Mack Technician

You have a neighbor that hates your guts?

In the famous words of Fred......Just sayin!

You’ve covered your bases pretty well and two machines with fuel, it would be a dirt trick to pull. 

Is your transfer pump original?

Did you have someone pumping your hand primer like a mad man while you watched those gallery plugs?

Remember the condition of RED’s transfer on his AI-370. It was still mostly running and putting a load of filings into his secondary fuel filter. A scenario like that, running failure, could be an issue? Not sure if he was seeing fuel in oil via pump driveshaft seal though....

50-85PSI full rev and no load.

No need to reinvent this wheel....Click on link, may be helpful.

I wondered how high they would go. Before mine got to the counter they had blown past their quote. They were decent enough to reduce it to the agreed price.

You will have to make that call since you know what you have and what your towing and where you are coming up short. That AI300 sits at 325HP from 1700 to 1950RPM and peaks torque at 1300-1400 RPM. The AI375 sits at 400HP from 1600 to 1900RPM and peaks torque at 1300-1600.

AI-300 and AI-375 share the same turbo, but not injectors.

Personally, I'd seek to have the HP file for an AI-375A installed and change to K&S injectors since you need a different set anyway. That's it. Not every situation calls for a complete revamp, Unless your pup trailer and back hoe are really putting you to the test why push that Allison Auto to the break point...……

Then....

Go the full recipe if it isn't doing what you need and hopefully drivetrain is in good shape and you light foot in the sand lots.

And that guy didn’t feel something unusual in the steering wheel..?

oooo boy, stop changing those high dollar parts. reassemble your fuel system completely.

You have a CCRS engine that will not bleed like a normal E7 or E-Tech systems. One by one crack the fuel lines at the spot where they enter the head. For each line your cracking you need to be simultaneously pumping the transfer pump hand primer. Let the fuel run out of them and retighten them, the whole time you are pumping, or your evil assistant will need to be pumping. After each is bled you should be making fire. For the next couple days fuel is going to weep from the head cavity the upper line runs into, don't worry about it, it's not a leak. Unfortunately, this is the most effective way to bleed these. You can have some smoke and not enough cylinders going live to fire up. Ether gets it rolling fast, but still may not force the compressible, aeriated, fuel through the nozzle.

For the sake of posterity let us know if it works, thanks.  

On 9/21/2019 at 1:33 PM, Los76 said:

I have a 2003 mack with ami 370  that cranks but wont s, can anyone helptart unless u spray either to it ,runs only with either

change out ecu fuel pump fuel line fuel filters and now I am just stuck ,have bno smoke coming out the stacks but when crack injector fuel lines fuel does come out of them

Did you do service work on the engine? Did you open the fuel system or did this happen spontaneously?

On 9/9/2018 at 3:33 PM, OldRedMack said:

I have been really happy with it, nothing like catching a cat powered pete or kw on a hill or at a red light and then running away from them as they look at you in bewilderment.  One of these days I'm going to get it dynoed again and see what she is really doing.

You ever Dyno it O.R.M.?

17 hours ago, Bigjohn4300 said:

Ok, so ive been saving my nickles to do the 5 inch exhaust(my local truck pro can get them, has already quoted), exhaust manifold, K&S injectors and 400 turbo, but i just read something that concerns me, if my local dealer has the "Grey Motor Amnesia", does that mean that installing the parts wont help? Or just that it would run better if it had the dealer tune it after?

Just curious, if there was a way to convince the engine brain that the engine had boost, say 10 lbs or some low number like that, by fooling the boost sensor/manifold pressure sensor electronically, would that allow more fueling earlier? Maybe allow the actual boost to build quicker, minimizing the low end lag? Maybe a resistor or something in the circuit? Im not interested in rolling coal, just thinking aloud

Hey John, Can you list what your paying for the 5" exhaust? Has it gone up?

Dealership is needed to update software (if it even needs it), rest it hard parts. If you don't update software you still benefit from anything on here.

