What are the Cat 3116 engine’s common problems?
As good as the Cat 3116 is, some common problems with the engine include damaged crankshaft bearings, overfilling, cylinder score, valve drop, low oil pressure, and crankshaft failure.
The first problem I had with my 3116 was how to adjust the valve and the injectors. But I later saw it in the owner’s manual.
Click here to read another article on the cat engine.
Let’s go down to the details.
Common Problem With Cat 3116 Engine
Every engine has peculiar problems, no exemption for the caterpillar 3116 engine. It is one of the best engines manufactured by Caterpillar. Millions of end users usually re-buy it over and over again. Its manual nature makes it simple for technicians to fix.
However, it has a common problem that frequently affects engine performance. Let us briefly discuss a few of that common problems.
1. Crankshaft Bearings damages: If you are familiar with this engine, you will notice that the crankshaft bearings sometimes have issues. And if this is not properly attended to, it can aggravate the problem.
2. Over Fuelling: Another name for it is over Fuelling. It is a situation where your fuel pump is pumping excess fuel to the engine cylinder. When the fuel is excess, it will affect the engine performance.
In this context, Fuelling is not referring to the tank’s excess fuel but the fuel pump supplying to injectors.
4. Scored Pistons and Liners: On numerous occasions, scoring the cylinder wall and piston skits normally starts with scuffing. With time it now aggravated to scoring. Fail piston rings can cause this, failed piston or a stuck piston and rings.
5. Oil pressure: Low oil pressure is another well-known problem associated with the 3116 engine. Though few things can cause low oil pressure, this problem is very common with this particular cat model.
6. Excessive Blow By This situation is where compressed air and fuel in the cylinder are higher than the pressure in the sump/oil pan, and gas leaks past piston rings and down into the crankcase.
7. Valve Dropped: This happens when the engine valve drop to the piston in the cylinder. This usually happens due to engine over speed, broken springs, faulty valve keepers, etc. it usually causes serious damage to the engine
8. Crankshaft Failure: This is a terrible situation in which a crankshaft is damaged due to cracks on the surface of the crankshaft caused by low oil pressure, spun bearings, residual stresses, etc., on the crankshaft.
9. Cylinder head with crack: This happens when the engine experience overheating. The cylinder head quickly experiences a crack after a period of overheating.
10. Connecting rod damage: This is not too frequent but occurred. I have experienced it occasionally, so I included it here.
11. Bending of pushrod: 3116 is blessed with strong pushrods. It is difficult for them to break, but they sometimes bend. It usually happens when the valve adjustment is incorrect. As such, it causes bent pushrods.
12. Engine Runaway: The first time I experienced this, I felt like running away. Thank God that I didn’t run away, the results would have been fatal. After adjusting the injectors, if one of them is stuck, it can affect the rack and cause the engine to overspeed or run away.
Why 3116 Cat Engine Not Getting Fuel
- Clogged fuel filter: This is one of the common reasons why 3116 engine is not getting fuel.
- Faulty Fuel Pump (governor): If the fuel pump is at fault and is no longer pumping the fuel to the nozzles. The fuel pump duty is to supplying the nozzles, but when it is faulty, it will no longer discharge its duty adequately.
- . Stuck Stopper Solenoid: in the 3116 engine, a stopper Solenoid is attached to the governor. It is there to off the engine. After switching off the engine, if it is now stuck to the off position, this will prevent the engine from getting fuel.The solenoid can be remove while you start the engine, or replace the solenoid.
- No Enough Diesel in The Tank: If there is not enough diesel in the tank, this can make the suction hose not to be able to suck fuel to the necessary components that need fuel. For this reason, the engine will be starved of fuel.
- Faulty lift pump: lift pump draws fuel from the tank to the filter. If the lift pump is worn, then there is no way the fuel will get out of the tank. And that will prevent the engine from getting fuel.
How Much Horsepower Does A 3116 Cat Engine Have
Peak power output from the 3116 Cat Engine may reach 205 horsepower at 2,400 rpm and 350 horsepower at 2,800 rpm. A turbocharged diesel engine primarily utilized for marine propulsion is the Caterpillar 3116.
couple with another for the likes of powerboats. The 3116 Caterpillar Engine is extremely versatile due to its ability to work with several different Caterpillar marine transmissions that can supply different acceleration levels.
The 3116 served as the 3126’s predecessor and served as the 3126’s building block until the CAT C7 engine took its place in 2003.
You can’t go wrong with a Cat engine; after all, Cat was used to power the American Virginia class nuclear submarine, which employs the Series 3512B turbocharged V-12 diesel engine…you can be sure your 3116 Cat Engine is more than just your standard engine.
CAT 3116 Spec Engine Data Configuration In-Line 6, 4-Stroke-Cycle-DieselBore105mm (4.13 in) Stroke127mm (5.0 in) Displacement6.6L (402 cu in) Flywheel Rotation Counter-Clockwise Compression Ratio16:01Cooling System Tank Capacity28.0 (7.4)Oil System Tank Capacity25.0 (6.6)Oil Change Interval250 hrs Aspiration Turbocharged Aftercooled 681 (1500)
What Is The Fuel Pressure For A 3116
The fuel pressure is different in idle and speed.
At idle, 10-15 psi is ok, while 50-55 psi is ok at full speed.
The fuel injection system of the Caterpillar 3116 diesel engine is a direct injection unit system that results in low emissions, allowing the engine to meet low emission standards worldwide.
A direct-unit injection system allows the 3116 to provide high-pressure, direct fuel injection for combustion.
Using a direct injection unit system, the 3116 does not require external high-pressure fuel lines.
Standard
Furthermore, integrating advanced technologies in electronic engine management ensures optimal performance in various operating conditions.
The Caterpillar 3116 engine is used in many applications due to its adaptability.
What Is A 3116 Cat Engine
The diesel turbocharged Caterpillar 3116 engine powers excavators, graders, forklifts, and marine propulsion.
It can be used in conjunction with powerboats or on its own.
Depending on how the boat will be used, it might accelerate quicker or slower when used with various Caterpillar marine transmissions.
The transmission chosen can also change the overall size and weight of the engine, with the fastest transmissions adding the most weight and size.
The Cat 3116 four-stroke diesel engine has inline six cylinders with 4.13-inch bores and 5-inch strokes. The total engine displacement is 402 cubic inches;
It has a 16 to 1 compression ratio. At its highest power output, the Cat 3116 can generate up to 205 horsepower at 2,400 rpm and 350 horsepower at 2,800 rpm.
It can hold 7.4 gallons for the engine cooling system and 6.6 gallons for engine oil.
The 3116 cat engine is said to weigh 1500 pounds in total dry weight.
When the standard model transmission is mounted, the engine measures 63.2 inches long, 33.8 inches high, and 32.1 inches wide.
Conclusion
The 3116 is a very good engine, but just like other engines, the common faults of the engine have been mentioned, such as overfilling, valve dropping, bearings, damages, etc.
Remember that the engine’s horsepower can range between 200 to 350 depending on the engine’s speed.
The engine can be used in different applications, such as marine, crane, forklift, excavator generator, etc.
The fuel pressure ranges between 10-55 psi depending on the engine’s speed.
Click here to read another article on internal combustion engines.
Do you have a 3116 engine?