Caterpillar Engines

[Gemini]

Can anyone please advice on the Caterpiller 3116TA engines 355HP
Are these good or bad, reliable or probmatic, any comments are helpfull. servicing issues etc
I am considering a twin set up with shafts in a 40' sports cruiser, fuel comsumption quoted 25 gallon per hour by the broker, seems a bit light,

 

[thefatlady]

Fuel consumption doesn't sound too low to me, unless it's flat out.

I had 10.4 litre, V8 CAT 3208 engines (435HP) in a 47ft sports cruiser. Consumption over a long period (4 years, thousands of miles) 5 litres/nm cruising at about 23/24 kts. Actually, speed from 20 to 27 kts made very little difference to consumption in l/nm.

I would expect 3116TAs (6 cyl, about 7 litre?) in a 40ft sports boat to be more economical.

 

[Bandit]

Sounds about right my boat with twin 370hp Volvo Pentas burns between 85 and 105 litres per hour for both engines at cruising speed so probably about 300hp each being absorbed so fuel burnt.

 

[Pete7]

A friend runs a large cat and is always having problems finding someone to overall the pump or injectors. I am led to believe that the injector pressure is a lot higher than most diesels therefore many of the injection specialists won't touch them. Worth looking into.

Pete

 

[ArthurWood]

The 3116s are very widely used in the US, tho' I think Cummins are preferred nowadays because of major problems a few years ago with the bigger 3126 models, which Cat fixed and spent a lot of money correcting all the problems even if out of warranty. They simply replaced many engines, so you can't fault the company for service, at least over here.
I don't think you can go wrong with them, but don't come back to me if you have problems /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[sunquest]

"Can anyone please advice on the Caterpiller 3116TA engines 355HP".
Yup, these are the donkeys in my Colvic Sunquest 44'. Touch wood they have been totally reliable with only service items changed in the two years I have owned it . After 900 hours use, start up smoke is minimal and the only minor concern I have is a slight oil weep from the crankcase breather on the port engine. Geoff

 

[sunquest]

Your friend should try Finnings. They are the Caterpillar people who took over Levertons many years ago. Get all my Filters Belts Oil etc from them at plant hire prices. Geoff

 

[sunquest]

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gifForgot to add these engines should only run on Sae 30 oil not multigrade, something to do with a build up in the turbos. Finnings are the main dealers with non marine pricing. Geoff.