I shouldn't TMI as much as I do, it could make people paranoid to take stuff in to the dealer. Its the product of hearing people on here unable to get good support (and sometimes parts) on older equipment. Every dealer has a Mack engine repair manual and can read it. Base engine repair is available. You may even argue it’s the golden years for E7, E-Tech, ASET  because all product improvements are completed and everybody has hind sight concerning repair of chronic issues, all those battles have been fought. The amnesia factor is stuff like retrieving information and software for older rigs. Not every dealer is good at that. When you see what guys are saying on these threads it’s clear that not all dealerships are equally competent...…………………………. That being said.....here comes TMI (To much information)...... How many techs in your local dealership were trained, by a competent factory trainer, on the Gray engines? They don't sell those courses anymore. If you worked on E6 it had some appearances of E7. If you worked on E7 it had a lot in common with E-Tech. If you worked on E-tech it had even more in common with ASET. If you worked on ASET  then you opened the hood one day and the engine was a Red Volvo and the Gray engine factory classes were gone. Schools over boys, your world is red now. Then comes the next issue, the old guy in the shop knows they (dealership) need his Gray engine experience. He's not young, but he's knowledgeable…....so is he going to train his younger, stronger, able-bodied, low paid, less vacation time, replacement?????

If they still manufacture them.....you could install a tuner and do what your describing in the way of manipulating fuel delivery. Never played with fooling the ECM, doesn't mean you couldn't take a shot at it.  

19 hours ago, 41chevy said:

I was eventually diagnosed with...... Selective Mutism...... I do not view any of it as an illness but my super powers"

 

 

 

Is that like what David Baxter had? His “Super powers” where he selectively mutated, turned into a large green Hulk and threw Abrams Tanks around? That whole thing is stolen from Marvel comics, it’s nothing new. In fact I did and said the same things when I was her age and adults just laughed and rolled their eyes because they had the mental clarity and discernment to not listen. Throw in some health challenges and victimization for good dramatic impact. I once convinced several kids in my class that booger’s were dead brain cells descending out of your skull. Even if it’s not true it’s nice to have people willing to listen. I figure...why blame the kids, their just being kids. It’s the adults who aren’t being adults. Much resembles the modern American household in which the kids are telling the parents what they’re having for supper tonight, only in larger scale. 

46 minutes ago, 03' Big Red said:

Can someone attach a link for the K&S shop ? I’d like to talk to them but not sure of the location of the shop.

www.ksfuel.com

Mike Kosky

29 minutes ago, tjc transport said:

technicality. it is a pistol, that just happens to be able to accept a 410 shotgun cartridge. 

I checked into it. They could slap federal charges on you for putting a shotgun shell in it. The loop hole is the rifled barrel makes it a single projectile firearm. So now I need one and if the perp who’s breaking in gets BB pelted I hand the boys their red riders. Buckshot = HPslingshots 

The guys up at PotlatchDeltic told me a story about the Liehberr LH50 they bought a year back. When they inspected the stick boom early on they noticed cracks. To make sure it wasn’t just paint they scrapped it down to metal. They cleaned the paint off and found bondo. They cleaned the paint and bondo both off to find a smugglers hatch cut in a square window. The mechanic said they popped the very poorly speckled-spotted-wire-quilled-up welded hatch off and boom was emptied. Whatever someone sent over was gone. Liehberr has to give them a whole new stick. No one found out what was in it, no word spoke about it. That hollow boom is a big cavity to fill! 

22 hours ago, fuzzy buzzard said:

Went to Farm Science Review yesterday at London, OH. Lots of German tractors there, most expensive was little over 1/2 million bucks! My biggest compliant was if the thing broke down in the field on Friday afternoon, where you going to get any parts. Yep, I know we have US dealers but if they have to call Germany - GOOD LUCK.

I had to deal with Germany in my coal mining days and it was not a pleasant experience. Kinda like trying to convince a socialist democrat that he is a fool!!  

 

We’ve been in the hot seat plenty of times trying to get parts from Liehberr and Volvo. They both like to keep some big ticket items on the shelf in Europe. Last time we needed a Liehberr twin drive motor system one motor got stuck in Frankfurt’s customs and the other made it here only to get flagged in Memphis at customs. 

19 hours ago, 41chevy said:

And just think today one of the Dimwits stated that the biggest thread to the USA after "assault rifles" is Combat Veterans. According to her we are home grown terrorists.  Gee I must be one of the worst, I'm a wounded combat vet, in the NRA and a gun owner. By the way my home defense choice is a Heritage Arms 410/ 45 long Colt revolver loaded with OO buck.

AK's worked better in nam also

I was just looking at one of those the other day and wondering how you can legally build a shotgun with a 2” barrel? Must be a loophole because of the 45 interchange?

On 9/19/2019 at 2:49 PM, david wild said:

another Mack trans problem ???

I did a search for BigEatonTrucks.com, nothing comes up, it’s weird? 

