New here! CAT 3208... Too small or can you fellas help?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by LambarthLM, Oct 11, 2024.

  1. LambarthLM

    LambarthLM Bobtail Member

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    Hi guys! I know you're mostly 18-wheelers over here but I don't know where else to go, I can't find ANY info on the Internet about this except a 10 minute YouTube video.

    I'm wondering if I have CAT's brake saver on my 3208. The truck is a '70 F7000. Was that even an option on these? The engine is from '92, it's a reman. I know Jakes weren't an option on these, but I'm wondering if the brake saver was.

    Long story short, I haven't driven this truck much but when I drove this truck (just bought it, I was test driving it) I downshifted to try and engine brake. Well... It engine brakes REALLY well. Like, surprisingly well. Works almost better than the service brakes. I had several theories as to why this might be, but I dismissed it until I found this video on the brake saver.

    It has two oil filters on the engine which I hear on 3406s/3408s means you have brake saver. I also hear your oil cooler is substantially bigger with brake saver. How do I tell if I have the bigger oil cooler? Is it obvious?

    If I do have it, I hear you want to drain the reservoir of the brake saver as well as the oil pan. I don't know where that is. Obviously it's around the flywheel somewhere but I can't find it. However, I did find a missing plate on the bottom of the engine immediately behind the oil pan with exposed machinery inside. I'm not enough of a mechanic to know what I'm looking at exactly. I'll attach my reddit post with the video. Anyone care to help there? What is this plate and where do I find a replacement and the appropriate bolts?

    Thanks guys
     
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  3. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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  4. LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

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    That missing plate is to cover the flywheel from dirt and water. They use that access location to turn the engine over with a specialized tool to do overhead work. Adjusting valve lash if I’m not mistaken.

    buy one and replace it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2024
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  5. ElmerFudpucker

    ElmerFudpucker Road Train Member

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    You do not have a break saver.
     
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  6. Oxbow

    Oxbow Road Train Member

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    As ElmerFudpucker mentioned you do not have a Brakesaver.

    Cat may have had a Brakesaver on an early 613 scraper with a 3208, but I can't recall ever seeing a retarder behind one.

    I have three 3406 engines with retarders and they do have larger oil coolers, but none of them have more than one oil filter. I do drain the retarder separate of the oil pan when changing oil.

    These large oil lines go from the oil cooler to the retarder:
    20240711_114336.jpg 20240711_114325.jpg The photo above shows the control mechanism. An air hose from the in/cab valve attaches to it.

    The photo below shows plumbing from the oil pan to the retarder.

    20240711_114332.jpg
     
  7. Oxbow

    Oxbow Road Train Member

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    You would also have a control valve in the cab. This photo shows the retarder (Brakesaver) valve below the trailer brake valve: 20240827_062735.jpg
     
  8. LambarthLM

    LambarthLM Bobtail Member

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    Oct 11, 2024
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    Thanks for the info everyone. Yeah there's definitely no return lines or anything going to the oil pan so I agree. Thanks though. Any ideas on where I could get the flywheel cover and the bolts to match?
     
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  9. ElmerFudpucker

    ElmerFudpucker Road Train Member

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    If I ain’t mistaken they are just 5/16 course thread about a half to 3/4 of an inch long. You can just make the plate out of a thin piece of plate. Or just leave it off. It’s not going to hurt a thing
     
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  10. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    My 3406A only has the one oil filter as well.
     
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