We have a 982 M(982MVK1Y00478) with 10,000~ hours on it that is starting to burn more oil and fuel, under the same running conditions. We are burning roughly a full tank of fuel every 10 hours, plus 1-2 gallons of oil per 12 hours. Also we are going through 5-6 gallons of DEF per 24 hours. None of this is going to the ground, but our local Cat dealer said they don’t know where to start unless the loader starts showing a code. It hasn’t coded in months, yet this continues to develop. Is there anywhere we can start to look?
Have you trended oil samples over time. All the symptoms you describe indicate worn rings and liners. I don't understand the issue with the DEF use though. It shouldn't be too hard to review the data in the computer to see trending as well. I was also under the impression that 10 to 12 hours on a tank of fuel was pretty normal for the machine working in my area. Basically you have a hopped up 980 with an oversize bucket that loads the heck out of everything. Ten K hours is probably where fluid usage gets very noticeable.
I'm thinking worn rings as well. Do you have any blow by? If you are burning oil then you are producing hydrocarbons and that probably explains the increase def usage.
I'm with John, oil sample analysis trends (provided you've been taking oil samples) could tell you a heck of a lot.
Ive got "Oil samples?" for $400.00
1-2 gallons per shift of engine oil she's shot pull her out. Out of curiosity I'd like compression test and leak down specs recorded. But I think you got bigger issues causing these issues. Did someone take air filters home and not bring them back ?
It’s currently still a rental machine, we are doing a rental purchase on it, so we’re hoping to get this fixed before we own it. We are providing oil samples, and documenting all fuel and oil usage, as our local Cat dealer is hoping that corporate will pay for repairs. The machine is currently down as it burned up a nozzle in the DEF system, could this be from the constant DEF use from burning off the extra oil we’re going through?
Before thinking about buying it, have the owner (Cat Rental.?) put a new engine in it. Even if it gets patched up now it will probably require a replacement or overhauled engine within a couple of thousand hours.
If it's a rental send it back and get them to fix it. They should give you a loaner while it's getting fixed. I wouldn't think 10,000 hours on a large loader is that much if it has been maintained.
10,000 hours is about 80% of the recommended first service life as specified by Caterpillar themselves. While working for the dealer, the service and sales departments both stated that the most cost efficient time for drive train rebuild was at 12,000 hours. Since the machine being discussed is described as a rental purchase, one must assume that some percentage of rental dollars are being applied to the purchase of the machine "AS IS." Ending the rental on the machine will likely invoke the loss of the purchase percentage. I'm sure the dealer will be happy to take the machine back under those terms. If you want a rebuilt engine added to the machine, I'm sure the dealer will be happy to do that as well. They will just add it to the purchase price. My question is who would do a rental purchase on a machine with 10,000 hours?
When we first got the machine it was just under 3,000 hours. But we average 7-7500 hours per year on machines.
How much time is left on the rental purchase? Purchasing it when it needs a lot of work done could cost more in the long run. Guess it depends on exactly what the agreement says.
Boss, it sounds like your company is playing the tax game. If you own the machine, you depreciate the value in five or seven years or so. If you rent it, you deduct the rent as an operating expense. Usually in the rental you are doing the maintenance while the rentor is doing the major repairs depending on your contract. The usual scenario then is to rent till the machine is essentially paid for and then buy what's left out. You then dump the machine and start over with another if one is available. In the case that you describe, it doesn't pay to own the machine. It's worn out in two years and you still have three more years to go on the depreciation. The problem with all this is there has to be enough profit margin to pay the rent. What happens next will depend on the largess of the dealer and your company's status with them. Where I was at, we had a D8T is the same situation. The dealer would jump through fire to keep that company happy. The money rolled in by the train car load.