Caterpillar C12 430HP

[E7mack96]

I am buying a 2001 western star 7 axle dump with the above engine. I am a Mack man, since day 1, and would like input about cat, this engine in particular, and if repair costs are average, above avg, or below avg.



Thanks for your input



E7

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Why Western Star? I always thought they were a little on the heavy side. Thats a pretty good engine. I have the 475 in my pete, just turned 250,000. Not a lot of trouble with it, more with the truck than anything else. Just gettin broke in nice though. I had it set to defuel at 80mph, after they found top speed of 128 mph on my first service. I need to keep my liscense.

 

[E7mack96]

Why western star?

found a repo 2001 with 1,000 hrs and 49,000 miles for $91,000. New 10 months ago the truck sold for $140,000. Saveings of 49,000 dollars. it only weighs 30,000 lbs. so I can haul 25 tons in it. It is owner/operator spec. All the bells and whistles, ect...

 

[JLinder]

Good and Bad C12's

Lots of the local log trucks are going to the C12's for the lighter weight. Most of them have had great luck, but I know of one that had lots of problems. Cat should buy it back, the sister truck to it (built 2 days later) hasn't had any problems. At any rate, Cat service is second to none I think. Buy with confidence. On the other hand, depending where you are you might want to think about that Western Star part. If the local dealer doesn't stock a good inventory of parts (lots of them don't seem to) you can be up a creek. Just my opinion though.

 

[JHansen]

Can't help you much with C12 experience-only second-hand through my brother. When he worked at the county here the plow truck he ran was a Louisville with a C12-360... . they had another with a 3406C-350. Technically the big-block truck should have spanked the C12-in service it was the other way around-the C12 pulled like a warhorse while the C-block ran in its wake.



Second from me about Cat service-at least here in Alberta they are top-notch.



I got to sit in a Constellation once-made the Heritage-cab Star I ran seem small-and the Heritage cab made the T800 I ended up with seem like being shoved in a shoebox. There are tons of Stars up here in oilfield service-they are a tough truck. This is pretty close to their birthplace so parts/service are pretty easy to come by-don't know about Ohio. Maybe better since DC took over?



HTH

Jason

 

[Champane Flight]

The ones

I saw one or two of our carriers go with them in the last five years. They are much lighter, but do not seem to hold up as good as the old 3406s. About 80% of the lighter C series engines developed oil leaks and had problems about 200,000 miles.

 

[FL70CAT]

The C-12 seems to be real good from what operators have told me.

I think CAT built it for a life of about 1million miles before overhaul??

 

[BigYellowIron]

C-12 is a reworked 3176. it is a 12 liter.



The 3176 had many problems like the alluminum spacer plate between the block and the head always leaked.

But I think CAT seen this and reworked it and called it a c12.



Seema to be a really good engine now.



I can find out any info on any CAT since I work at a dealer. I work on the equipment so my knowledge is linited on the truck engines, but I work close with the truck engine technical communicator.



Adam