More and more, winning contracts requires that you show E&Ps you can operate on gas. That’s a problem for pressure pumpers running a fleet of diesel engines — and in this economy, who has the capital to purchase new Dynamic Gas Blending^™ (DGB^™) engines or convert to e-frac?

Good news: You don’t have to. Our DGB upgrade kits transform your Cat^® 3512E U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final diesel engines into DGB units at about half the cost of buying new. And now’s a great time to convert to the newest technology, before business picks back up and fleets come back online. (Cash flow still a concern? Cat Financial has financing available for DGB upgrade kits.) Here’s what you need to know:

What does the Tier 4 DGB upgrade entail?

Essentially, your dealer removes the top half of the diesel engine and replaces it with DGB content. It may sound simple, but it’s a complex procedure. That’s why we’ve spent significant time over the last few months educating Cat dealers on the upgrade process, kit contents and EPA emissions labeling requirements.

How is it different than Tier 2 upgrade kits?

Very different. The Tier 2 DGB upgrade is a bolt-on kit so it’s fairly simple and quick to implement. Because the Tier 4 DGB solution is integrated into the engine, it’s more complex and time-consuming.

Just how time-consuming?

Check with your local dealer for specifics on schedules, but a Tier 4 DGB upgrade should take somewhere between the time required for a top-end overhaul and a major overhaul. While your engines are in the shop for the conversion, it’s a good idea to think about other improvements you could tackle at the same time — like switching to the new 750-hour deep oil pan and tripling your oil change interval, for example.

What’s the impact on packaging?

It’s minimal. With DGB, the engine has a slightly larger aftertreatment system on top and weighs a few hundred pounds more than the diesel model. Otherwise, it looks, feels and performs the same.

What about maintenance changes?

They’re also minimal. From a routine maintenance perspective, the DGB model has an added secondary gas filter on the engine, and you’ll need to mount a primary gas filter off-engine to ensure gas is dry and debris-free. The closed crankcase ventilator requires a small filter as well. That’s it.

When can I get my upgrade on the schedule?

There’s no time like the present. Kits are available to order today through your Cat dealer.