Cat’s latest C13D engine delivers power equivalent to its existing 13, 15, and single-turbo 18-liter platforms.
Cat doesn’t overhaul its 13-liter diesel engine frequently; it’s a project that occurs every thirty years. Thus, when the engineers at Caterpillar began designing the C13D engine, they were challenged with producing a heavy-duty off-highway engine that provides unparalleled power density, torque, and fuel efficiency.
Cat’s hard work culminated in a new engine that can take the place of three existing engines in Cat’s collection. The C13D provides power and torque similar to what is available in Cat’s current 13, 15, and single-turbo 18-liter engine platforms. Caterpillar introduced the C13D at ConExpo in March at Allegiant Stadium, where the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders play their home games.
Mark Stratton, Vice President of Large Engines at Cat Industrial Power Systems, noted that the new platform allows Cat to employ it in areas where larger engines are used, both by Cat’s competition and their own platforms.
“We only embark on this endeavor once every 30 years, so we will make sure to do it correctly,” he added.
Cat’s C13D engine aims to serve a diverse selection of off-highway equipment, such as
- rock crushers,
- screeners,
- grinders,
- trenchers,
- agricultural tractors,
- harvesters,
- woodchippers,
- material-handling machines,
- and large industrial pumps.
Featuring an inline six-cylinder configuration, the C13D engine platform will provide eight power ratings ranging from 456 to 690 hp, with up to 3,200 Nm of peak torque. Additionally, Cat will provide engine-mounted aftertreatment and cooling packs straight from the factory to lower installation and validation expenses.
20 per cent more power
Cat’s latest engine platform boasts a power increase of up to 20 percent and low-speed torque boost of up to 25 percent when compared to the previous generation of Cat engines in its power category. The C13D engine was constructed with 45 percent fewer leak points by the engineers to enhance reliability and simplify maintenance, while service intervals have been lengthened to 1,000 hours. Moreover, the C13D engine utilizes between five and 25 percent less fuel depending on the application. Mark Stratton said:
“For many of our clients, the C13D engine’s fuel efficiency has a significant impact on their bottom line. Their fuel bill is a significant part of their operating budget, and if we can reduce that burden, we can be proud of our work.”
Additionally, the engine is built to function at altitudes of up to 3,657 meters, twice as high as Cat’s previous engines, and in temperatures ranging from -40°C to 60°C with assistance.
“We are aware that our customers will place these engines in extremely harsh settings. We are delighted that the engine can operate effectively anywhere in the world,” says Stratton.
The C13D engine’s noise level has been reduced by up to 3 dB when compared to previous models thanks to the brand-new rear gear train, firmer core architecture, and common rail fuel system. Mark Stratton said:
“We invested a significant amount of time and resources to ensure that the engine operates quietly.”
The team scrutinized the block, geartrain, head, and other components repeatedly to minimize the vibrations that create noise.
Renewable fuel options
The C13D engine platform from Cat allows the use of 100% hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), B100 distilled biodiesel, and even up to the B100 standard biodiesel. Furthermore, its core architecture is designed to accommodate the future development of natural gas and hydrogen fuel capabilities.
The C13D engine will conform to Tier 4 Final, Stage V, China Non-road IV, Korea Stage V, and Japan 2014 emission standards. The engine’s architecture has been designed to be space-efficient by modularizing and eliminating components, making it adaptable to anticipated configuration adjustments for future emission standards in the United States and Europe without requiring customers to relocate connection points.
The first digitally designed engine from Cat
The C13D is the first engine that was developed and tested in a virtual environment, eliminating the need for physical prototypes to be built and tested repeatedly. In the past, creating a new engine would entail constructing a prototype for testing, refining it, and then retesting it.
“Before we even manufactured the first part or put it in our lab, we extensively tested and validated the engine in the virtual world. With our simulation capability, we could run thousands of different piston ring simulations overnight,” adds Stratton.
The virtual design process also allowed Cat to optimize the engine for manufacturing.
Mark Stratton explained that the virtual design process used for the C13D engine allowed for extensive testing and validation before building a physical prototype. Thousands of simulations were run overnight using simulation capability, enabling the optimization of the engine for manufacturing. The assembly process was also fully simulated to ensure easy access to every bolt. Stratton believes that the platform has been optimized for future performance.
Dedicated to diesel
Caterpillar Industrial Power Systems is heavily investing in new power technologies, such as battery-electric, hybrid, and alternative fuels like HVO, according to Jaz Gill, the Vice President of Sales, Marketing, Service, and Parts. Gill added that while these new technologies have promising potential for the future, the internal combustion engine remains the primary workhorse on most job sites globally.
Caterpillar remains dedicated to diesel technology as the primary workhorse for the majority of jobsites globally, according to Jaz Gill, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, Service, and Parts at Caterpillar Industrial Power Systems. Despite investing heavily in new power technologies such as battery-electric, hybrid, and alternative fuels like HVO, the company sees significant opportunities for internal combustion engines now and in the future. The C13D is set to be available for early OEM pilots in 2025 and is scheduled for production in 2026.
