As you’re weighing your Tier 4 Final engine options, it pays to separate fact from fiction. Installation and maintenance requirements are two big areas where we’ve seen quite a few “mistruths” about Cat® engines. Here’s what you need to know:

The Truth About Installation

Installing a Cat Tier 4 Final marine engine in your vessel does require some additional space. But don’t assume it’s too big or too complicated. The money you’ll save over the long run operating our Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) solution far outweighs any upfront installation challenges.

The key is asking for assistance before you’re too far into the process to make changes. Our engineers are committed to helping you and your naval architects find a solution that fits your vessel. Our engine design is flexible, and we’ve developed different orientations for housing the equipment, depending on the vessel and whether the kit is destined for the stack or the engine room. And we’ve already worked with several inland waterway operations to adapt these designs to achieve clearance and visibility goals.

To begin the process, contact your local Cat dealer first. Our dealers have access to our comprehensive Tier 4 Final marine installation guide and can provide more detail on installation requirements. They can also connect you or your naval architects directly to the installation experts at Caterpillar.

The Truth About Maintenance

Unlike engines featuring Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), Cat Tier 4 Final marine engines do not require any additional preventive maintenance or service activities. There’s no need to change fuel filters more frequently and because there’s no EGR system, no requirement to perform EGR valve and cooler maintenance. There’s just one Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) filter to change.

SCR service periods align with engine overhaul intervals. While the overhaul life of your SCR system will depend on your load profile, it’s a long-life component expected to have the same overhaul life as your engine. When it’s time to replace the system, only about eight hours of labor is required. It’s fully accessible to your service engineers to help reduce downtime and replacement/overhaul parts costs.

Like always, your local Cat dealer is available to provide any maintenance support you need. Our dealers and their service technicians have years of experience with SCR solutions, as a similar system is used in Cat locomotive, offshore petroleum and electric power products. You can count on the same level of service, parts availability and expertise you’ve come to expect with previous Cat marine engines.