3208 power increase instructions

[Ncostello]

Found these instructions on the web for turning up a 3208. Most have always told me to leave a 3208 alone if its running fine. But that goes against the fun side of it... and more/better power. Here are the instructions for tweaking the injection pump... and this would be on a Non-Turbo 210HP 3208 if it ever gets done.



Any holes in the instructions?



"It's very easy to do, here's a copy of how to do it:Cat 3208:Tools needed-7/16" socket, a short extension or 2, and a screwdriver. If you look on the top of the pump you'll see a cover with 2 bolts that's about the same size as a Holley carb's float bowl. Under it is a screw with a jamb nut. If you hit the accel. linkage you'll see a little pin come up. The screw stops the pin and thus, limits fuel. So adjust it as far up as you can as long as you can tolerate the black smoke. Most turbo'd 3208's can run fine with the screw all the way out(removed). And just behind that is the high rpm governer adjustment. It's labeled as 'high idle', but only go 2-3 turns at a time as to keep it under 3200 no load. Backing the screw out raises the rpm. One more adjustment is the pre-boost power. This is up in the front of the other 2 adjustments. It's round & has 3 bolts holding it & 6 holes in it. Take all 3 bolts out and you may have to smack it with something to break it loose(mosly from paint). Now tighten it like you're screwing it in tighter, that makes the power come in sooner. If you go 'til it stops, then you may see lots of smoke if you mash down on the pedal. Back it out as needed. "

 

[CPjMech]

Those are fairly close, but with a N/A 210hp you are not going to gain much power (maybe 10-15hp). All you will gain is lots of black smoke. They do say something about "pre-boost power" (never heard it called that before) that is the AFRC (air/fuel ratio controll) the N/A eng does not have this. As you said, if it is running ok just leave it alone. If you do turn the fuel screw out be sure to turn the high idle out too.

 

[coolky]

What is the Maximum HP rating for a Turbo 3208? Did they get up to 300 HP?

 

[CPjMech]

In a truck or bus a 3208T was 250hp max. In a motorhome they put an aftercooler on and then 300hp was max. Boat was 425hp with a sea-water aftercooler.

 

[Ncostello]

Will turning the fuel screw out cause EGT problems? or is this a problem with N/A engines? I wouldn't want to melt a piston. And is the no load high idle just putting the pedal down in neutral and see where it stops?



I'm also assuming if the 3208 in question has a little white smoke (unburnt fuel) when cold... it would have alot if the fuel screw is turned out? I don't mind the black smoke as much as I would dislike more cold white smoke.

 

[JPS]

3208 Questions

I have a 3208 in a farm tractor. No turbo! It has always smoked black more than I thought it should. Installed rebuilt injector pump but still smokes. This was at about 2300 hrs on the tach. Is there anything to cut down on the black smoke. Also at how many hours do I redue the rod bearings? This is a low hour engine. 2600 hrs. if I remember correctly. Engine is stock as of now. New in 1982, in a White 4-210 model. Also are there any forums on this engine? Thanks much, jps

 

[JPS]

advance timing

Thanks for the reply, DI . Is there an easy way to advance the timing on a 3208? jps I see your from Vermillion. Not to far away, I,m from Sanborn, Iowa. About 80 mi. ne of Sioux City! jps

 

[MMiller]

The only way I know to change pump timing is to remove the intake, remove the bolts that hold the pump down, and then remove the bolt that holds the gear to the pump. Need to find TDC, pin the pump and them pop the pump loose from the gear.



I really dislike R/I pumps on 3208, I always have difficulties timing them. The 3208 is very peculiar to tome, and a little off and it runs like crap. A little retarded and they pop out the stack.



Most 3208's I work on are 295 hp in sprayers. I have a couple of 300's too, but they have intercoolers on top of them, they are a pain to work on.



Michael

 

[JPS]

3208 timing

Thanks for the reply MMiller! I have really never done much work on this 3208. Did install pump that is on engine now. The tractor had quit in the field, towed it to shop, put on rebuilt pump. Used timing pin to set timing. Ask diesel shop to let me know what was wrong with pump we had taken off, they never would let me know. I can't believe it was anything to serious, if so they would have wanted more money on exchange price! I guess the 3208 was not one of Cats better motors, all though I no complaints on this 3208. I sure there is more 3208 info on the web somewhere, if I could find the info. Thanks again, jps

 

[ndurbin]

The 3208 is a throw away motor. I ran a spray rig that had one in it, and it locked up the pump. Just died at the end of the field justwhen I was getting ready to fold the booms up (ofcourse it had to be a field enclosed with trees so we couldn't tow it back to the COOP). Welded the gear to the pump shaft. The CAT mechanic that came out to work on it played hell getting it off.



This is one case where if it aint broke dont mess with it.



Nathan

 

[JPS]

The 3208 is a throw away motor. I ran a spray rig that had one in it, and it locked up the pump. Just died at the end of the field justwhen I was getting ready to fold the booms up (ofcourse it had to be a field enclosed with trees so we couldn't tow it back to the COOP). Welded the gear to the pump shaft. The CAT mechanic that came out to work on it played hell getting it off.



This is one case where if it aint broke dont mess with it.



Nathan

That sounds like good advice! It's sorta what I've been doing! jps

 

[Ncostello]

I've heard folks say the 3208 is a throw away motor... but why do you see so many remans available? Did Caterpillar ever reman them? I once saw one in a forklift that had stickers on it as if Cat did the work. They were "official" Cat decals with the overbore, crank cut info etc. The valve covers had "Remanufactured 3208" decals on them. Usually if Company X does the reman... their decals are on the engine. Just wondering since I hear many say they are pop cans.

 

[MMiller]

I think the main reason people refer to them as a "throw away" motor is the fact that they do not have replaceable liners. On the low hp NA motors you could hone/bore one cylinder out and install one oversize pistion, if a hole was scored. But on the higher hp turbod applications a person can not do that. So if you have a ring fail, or get it hot and score a hole, you should put in a reman short block, or long block.



I think the fact that you can't correctly repair them in chassis and the whole short block needs to be replaced is the reason that people say they are a throw away. Even though you do not throw them away unless a rod is hanging out of the block.



Either you have a 3208 that does not use oil, or one that uses a bunch(gallon a day). Either you have one that runs and starts good, or you have a dog. Most of the problems I see with the 3208 are in sprayer applications. The 3208 was a good engine until they tried to almost double is hp output, then in a sprayer they make them run a very high rpm gov spec to keep the pumps running right. What usually happens when you take a small motor, throw a turbo and a bunch of fuel to it then up the high gov setting? The reliability goes out the window with any engine, not just the 3208.



Michael

 

[Ncostello]

Our fire trucks 3208 seems to be a good one. It doesn't leak or use oil in between changes, it fires instantly and runs great with plenty of pulling power and speed. Its a clean example of a decent engine that gives us no trouble at all. It just runs good.



Only thing is it does run a little "rich". On cold startup... and extended low idle times where it cools down... it will puff some white smoke until it warms up. Then it will puff black on accelleration and has a constant wisp of black out the tail pipe when trucking down the highway.



So I'm wondering if I turn the fuel screw in if it might cure that rich condition and make for a cleaner burning engine. If the air brakes are empty... and you run it in the firehouse to fill the tanks... you might as well exit the building and open all the doors. It simply puts out way too much fuel smoke when cool. Its definately not burning it all which makes me think I'm getting too much.