Cat 3126 aftercooler question

dtfeld said:
Unless you have other issues pointing to turbo issues (loss of power black smoke) I'm much more for the Inspect part of this procedure.

The recommended service (Cleaning and Inspecting) interval is every 1000 hours or 2 years. Manual says compressor housing to be cleaned with Hydrosolv and hard bristle brush, and the compressor wheel and backplate assembly with CAT Brake and Electric cleaner.

I've added boost gauges to my boat this winter for this exact issue. Loss of boost will be a good diagnostic tool going forward. Loss of boost over time would point to turbo wear/buildup issues. Immediate loss is a loose pipe or other catastrophic event (I had the Belleville clamp on the turbo to aftercooler fail on me).
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That was my exact thought, I don’t have any smoke and didn’t want to create a problem where I don’t believe there isn’t one.
 
fwebster said:
Please do not use anything but the Cat recommended solvents. Aerosols sprays in particular usually use butane as the propellant. Butane is highly flammable and if it allowed to pool in any part of the intake system, you could seriously damage the engine when it is started........an intake explosion in a diesel isn't pretty or cheap!
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Right on Frank, I had seen others write about using an aerosol spray, I wasn’t ready to try it! I’ve seen others write about misting a soapy water solution through the turbo too, again not something I would be willing to try!
 
kvduff said:
Yep, I will post a photo after putting the rtv back in... didn’t go after the turbos on this round.
I didn’t have it in me to start dismantling the turbos. Have you or anyone used a aerosol diesel turbo cleaner, like the wynns spray? I realize it’s most definitely NOT recommended by Cat, manual only talks about brushing the fins...
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No. I looked at them last fall but couldn’t get any feedback.
I’m thinking of just bringing them to a local turbo place when I do the aftercoolers next winter.
 
dtfeld said:
Unless you have other issues pointing to turbo issues (loss of power black smoke) I'm much more for the Inspect part of this procedure.

The recommended service (Cleaning and Inspecting) interval is every 1000 hours or 2 years. Manual says compressor housing to be cleaned with Hydrosolv and hard bristle brush, and the compressor wheel and backplate assembly with CAT Brake and Electric cleaner.

I've added boost gauges to my boat this winter for this exact issue. Loss of boost will be a good diagnostic tool going forward. Loss of boost over time would point to turbo wear/buildup issues. Immediate loss is a loose pipe or other catastrophic event (I had the Belleville clamp on the turbo to aftercooler fail on me).
Click to expand...

Boost gauges sound like a good idea.
How/where did you install them?
 
JVM - the late Dominic (OSD9) installed them on my 410 when he owned her - I thought he posted here how he did it. But it was 10 years ago, so it my be lost. Let me dig in my old files - I may have copied it.
 
JVM225 said:
Boost gauges sound like a good idea.
How/where did you install them?
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I have been converting to digital gauges, so for me it was just a matter of installing a 30 psi pressure sender in the intake manifold and hooking it up to my converter, and reading it out on the network.

F0E2FBCB-5D97-42B3-9CFA-E2FD2EBEEB3D.jpeg
BC9C9EA1-DE99-4C55-ACE2-E9F7E5EBD2CD.jpeg


Turbo boost is pretty easy see the pic above. I'll have to find adapter specs, but you could do as I have with an electric sender, or ISSPRO makes a Turbocator that does boost and EGT, and is mechanical (small tube and thermocouple wire from engine to the dash). Problem is

TC.PNG
 
dtfeld said:
I have been converting to digital gauges, so for me it was just a matter of installing a 30 psi pressure sender in the intake manifold and hooking it up to my converter, and reading it out on the network.

View attachment 81535 View attachment 81534

Turbo boost is pretty easy see the pic above. I'll have to find adapter specs, but you could do as I have with an electric sender, or ISSPRO makes a Turbocator that does boost and EGT, and is mechanical (small tube and thermocouple wire from engine to the dash). Problem is

View attachment 81533
Click to expand...

Was that hole just plugged before you put the sender in it?
Wondering where I could install the gauges neatly at the dash.
The whole digital conversion is above my pay grade.
One thought is to break open the wallet, buy the Aetna Tachs at the same time, and have Technografix make me a new gauge panel and include holes for boost gauges.
 
