Diesel Progress North American

MARINE PROPULSION
Caterpillar’s Marine Power
Systems has introduced
the Cat C6.4, a new V- 8
marine diesel engine plat-
form for the pleasure craft
industry. The C6.4 will pro-
vide power from 335 to 505
hp at 3400 rpm.
NEW 6. 4 L CAT
PLEASURE CRAFT DIESEL
Power from 335 to 505 hp from new V- 8 model with high-pressure common rail fuel system, CGI block

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems has introduced the Cat C6.4, a new marine diesel engine platform targeted for the pleasure craft industry. The C6.4 will provide power from 335 to 505 hp at 3400 rpm and is a vee-configuration, eight-cylinder, four-stroke diesel with a 98.2 mm bore and 105 mm stroke displacing the 6. 4 L.

The C6.4 offers four “E” level ratings, including the highest rating, which is 505 hp at 3400 rpm. Additional ratings available include 450, 380 and 335 hp. Production is targeted for the first half of 2012. The engine will be built at the Wimborne Marine Power Center, Wimborne, U.K.

David Shannon, Caterpillar Marine Power Systems pleasure craft global sales manager said the C6.4 meets current exhaust emissions regulations including U.S. EPA Tier 2 marine recreational craft limitations, the EU

94/25/EC recreational craft directive, and is IMO II compliant. The engine is also capable of meeting future U.S. EPA Tier 3 marine exhaust emissions requirements, he said.

Reduced engine noise is achieved through the use of a two-piece compacted graphite iron (CGI) cylinder block, combining the bed plate and block casting to provide additional stiffness and subsequently lower operating noise.

The high-pressure common rail (HPCR) fuel system also provides quieter performance through the pilot injection of fuel and integration of piezo technology to eliminate electromechanical control solenoids, said Tony Pattle, marine products engineering manager.

“The quieter performance of the C6.4 is also due to significant reductions in geartrain and valve noise as well as the addition of the HPCR fuel system,” Pattle said.

Standard equipment includes a built-in oil cooler, centrifugal water pump, self-priming seawater pump, low profile oil pan, top access to service oil level and oil fill locations as well as a single Cat heavy-duty, spin-on, high-efficiency oil filter.

The engine is equipped with an automatic fuel priming pump, 12 Vdc electric accessories and a solid-mounted Cat 70-pin electric plug-in connector for yacht control harness. The new C6.4 is fully compatible with the Cat Multi-Station Control System (MSCS) and MSCS II components for shift and throttle integration and Cat helm displays, including a color marine power display. dp