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Cat C9 Break-in period?

C

cornerstone

Expert Expediter
I have a new Cat C9 with the allison transmission and I was wondering what is the best way to break it in? When would you do the first oil change and how often after the 1st one? I have many different opinions but mainly from dealerships. I have been told everything from every 11,000 miles up to 24,000 miles. I would like to maintain this engine so that it has the best chance to make it to 500,000+ without major work. Is that reasonable? One last question. Does anyone have experience using bypass filters (Gulf Coast Filters)? It sounds really good but does it work?

Thanks!
 
davekc

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
We dumped our first oil at 10,000. Next one was 13,000 with a oil sample. Next one will be at 14,000. Oil sample will tell when to change it. Keep in mind that we are running a generator so there is very little idle hours. If you idle alot, make sure you take that into account. Good luck......I think you bought a good engine.
Ours is in the Sterlings from Knoxville Freightliner.









Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I think it's overkill but even though it is I think the first change at 1,000 miles doesn't hurt anything and is a little extra insurance. With the lighter duty of these trucks I'd probably consider 15k intervals after that. I'd do oil sampling and let that tell me how far I could go safely between changes and work my way up to that point.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I put the FS2500 bypass oil filter system on my KW. With it I'll change that filter element every 10k and do oil sampling every 10k starting with the 20k filter change. I'm looking into a system that automatically lubes the chassis but unless/until I get that I'll be getting a lube every 10-12k probably.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
 
C

cornerstone

Expert Expediter
Who makes that bypass filter? Have you heard of Gulf Coast Filters? How hard is it to install? It seems like you would need to be a mechanic to do it.

Cornerstone
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
You can get info at www.fs2500.com website. Someone reasonably mechanical could install it. The Gulf Coast filter has been around forever. It takes a lot of oil for each change, 1.5 gallons I think. The FS2500 only takes 1.5 quarts per change.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
 
C

cornerstone

Expert Expediter
Thanks for the info on the bypass filter. If you don't mind, how much did you pay for the filter and did it come with a supply of replacement elements and oil sample bottles? Also, where did you buy the filter?

Thanks for the info!
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I bought mine at MATS on the show special. For the system, and extra 6 filter elements and 5 oil sampling bottles it was around $550 as I remember but my rememberer isn't what it used to be. They should have info on their website or at least how to contact them and get info. I had my dealer put it on and that was 1/2 hour labor.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
 
greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
>If you would be so kind as to tell me what a bypass filter
>is. THANK YOU .

A bypass oil filter is a filter that draws oil off at a reduce rate bypassing the rest of the lubercation system to clean a little oil at a time returning it directly to the oil sump.

There are claims of extending the oil additive life, removing soot and other dirt. Most of the systems work rather well, while others don't work at all. I used Olberg filters (they are cleanable) and am thinking of buying the Spin II as a change. The Olbergs are no longer made but I saw Moroso may have bought the patent.
 
C

cornerstone

Expert Expediter
Well since I've asked about how the best way to break-in my C9 is it decided to break instead. I was on a country road in Kentucky going to TN on a run and it lost all power. I still had rpms but no torque at all. When the mechanic came he said it was probably water in the system. He replaced the secondary fuel filter but didn't replace the primary. To get the fuel filter off he had to put a hole in it with a big screwdriver and turn it. This didn't work so I had to be towed to a dealer and wait until this morning to be looked at. At first they also thought it was water and air in the system but they found that injector 3 had failed. So now I wait until it is fixed. Does this mean it's broken in now?:D The one positive is that I'm learning about the engine.

They didn't have the fuel injector so now I have to wait until one is sent. They said it won't be until Monday.:(
 
C

cornerstone

Expert Expediter
The mechanic tried multiple filter straps but the secondary filter was on extremely tight. I learned something interesting today that I didn't know. Many of the oem primary fuel filters are 30 microns but the fuel injectors can be fouled up by things down to 5 microns. The secondary fuel filter is a 5 micron but the mechanic said that when people have them changed they use less expensive filters and don't realize they are 30 micron. He did say that you can get a 5 micron primary fuel filter which seems like it would make sense. What does everyone use?
 
M

Mudflap

Expert Expediter
A-Service (Oil change, oil filters, fuel filters, full chassis grease) every 13k miles, and you will win. Denny
 
C

cornerstone

Expert Expediter
I am still having issues with my C9. This time I was driving on the highway and all of a sudden it lost all power. As I pulled over the engine just shut off. I let it sit for about 30 minutes and it started again. After I delivered the load, I took the truck to the Freightliner dealer and at first they couldn't find the problem. They reflashed the computer and then the code came up. The problem is the fuel pump isn't pumping correctly. Unfortunately, the fuel pump is on back order from Cat and won't be in until next Wednesday. They said this could've been my first problem with the fuel injector also. Hopefully this will be the last major breakdown because it is getting expensive. Unfortunately the payments don't stop when the truck is broke.

One thing the mechanic mentioned was that with the new fuel you can expect to have some more issues with fuel injectors. He recommended using a fuel injector formula like Lucas to help lubricate the fuel injection system. What do you think?

Cornerstone
 
davekc

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
We have a Sterling that started experiencing your same problem today, loss of power. So our team stopped at Albuquerque Sterling, and they fixed it in a half hour. Great service and jumped right on it. Our problem was the last oil change at Speedco, they put Baldwin filters on it. They said they have a couple a week that come in with the same problem. Threw on new Cat filters and problem solved....or so I hope. Another 400 miles since repair, and so far so good.







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 
C

cornerstone

Expert Expediter
I hope that is your only problem. The tech told me that they have another truck with the same problem as mine and that the fuel pumps are on back order. I have a feeling that a lot of trucks are having this problem.
 
davekc

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
The service manager said they have had the filter issues, but that is it. Everything else checked out. Will do some checking on the fuel pump issue. How many miles do you have? We are around 35,000 on this truck.







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 
C

cornerstone

Expert Expediter
This is a brand new engine. Only had 3100 miles on it when the problem started. Hoping this is just a defect from the factory but at both dealers they had trucks in the shop with the same problem.

Cornerstone
 
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