Off Color White 2-180

I have a CAT 3208 in a Steiger.  I dont wind it all the way out and dont let it lug down too far.  I get along fine with it. Good luck! 

Had a 3208 in a Field Queen Chopper. Ran it with a three row head, and pulled a dump wagon behind. While it was well taken care of, it didn't have an easy life. Had over 6,000 hours on it before it was overhauled. Main thing is, keep the valves adjusted. Always wanted a White 4-225, with the 3208T. The Whites, would have been the same drive train as the Deutz-Allis 9100 series, and the 9600 series used the rear end. We never had any problems with those.


Edited by bigal121892 - 15 May 2024 at 6:36pm

Cat, towards the end of the life of the 3208 offered it with a turbo. None of the White 2-180's were ever offered with the 3208T, like I said, the only White tractor to have the 3208T, was the 4-225. I do believe that some owners of the 3208 added a turbo, but this would have been an aftermarket option. We had a couple of feed trucks with the 3208T, but these came from Cat with the turbo, they were not add-ons. Neighbor ran Whites; good tractors, the only issue they complained about was you don't want to go down hill in under-drive, as they  will free wheel.

The Turbo was more common in later years to cut emissions, and for altitude compensation.   HP went from 225 to 250, IIRC.

In a 2-180 they can last a long time, just let it warm up and cool down. As mentioned they are N/A in all Whites but the 225, but many 3208T's running around in spreaders, end up getting swapped into machinery that didn't originally have a turbo charged 3208. Even though it's a high rpm V8, they are 636 CID, so it is still very gutsy when left stock. Typical N/A truck engine was 210hp @ 2800, and many Turbo'd were 250 @ 2600, flywheel hp.

Tbone I'm kind of partial to the v8 whites, I bought this older brother to the 2-180 a few years ago as a toy. It has 6000 hrs on the original 3150 cat which in later serial numbers got the 3208. She's pretty impressive really it will pull these 24 foot disc to the spools at 6 mph if you want at 2200 rpm. It has 1000lb wheel weights in each wheel and loaded 23.1x34 tires.uploads/11464/2255-2.jpg

Tbone, I would not be afraid of a White 2-180, the 3208 is a good engine.

I have a 3208 in a tyler floater and it is rated at 295hp 2800rpm no load speed 2600rpm full load speed. About 5000hrs on the unit with about 1200 on the cat reman engine. One thing interesting is it recommends adding coolant conditioner every 250hrs or changing the filters every 500hrs. This is a mid 90s unit and not sure if electrolysis is an issue with these engines but that seems like an excessive amount of cooling system maintenance.

I told the guy no yesterday, but truth be told I’m still thinking about it.

As discussed, was naturally aspirated as built. They had an M & W twin turbo on it for a while. Still has the manifolds for that and thus a homemade dual exhaust one each side of the hood. He believes the turbo caused trouble, as I recall he said rod bearings. Turbo removed and engine rebuilt not a lot of hours ago.   His story, I can’t confirm nor deny. Says the last few years of its life have been very easy.

It started at the click of the key and sounded healthy, responsive at the throttle.

Of course the air conditioning didn’t work, and it was HOT in there at only 72 degrees outside.

Drawbar hole is well worn to oblong. One of the balls in the lift arms is almost gone.

Biggest turn off for me is that it is LOUD. Guy said it’s not the exhaust that’s making it loud it’s the nature of the 3208 and the nature of a White tractor/cab. I said to myself, ok, let’s pretend I’ve got the AC fixed and I can run with the door and windows closed. So I went to the end of his very long driveway, turned, put it in a field gear and gave her hell. Dang it’s loud! Wasn’t sure I could picture myself listening to that for 10 hours straight.

Would be very hard to find a Dollar to horsepower ratio more in my favor.

Hmmm…