3196 cats????

[Storm]

I was a marine service tech for CAT for four years and have rebuilt a lot of 3196. there is nothing wrong with this engine it did have some problems and 99% of the problems were caused by the aftercooler. Cat tryed to lighten the aftercooler and by doing this took away it strength. They have fixed the problem and aslong as the engine has generation three aftercoolers in it you will not have a problem. I dont care what anyone says the engine it self is fine it did get a bad name from the failures it had but a lot of people probaly dont know that the 3196 is still outthere it now just has a new name as C12 it is the same engine if you have questions please call at 443-233-3940 I will be happy to answer any questions you have.

The engine itself is fine, except for the vibration and condensation issues that have never been properly addressed.

Engine vibration is responsible for a multitude of engine mount failures, broken alternator brackets, broken belt guard housing mounting bolts, and aftercooler o-ring failure. 3196 cylinder heads are problematic (the cylinder head on my 3196 required replacement three times in four years).

I received an email last week, as I often do, from an individual complaining of excess blow-by on a 3196 engine with 600 hours. That's pathetic.

Believe what you want to from Caterpillar. I believe I'll buy a John Deere. I've applied for a federal grant through the EPA that will pay for half the cost. Good bye and good riddance Caterpillar and your inadequately designed junk.

As part of the agreement w/ EPA, I am required to disable my engine by drilling a hole through the block, which will be a real pleasure, having suffered through eight nightmare years of Caterpillar ownership. What I really would like to do, is to deliver my defunct engine from Maine to Illinois and drop it on the front steps of Cat's marine engine division. Maybe I can get a large "Caterpillar Sold Me A Lemon" banner to stick on my truck for the trip.

Do you get any sense of how I feel about Caterpillar and its defective products? Cat service techs have made a lot of money fixing these engines, since they're broken more often than not. (See above reference from Cat service tech, ie. "I was a marine service tech for CAT for four years and have rebuilt a lot of 3196").

Storm

[Storm]

Here's my gripe:

Caterpillar executives were aware and admit that 80-90% of early model 3196 aftercoolers were defective. Yet, the company continued to produce and market the product to unsuspecting customers with the false promise that 3196 engines were "the ideal engine for 40-60-foot commercial craft; reliable with a proven marine track record."

I see no difference between Bernie Madoff, who bilked his unsuspecting customers out of billions of dollars with false promises, and Caterpillar executives, who bilked their unsuspecting customers out of billions of dollars with false promises. As far as I'm concerned, they're both scam artists.

I've given Caterpillar eight years and ample opportunity to make things right. Bernie Madoff didn't get any opportunity from his customers.