Does anyone know Caterpillar 3208s - spares/running/reliability?

[SoulFireMage]

Hi everyone,

We are back on the market and looking at one or two boats that interest us. We've found one that has Caterpillar 3208s in rather than the more common Volvos.

I'm just after an impression from anyone who knows these engines as to how easy or costly spares are for them.

Also, if anyone has any information on running compared to Volvos, I'd be grateful.

Thank you!
Richard

 

[Bilgediver]

Caterpillar 3208s are a good industrial engine moreover the service agent Finnings gives a good echange service on the running parts. We used these engines driving cranes and emergency generatrs aboard offshore rigs and it was unusual to have problems with them and they ran many trouble free hours between servicing.

I would suggest you speak to the service department at Finnings if you want an idear of prices, All the filters are available from many sources including Finnings.

Finning UK - Cat Equipment, Parts & Service | Finning Cat

 

[SoulFireMage]

Caterpillar 3208s are a good industrial engine moreover the service agent Finnings gives a good echange service on the running parts. We used these engines driving cranes and emergency generatrs aboard offshore rigs and it was unusual to have problems with them and they ran many trouble free hours between servicing.

I would suggest you speak to the service department at Finnings if you want an idear of prices, All the filters are available from many sources including Finnings.

Finning UK - Cat Equipment, Parts & Service | Finning Cat

That helps a lot, very much appreciated, thank you!

 

[Muxey]

Take a look on some of the us forums lots of information there,
Some say 5000 hours and that's it but if looked after they will go much more.
History is worth a lot

 

[Bilgediver]

Take a look on some of the us forums lots of information there,
Some say 5000 hours and that's it but if looked after they will go much more.
History is worth a lot

Multiply that by 10. They can do over 5000 hours between piston and head overhauls and service exchange parts used to be available and may still be.

 

[Juan Twothree]

The 3208 was fitted to all the Mersey class RNLI lifeboats.

And the non-turbo version was fitted to the Talus MBH tractor, which launched many of the aforementioned lifeboats.

They seemed pretty reliable as far as I'm aware.

 

[jwfrary]

3208 are robust simple and reliable.

Power school busses to excavators and yachts too!

Will outlast the volvo whatever variant, if they are late engines have loads of strengthening to up then hp availible, usual yacht rating is 375.

Treat them well and they will look after you.

Plenty of spares still available.