Update on My Reno Status - My 3 Choices....

[Andy Coleman]

Hello All -

Thanks so much for all your wonderful responses. I have a lot to think
about this weekend!

My engine rolled over 100K miles during the trip. It now has about 104K
miles on it. One of the reasons I was hoping the bottom end would be
fine.

Thank you Harry for noticeing the small type on Rhino's warrentee. If
they don't guarantee their motors in an RV, then their is no reason to
even consider them.

Every piece of advice I have received in the past week has been to only
install CAT rebuilt engines with warrentees nationwide. I can see how
important that is!

Lots to think about! Thanks everyone!

Andy Coleman
83' FC-35
Spring Lake Hts., NJ


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "hsaddock"
wrote:
>
> Andy:
> I did a little checking on Rhino's Warranty and determined that they
> specifically exclude Class A, B and C motor homes from their coverage
> (see the PDF section of their website). In addition, I have not had
> good experience with replacement engines from these mass production
> engine overhaul shops. It took me three tries to get a good engine
> in my Ford Bronco a few years ago and they never ended up giving me
> one $ for the labor to replace the engine twice (it was not Rhino, it
> was Recon).
>
> Now the what to do's…. Dan's suggestion is a good one if you can
> leave it where it is long enough (it will take a while to find the
> right buyer), I know of several gents who have bought BB's with dead
> engines and are running them today, or if you really would like a
> different style/year coach. You will take a hit on price for a dead
> bird vs a live one. Also, I'm sure you have run up some significant
> labor/towing costs at the current shop that would most likely be lost
> by a sale to another. With the price difference between option 1 and
> 2, option 2 wins hands down and as a minimum extra (also recommended
> by Howard), install new main and rod bearings, oil pump, maybe some
> injector/pump work if needed and replace the rear main seal. This
> should put you in the 11-13K range (I'm guessing, get a quote!) and
> provide you with a decent shot of some long term running and
> enjoyment of the machine. However, this is not a sure bet that your
> engine problems are behind you, especially if the engine was
> seriously overheated and will not significantly increase the sale
> ability or value of your coach – it's an expensive albeit
"thorough"
> repair job.
>
> In MY opinion, the best option for the coach long term is to have a
> CAT re-manufactured engine installed for the you – It will
increase
> the coaches re–sell ability, reliability (of the engine that is ),
> and a true nationwide warranty that will truly work if/when you need
> it.
>
> Now comes the economics – big difference between $11-13K and
$20.4K,
> since you're not going to be selling in the next 10 years or so, it's
> really about what you can afford to do and still put diesel in the
> beast vs your piece of mind – the repair approach is not bad,
should
> be much better and more reliable that when you bought the coach
> (unless there is hidden damage). If you were to sell within the next
> year or so, a CAT remanufactured engine still under warranty is a big
> plus. Is it a $7-9K plus? Only time would tell but I would pay the
> extra.
>
> Good Luck – let us know how you make out!
> Harry Saddock
> 83FC35
> South Windsor, CT
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dan" danusa@ wrote:
> >
> > Andy, a third choice would be sell the coach to someone who wants
> to repair it and buy another wanderlodge.
> > Dan
> > 88WB38
> > Jackson, MS
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Andy Coleman
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 1:56 PM
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Update on My Reno Status - My 3
> Choices....
> >
> >
> > Fellow Wanderlodgers:
> >
> > Just got off the phone with my mechanic in Reno today. As he had
> > promised me, he removed the heads on both sides of my 3208 motor
> and
> > inspected the top end. Being on a stand, it is now much easier to
> do.
> >
> > On the side of the engine that blew the head gasket, he said
> there was
> > anti-freeze staining on the inside of all four cylinders. He said
> he
> > could probably removed the staining with a very fine emory cloth.
> He
> > inspected the head gasket, and noted that it had probably been
> going
> > bad for some time. It didn't just blow from my trip. The head was
> > etched from antifreeze going places it should not have. He
> > recommended that I have the head rebuilt. He said it was also
> > possible that I had some antifreeze leakage without knowing it. I
> > changed the oil before leaving for my trip - and noticed nothing
> unusual.
> >
> > The head on the other side appeared fine, so did the cylinders and
> > gasket. He recommended that since I have the engine out, I might
> want
> > to go ahead and rebuild that head too, and of course replace the
> > gasket on that side.
> >
> > He also told me to consider installing a new re-man 3208. With the
> > engine already out and all the parts and labor required to re-
> build my
> > old one, he said it was something to consider. When I told him
> that I
> > plan to keep my FC for another 10+ years, he seemed to recommend
> this
> > option more.
> >
> > The service supervisor ran some numbers and boiled it down to
> three
> > options for me. Brace yourself!
> >
> > 1. Install 2 new head gaskets & put the engine back together -
> total
> > cost $8,100.00.
> >
> > 2. Install 2 reman heads and gaskets. Put the engine back
> together.
> > Total cost $9,700.00.
> >
> > 3. Install a cat re-man (and warrented) engine and put everything
> > back together. Total cost $20,400. The engine itself - $11,750.00.
> >
> > I did some engine research weeks ago when I first had my problem.
> I
> > found that the Rhino engines
> > http://www.rhinoengines.com/caterpillar3208engines.htm re-mans a
> 3208
> > for under $7,000.00. 24-month unlimited nationwide warrentee. The
> > service guy told me they had two bad experiences with Rhino
> engines in
> > the past, and would not install them. They have a manufacturer in
> > California called Ariva (Sp?) that they buy re-man engines from.
> It
> > would cost me around $9,700.00, but not have the full nationwide
> > warrentee a Cat re-man does. They don't purchase engines from any
> > other re-man firms.
> >
> > I asked the service guy if he could send my existing heads to a
> > machine shop to be re-built, over buying two new re-man ones. He
> said
> > they could, but of course had no idea what that would cost.
> >
> > Well, there you have it... The decision that I must make in the
> next
> > few days... I am leaning towards #2, and sending my two heads off
> to
> > be re-built at a machine shop. If they are not in too bad shape,
> it
> > might cost me less than buying two re-man ones.
> >
> > I'm also basing my decision on the performance of the engine so
> far -
> > it did not even burn a quart of oil on the first 5,000 miles of my
> > trip! It ran smooth, sounded really good, had plenty of power
> (for a
> > 250 HP turbo 3208), and did not smoke.
> >
> > I'm sharing all the ugly details of my experience with all of you
> in
> > the hopes it might benefit somebody in the future. I also would
> like
> > to hear if you guys agree with my choice of #2. And of course, I'm
> > bracing myself to hear "you are being ripped off" responses.
> >
> > Thank you all for the many offers of advice and sympathy. If I
> didn't
> > have this list to consult and vent, I don't know what I would do!
> >
> > Andy Coleman
> > 83' FC-35 250 HP Turbo 3208
> > Spring Lake, NJ
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------
> >
> >
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