You can get those off and on with the trans in chassis. It’s a real skill shot. May have to raise the cab a little, worse case scenario.

On ‎9‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 9:46 AM, The Burren said:

 

Hey Mack Technician— thank you for the quick response.

  Questions:

1.  When you wrote

“Can’t recommend these trucks for purchase except to say I’d buy one because I have my previous coworker at the dealership who can still drop files into them and provide all other internal support and I’m very familiar with them”

are you saying that the regular user (me) WON’T necessarily be able to get an updated flash file downloaded if my rig is running old software?  

2. I can’t find the post which lists the upgraded injector part numbers to buy.. Am I mis-remembering what I read?

Thanks for the recc. re. Josh Stewart.  I’ll give them a call Monday.  I’d love exact part numbers for the proper manifold turbo and injectors if you have them handy.  These parts (assuming they are a direct plug n play replacement) are something I would be able to install easily if it will make the truck that much better =

Thanks—

1. Gray engine amnesia is real and plaguing Mack dealerships across the USA. No guarantees your dealership has an experienced mechanic who will negotiate software changes well. Some guys have had to travel. Dealerships aren’t able to tie down the millennials and may not treat physically older mechanics as valuable. It’s case by case from what guys are expressing to me. When I was foreman in our shop I had a customer tell one of my older mechanics he should be greeting at Walmart. I’d love to have stuffed a fist in that guy’s pie hole, however the mechanic told him off before he said that...so? When folks are paying $120 an hour they want a young-middle age guy who can lift and swing hammers. Sometimes makes older, knowledgeable, guys under appreciated. 

 Talk to your dealership and make them liable via promise..... “Hey, if I buy this Mack and become a new customer what can you do for me? Can you change my horsepower and update software on Gray engines?”. If they say “yes”, ask to talk to the mechanic directly, verify it, and get that mechanics name. 

2. Fuel service may keep those injector upgrades as intellectual property. They have to play around with tip swapping to find a new fit for each horsepower bracket. let them do it, don’t try it yourself, let them be liable so if it’s wrong the replacements are free. If you crack a tip out in the field and need a tip replacement Mike (K&S) will tell your vendor what tips to use. Your vendor will have access to the replacement tips directly from Bosch. Mike vends them cheap, good OEM quality.

7 hours ago, The Burren said:

Awesome information, thanks to all you experts for taking the time to share.  I’m getting ready to switch gears and buy my first dump truck. I took the advice of a buddy and decided on a low mileage 2004 CV713 with AI-400 12.0L MACK 400 HP and MAXITORQUE 9 SPDS trans. I’m going to be running mostly dirt sand and stone at ~70K in hot temps.  So my question is, should I avoid this engine?  I don’t mind spending some additional money and upgrading a manifold, injectors, and turbo, but the part numbers from Grand Rock don’t bring any results on their search page so I’m assuming that it was a one and done single run custom job?  The truck was a specialized oil field truck and has a new 17’ steel body, PTO and cylinder and looks clean in pictures. I’m flying out this Friday 9/27 to take a drive and check it out and if everything looks good I was going to hand the man a check and drive it home.  Any advice would be very welcome—

1. is this engine a dog without doing the conversions described in this thread?

2.  What exactly is the minimum I’d need to do to make it run properly?

The last 6 of the VIN 008206

The truck is listed here on MV Planet Trucks.

http://www.mvplanettrucks.com/admin/view2.php?ccode=156893884865881&startitem=&startpage=&endpage=&current=&category=&make=&model=&year=#

My cashiers check is in hand and I have a Friday flight, but for $60K if this engine is going to irritate me for the next 3 years I can hold off.  I have a little time to look for the right truck if this engine isn’t it..

 

As an aside, I could have gotten a 2016 Western Star for ~$80,000.00 locally.  It’s listed here but sold now.  

https://www.tlgtrucks.com/peterbilt-sleeper-day-cab/GPHP1610/

Please someone tell me that even though its newer that this old 2004 Granite is still a better truck, otherwise I’m going to be kicking myself —

Thanks—

Try calling Grand Rock directly. I’d try Josh Stewart. The listing may not show up (or search) because they don’t want to confuse people who are looking for a stock part and end up accidentally buying a modification fit. It’s a practical line of thought for them not to list something which isn’t a direct fit. 

