Im looking at replacing my current truck with a pre emissions 98-02 KW t800. I have found several c12 around 500k miles on them. Curious of what experiences is with fuel mileage and reliability. It will have a 18ft bed and usually around 40,000lbs occasionally towing 30k. I was thinking around 3.70 gearing for mileage on 11r22.5. I would appreciate thoughts on experience. I thought of detroit or m11, c12 @430hp seems more common finf.
C12 mileage, reliability
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by ClineER, Mar 5, 2017.
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I got 7mpg with a 2000 KW T800 430 HP C12, 10 speed, 3.70's on 11R 22.5 tires. Pulling a flatbed in New England. 80k max gross weight.
Gotta watch out for the cam follower problem they have. Things get catastrophic when they go. My local cat guy said it happens between 400k & 600k generally. Mine made it to 900ish and I bought it broken & cheap. There is an updated part from Cat; I'd ask if it's been done.
It's not a motor I'd overhaul again. If I would up with one again, I'd run it until it blows, then do a drop in motor if I really liked the truck.ClineER Thanks this. -
Curious drop In another type or just another c12. I do mechanic work but haven't worked on too many c12s. Overhauled one or 2 and Injectors but not much else. Good to know 7mpg. I was hoping for around 7.5 which maybe attainable weighing 40k
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Another c12. Overhauling mine just wound up costing close to the drop in price, and a drop in has everything new and a better warranty.
My 7mpg was without effort. I run hard, and idle whenever I feel like it. The best I ever got was 8.2mpg. Average was on either side of 7. -
C-12 is a good platform, lightweight internals spool up quick and when spec'd properly makes it feel like a bigger engine. Others have mentioned some issues and another is the original piston skirts were fragile and tended to fail around 500k - 600k which usually resulted in a hole in the block. Ether use really accelerated this problem.
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