Cat7 diesel

Pine Sap · 03-02-2018, 01:00 PM

Hello Everyone - There's an opportunity to buy a 2005 Freightliner short school bus with a Cat C7 and Allison 2000 transmission. Not the van front style. Mileage is 63,000. From my research, the transmission seems good but its hard to get a balanced view on this engine. If you look it up on the web under "problems with", there area lot of negative opinions. From those on this site driving a bus conversion with this engine/drivetrain, what has your experience been? "Would you say don't buy it period"? Mileage is a big positive. Thank you!

Sorry, I posted in the wrong drive train category. Don't see a delete method?

cadillackid · 03-02-2018, 01:23 PM

theres definitely been opinions on the CAT-C7... from a guy I know who has a fleet of many Thomas;s with C7's in them he states the biggest thing is oerforming routine maintenance on oil, coolant, fikters, and the like, and making sure the engines are always warmed up... ie if you are the type to drive your bus on fairly long distances each time you drive your bus you will likely have better luck than if your bus just goes a few miles here and there..

I sometimes get a little suspect when a bus is sold with very low miles... ie are the miles correct? or was there something wrong with it that it got sold with low miles?
-Christopher

Gdog 5651 · 03-02-2018, 01:59 PM

That's less than 5000 miles a year why? has it been unreliable? has it been sitting logging shop time? C7 is not anymore problematic than any other smog diesel but my opinions on this subject are well known. My preference would be a non smog motor with 3 times the mileage

Jdawgsfanasty · 03-02-2018, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pine Sap

Hello Everyone - There's an opportunity to buy a 2005 Freightliner short school bus with a Cat C7 and Allison 2000 transmission. Not the van front style. Mileage is 63,000. From my research, the transmission seems good but its hard to get a balanced view on this engine. If you look it up on the web under "problems with", there area lot of negative opinions. From those on this site driving a bus conversion with this engine/drivetrain, what has your experience been? "Would you say don't buy it period"? Mileage is a big positive. Thank you!

Sorry, I posted in the wrong drive train category. Don't see a delete method?

You need to see a computer report...that's the best thing about the newer rigs...they come with a snitch box[emoji2]

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cadillackid · 03-02-2018, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgsfanasty

You need to see a computer report...that's the best thing about the newer rigs...they come with a snitch box[emoji2]

Sent from my VS500PP using Tapatalk

THIS!!! Ive read out the computers of more than one skoolie to find that they had at one time been run out of oil or over-temped, or have 3X the miles and hours that the dashboard indicates..

me personally? I like electronic engines. but then im a geek that way.. and computers, sensors, wires, solenoids and such dont bother me...

-Christopher

Jdawgsfanasty · 03-02-2018, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

THIS!!! Ive read out the computers of more than one skoolie to find that they had at one time been run out of oil or over-temped, or have 3X the miles and hours that the dashboard indicates..

me personally? I like electronic engines. but then im a geek that way.. and computers, sensors, wires, solenoids and such dont bother me...

-Christopher

Yep...I see the value of the snitch boxes...plug-n-play beats guess-n-replace all day long

Sent from my VS500PP using Tapatalk

bus-bro · 03-02-2018, 07:49 PM

Is it a remanufactured Cat? Caterpillar did that with the 3208's in skoolies, changed out engines for "fixed" ones. I heard early C7's had a problem with an aluminum spacer between the block and head. I assume that defect was fixed.

The miles on the dash might be miles on that engine.

Pine Sap · 03-06-2018, 02:55 PM

Thank you for all your input. I have decided against this bus. Perhaps a bit to short and of course the usual uncertainty. I like how you all help to weight the pro's and con's and offer critical thinking.

SummerStarr84 · 12-23-2021, 06:59 PM

Is this Engine strong enough to build as a skoolie would it have enough horsepower and torque

Ronnie · 12-24-2021, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerStarr84

Is this Engine strong enough to build as a skoolie would it have enough horsepower and torque

As with most bus engines they are offered in differant HP's Look on the data tag on the engine that you are looking at. Most range from 170 up to 210 or so.

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