Personally, I have complete confidence in these AI trucks because I worked on them for years. They are a lemon, so you need to know how to make lemonade. This is the lemonade recipe.  Can’t recommend these trucks for purchase except to say I’d buy one because I have my previous coworker at the dealership who can still drop files into them and provide all other internal support and I’m very familiar with them. The truck I used for this thread ran 600K+ miles with no mods or even a software update. It was making money and the fleet manager I talked to (before purchasing) was happy with it. You need to gauge your own risk and make your decision.

I’m an “end of life” user my whole life. Never owned a new car or warranty. If a car motor goes south I want a quick, easy, low-tech, turn around repair which I can perform with the tools I own. I still don’t run an overhead cam in the family van simply because I have to fix it. These AI qualify as good “end of life buyer” trucks, easy quick fixers if they go down during season. I can say from what i’ve witnessed personally and heard on this sight I would never want a end of life truck with a stacked emissions system that starts with 4 or 5(tier). 

IMO-That’s a nice looking rig. If they are a 15 year old, unprofitable, fuel guzzling, junk pile, why the heck are they still getting an arm and a leg for one?

Answer....

1. Yes, they have doggy spots in low power band, but will run.

2. The bare minimum is a set of injectors. Leave the rest alone. Lot of guys only changed injectors and were satisfied.

PM me.

30 minutes ago, 41chevy said:

Need nothing named after me but Vets Town has a nice ring to it or maybe Victoryville

If that's the case rename it Four Branches, Virginia. Bet under the threat of litigation they would?

Yeah, that was a good price. Now it's off to Nigeria for that baby.  

Sorry, I don't know those laws and it's painful to read that little green DOT bible.

Terrible to slip and fall in your own BS. Once they are on the edge of total internal collapse make an out clause for them...……. We're renaming the town Cheshireville, Virgina.  Seems fair?

8 hours ago, fjh said:

If we’re talking the same issue here ? On older trucks We used to move inlet temp to the outlet pipe of the after cooler wonder if that is an option!

Physical redesign for the fuel gallery pressure regulator fitting. They used a pressure change to smoothen idle issues. Recall the visual identification for product improvement? I don’t see that bulletin.....  He could hold a new regulator up to the old one and tell if it's updated, but I'd rather find the literature. 

5 hours ago, Rod72 said:

Thank you very much!  Good post for sure.  Looking at 4 roll off trucks.   04 c12, 14 isx15, 05 mack ami 335 and 06 Mack AI 350 which has a new reman.  I want to lean towards the Macks.  All real nice but every one has it’s demons.   Was gonna buy the isx15 which is a 14 model with only 200k till i started reading on that engines problems today then i came back to these macks which have the cam that dirties the crankcase and gets bad mileage.   Not much other choice unless i just buy an mp7 or 8???   What is your thoughts?  Read a lot of your posts!!

Depends on what you want. I’d take an AI over interim 4 or final tier 4 engine any day. MP series has some short comings that are impossible to remedy. AI has short comings that are more simple to remedy. 

We run a fleet of tier 3 AI engines at work. They do great for reliability. If you have good fleet service support, and a knowledgeable mechanic, get a final 4 MP engine. If you want easier reliability and the ability to diagnose and fix stuff yourself get an AI and convert out the exhaust recirc.

I’ve noticed the resale value of the Mack AI vintage hasn’t seemed to drop despite a shady reputation. I’ve talked to fleet owners who don’t like MP, but appreciate the extra MPG enough to keep buying them. I have a buddy who loves his MP8 so long as the warranty has him covered. His brother wanted to buy his truck once warranty was up and he refused to sell it to him as an act of mercy. 

1 hour ago, Rod72 said:

Which is best, given the choice?  Looking at two trucks now.  Thanks

What are you using the truck for.... straight truck, tractor, dump? How much are you hauling?  

The difference is when the fuel is delivered to the cylinder and how much. If you deliver fuel slightly later in the power stroke you lose HP (ability to accelerate more quickly) but gain torque (ability to maintain speed). 

Pay attention to the torque rise column on the chart I entered....

AI- delivers lots of power in a tight RPM range. Delivers good torque in a tight RPM range. When you hit a hill speed begins to drop and torque rises 27% to try to maintain your pull. So you lose speed faster and have to shift, but overall you have more tow power.

AMI- delivers less HP than AI(varies). Delivers less torque than AI (varies).....BUT, as you begin to lose speed up a hill the torque rises 60% as your RPMs drop. So AMI works harder to maintain your hill climb as speed and RPM begin to drop. 

Your buddy with the AI made it over the hill faster, with a larger payload, but burned more fuel and had to shift 5 times.