Cat block deck erosion at water grommets.

Many Cat truck engines which have been overhauled several times, are developing very bad erosion on the block deck, where the water grommets seat on the top of the block. Installing the grommets on blocks that are badly eroded is a risky practice. If they leak, you risk having coolant leaking to the outside of the head gasket, or even into the crankcase oil, which can cause catastrophic bearing damage. Most shops think that the block needs to be removed, and taken to a machine shop to be resurfaced. This is not true. I have saved many truckers, major expense and downtime, by repairing that damage in-frame. It can then be reassembled and you are back on the road again, without worries about head gasket leak problems. I will travel any distance to repair the block deck in-frame.

 

I counterbore the eroded area. I then install a press fit insert & finish it flush with the deck. The liners do not need to be removed to do this.

I just flew to the St. Louis area to repair all 24 water holes on a C15 in a Peterbilt. Saved the customer from having to pull the engine, and disassembling the engine, and taking it to a machine shop, only to pay them to repair it anyway. Resulting in much downtime & replacing many parts & gaskets which did not need replacing.

 

Check out my thread on "The Diesel Garage" "Heavy Duty" for a reply from one of my very satisfied customers.

 

I now am doing this repair on Mack E7 engines. I now use Stainless steel inserts on both Cats and Macks.

 

Yes,I do them one after another. I can even do them with the liners still in the block.

 

Sorry, I didn't sign in.

 

Yes,I do them one after another. I can even do them with the liners still in the block.