Shop Heavy Duty CAC Hoses & Boots for Peak Performance
If your Peterbilt 352 isnât pulling like it should, start with the CAC system. CAC clamps, boots, and hoses move cooled, pressurized air from the turbo to the engine. That airflow is everything. When it stays sealed, the engine runs strong. When it leaks, performance drops fast.
A cracked boot or loose clamp bleeds boost. You feel it on hills. Throttle response slows. Fuel burn goes up just to keep pace. That imbalance also creates excess soot, which puts stress on the DPF and the rest of the emissions system. Small leaks turn into big repair bills.
Heat and vibration wear parts over time, but oil causes the most damage. Turbo oil mist slowly breaks down silicone boots. They soften. They swell. Then they fail without warning under load. Many roadside breakdowns start exactly this way.
Clamps are just as critical as the boots and hoses. Weak or stretched clamps let connections shift. That can cause leaks or allow dirty air to get pulled in. Unfiltered air carries grit, and grit inside the engine leads to permanent damage.
Signs You Need to Replace CAC Connections
You may hear a sharp hiss or whistle under boost.
You may see oil residue, cracked silicone, or black smoke.
You may notice lower boost readings on the dash.
To be sure, do a quick walkaround inspection. Check every connection point. Feel for soft or spongy spots. Look for oil-soaked boots and uneven clamp pressure. Catching one bad part early can save you from a derate on the shoulder.
Quality CAC boots, hoses, and heavy-duty clamps help your Peterbilt 352 keep its power, protect the emissions system, and run cleaner mile after mile. Tight air connections donât just restore boost. They protect the engine itself.
