingly.



Also, very important, when you're talking to Cat, ask them if your engine has a grease fitting on the fan assembly. I don't think so, but if it does and you don't grease it, your radiator fan will go out someplace in the middle of no where. I think Cat eliminated the zerk a couple years earlier because no one was greasing it and they replaced it with a permanently greased fan hub bearing.

I don't remember where I found the Cat S/N, maybe someone else can chime in as to where it's at on a C7

Bill

Bill,
That sticker you're showing, may or may not be there due to wear, rust, miles and more. It wasn't on mine when we acquired the coach almost 5 years ago with 40K on the clock. But, in the event it's not there, there are several other places on that engine the serial number may be. It would be somewhat hard to get to and read, but it's on the front of the engine too.

It's also stamped in the ledge, that the oil pan is bolted to. The same ledge that's in your picture. But, you'll need a mirror to see it. IT's on the top side of that ledge, near the bell housing, on the drivers side.

As for the Zerk fitting in the fan bearing, the 3126E version was pretty much the last of the zerk-fan bearing motors. And, although there's a tad bit of controversy about the actual change-over date, the last of the 3126E engines, in the Freightliner chassis, were installed about July to August of '03. Then the C-7 came along and, with that, the permanently lubed fan bearing. Our '04 Itasca Horizon with the Freightliner chassis has a chassis production date of Sept '03 and, as stated, is sporting the 330HP C-7.

As for engine oil capacity, yes 19 qts should be correct. If you want to double check it, climb underneath to look for a sticker on the driver's side of the oil pan. With P/N and engine S/N, call Cat at 877.777.3126 and they'll tell you how many quarts it should. Then after you change oil, mark the dipstick accordingly.



Also, very important, when you're talking to Cat, ask them if your engine has a grease fitting on the fan assembly. I don't think so, but if it does and you don't grease it, your radiator fan will go out someplace in the middle of no where. I think Cat eliminated the zerk a couple years earlier because no one was greasing it and they replaced it with a permanently greased fan hub bearing.

I don't remember where I found the Cat S/N, maybe someone else can chime in as to where it's at on a C7

Bill