John

That is just a plug. I think 3/4"- 16 machine to 1/8 -27 NPT. A new dash is the hold up for me...all projects on hold.
 
carterchapman said:
Sorry its a crap picture. That's them outboard on both sides. You might search thru his old threads - OSD9.
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Thanks Carter!
I searched, but didn’t find anything.
If/when I do the upgrade I’ll follow Dave’s lead on placement of the senders in the exhaust and intake and probably wind up springing for a new gauge panel that will accommodate Aetna Tachs too.
Was hoping that my son could design and produce some nice bezels for me in one of the shops at school but the campus is shut down, classes are remote and no telling when things will be back to normal.
 
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dtfeld said:
John

That is just a plug. I think 3/4"- 16 machine to 1/8 -27 NPT. A new dash is the hold up for me...all projects on hold.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave.
As much as I’d like to avoid it, I think the new gauge panel is going to be in the cards for me too eventually.
Had a hard time wrapping my head around it just to accommodate Aetna Tachs, but if I factor in adding boost gauges it starts to become a little more reasonable.
Going to put the brakes on any upgrades or modifications for now until this pandemic stuff is all over.
BTW: Where did you install the EGT sender?
 
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carterchapman said:
Sorry its a crap picture. That's them outboard on both sides. You might search thru his old threads - OSD9.
Click to expand...

I think I remember reading he purchased those from www.designatedengineer.com. Those are the 2" gauges. Seaboard marine has the turbocator available as kits, but setup for Cummins.

For us CAT guys, you'll need to get that fittting and transition to a very small tubing barb or compression fitting. The pyrometer goes in an already existing fitting right after the turbo exhaust outlet. Its 1/8"-27 NPT and you'll need a 90 deg K type thermocouple.

I have not purchased or installed the EGT probes yet. That is a separate but easy upgrade. All that involved is a Maretron TMP100 and 2 thermo couples.

I am on hold on all projects as well. Airline business will be decimated by the time this is over, and its not over. I'll be shocked it I'm still employed by the end of the summer.
 
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dtfeld said:
I think I remember reading he purchased those from www.designatedengineer.com. Those are the 2" gauges. Seaboard marine has the turbocator available as kits, but setup for Cummins.

For us CAT guys, you'll need to get that fittting and transition to a very small tubing barb or compression fitting. The pyrometer goes in an already existing fitting right after the turbo exhaust outlet. Its 1/8"-27 NPT and you'll need a 90 deg K type thermocouple.

I have not purchased or installed the EGT probes yet. That is a separate but easy upgrade. All that involved is a Maretron TMP100 and 2 thermo couples.

I am on hold on all projects as well. Airline business will be decimated by the time this is over, and its not over. I'll be shocked it I'm still employed by the end of the summer.
Click to expand...

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
There might be a bumpy road ahead for a while, but it will all work out in the end.
Pretty sure we’ll have an airline industry when the smoke clears, it’s too vital to our national security and the global economy. I’m just not sure what it will look like.
How long will it take to get back to normal travel levels? What companies will survive?
Hopefully none of our airlines get nationalized.
Congress has to step up for the airline industry, but some of the radical ideas coming out of there are scary.
 
This is worse than 9/11 as far as the airlines are concerned. I'm treating as such, hopefully I'm wrong, but your talking about a massive and prolonged drop in revenue. Our airline burns about 4 Billion gallons a year @ $2/gallon. So $25 billion for the whole industry doesn't go too far with that reduction in revenue.

Reminds me of a Joke...

Q: What makes an airplane fly?
A: Money!
 
I used a high temp rtv suggested over on boat diesel. Installing tomorrow...
2145A26F-557C-4893-BEBD-F81F40C9F75A.jpeg
27B744FB-5DF2-4F10-8D4F-A5E3124E344A.jpeg
kvduff said:
Yep, I will post a photo after putting the rtv back in... didn’t go after the turbos on this round.
I didn’t have it in me to start dismantling the turbos. Have you or anyone used a aerosol diesel turbo cleaner, like the wynns spray? I realize it’s most definitely NOT recommended by Cat, manual only talks about brushing the fins...
Click to expand...
2145A26F-557C-4893-BEBD-F81F40C9F75A.jpeg
 
dtfeld said:
I have been converting to digital gauges, so for me it was just a matter of installing a 30 psi pressure sender in the intake manifold and hooking it up to my converter, and reading it out on the network.

View attachment 81535 View attachment 81534

Turbo boost is pretty easy see the pic above. I'll have to find adapter specs, but you could do as I have with an electric sender, or ISSPRO makes a Turbocator that does boost and EGT, and is mechanical (small tube and thermocouple wire from engine to the dash). Problem is

View attachment 81533
Click to expand...


Is there a way to install a nema boost gauge. I already have a back bone was wondering if i can add it?

thanks
 
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