What is CAT name nomenclature?

[RobertN]

I see CAT motors, like 3406, or the 3208 in one of my Dept's fire engines.

What is that nomenclature? I know the 320"8" is a V8. but what does the "320" part mean, or the "340" in "3406?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just a guess but maybe its like International does and its the Cubic Inches. A example is the VT365 better know as the Variable Turbo 365 Cu In or Ford PowerStroke 6.0L.

Just a guess.

Chris

 

[RobertN]

Just a guess but maybe its like International does and its the Cubic Inches. A example is the VT365 better know as the Variable Turbo 365 Cu In or Ford PowerStroke 6.0L.

Just a guess.

Chris

I did some searching, none of the numbers, for say, a 3208, match up except for the "8" being an 8 cylinder. Almost seemed like the last two digits meant cylinders, like a 3204,3206, 3208, 3212 meaning 4, 6, 8, 12 cylinder(just example numbers).

Here is some 3208 engine data:
CATERPILLARｮ ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
V-8, Four-Stroke-Cycle Diesel
Emissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IMO compliant
Bore mm (in) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114.3 (4.5)
Stroke mm (in) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 (5.0)
Displacement L (cu in) . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.4 (636)
Rotation (from flywheel end) . Counterclockwise
Compression Ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.5:1
435 hp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.5:1
Capacity for Liquids L (U.S. gal)
Cooling System (engine only)
DINA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.3 (12.5)
DITA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56.0 (14.8)
Lube Oil System (refill)
DINA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.0 (3.2)
DITA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.0 (4.0)
Oil Change Interval hrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Engine Weight, Net Dry (approx) kg (lb)
210 hp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 722 (1592)
375 hp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772 (1702)
435 hp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 899 (1982)

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well I would have lost on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Like I said, it was just a guess.

Chris

 

[GreenWannabe]

The first two digits in the 3000 families of engines represent different cylinder sizes. There were 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, and 3600 families at one time, in increasing cylinder size. Within a single family, at least for the 3200 through 3600 families, the cylinders were the same size. That is not true for the 3100s and 3000s. The last two digits represented the number of cylinders. In the 3200 series, there were a 3204 and a 3208. The 3300 series had the 3304 and 3306. The 3400 series had a 3406, 3408, and 3412. The 3500s had the 3508, 3512, 3516 and 3520. The 3600s were the 3606, 3608, 3612, and 3616. All the 8, 12, and 16 cylinder models were v-type engines, except the 3608, which was inline. The 3400, 3500, and 3600 families are still in production. The C series engines have replaced most of the rest.

 

[RobertN]

The first two digits in the 3000 families of engines represent different cylinder sizes. There were 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, and 3600 families at one time, in increasing cylinder size. Within a single family, at least for the 3200 through 3600 families, the cylinders were the same size. That is not true for the 3100s and 3000s. The last two digits represented the number of cylinders. In the 3200 series, there were a 3204 and a 3208. The 3300 series had the 3304 and 3306. The 3400 series had a 3406, 3408, and 3412. The 3500s had the 3508, 3512, 3516 and 3520. The 3600s were the 3606, 3608, 3612, and 3616. All the 8, 12, and 16 cylinder models were v-type engines, except the 3608, which was inline. The 3400, 3500, and 3600 families are still in production. The C series engines have replaced most of the rest.

So they ran a standard cylinder, with different stroke?

So for the 3208, I am unclear on corelation to cylinder size based on what I found above;
Here is some 3208 engine data:
CATERPILLARｮ ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
V-8, Four-Stroke-Cycle Diesel
Emissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IMO compliant
Bore mm (in) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114.3 (4.5)
Stroke mm (in) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 (5.0)
Displacement L (cu in) . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.4 (636)

It is interesting; all the manufactures have thier own lingo

 

[GreenWannabe]

So they ran a standard cylinder, with different stroke?

So for the 3208, I am unclear on corelation to cylinder size based on what I found above;
Here is some 3208 engine data:
CATERPILLARｮ ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
V-8, Four-Stroke-Cycle Diesel
Emissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IMO compliant
Bore mm (in) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114.3 (4.5)
Stroke mm (in) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 (5.0)
Displacement L (cu in) . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.4 (636)

It is interesting; all the manufactures have thier own lingo

Each family was a different cylinder size. The 3204, which Cat used in the D3 tractor, was half the size of the 3208, with 4 cylinders and discplacemnt of 318 cu in. The older 3304s, 4 cylinder with 350 cu in; the older 3306s, 6 cylinders with 525 cu in. After they resized them, the 3304s had 425 cu in, and the 3306 had 638 cu in. The 3406 was 893 cu in, the 3408 was 899 cu in.

 

[RobertN]

Each family was a different cylinder size. The 3204, which Cat used in the D3 tractor, was half the size of the 3208, with 4 cylinders and discplacemnt of 318 cu in. The older 3304s, 4 cylinder with 350 cu in; the older 3306s, 6 cylinders with 525 cu in. After they resized them, the 3304s had 425 cu in, and the 3306 had 638 cu in. The 3406 was 893 cu in, the 3408 was 899 cu in.

Ok. I think I understand So they designated the family, but not a numeric value of the cylinder size. That's what I had thought was going on originally.

So in a "32" series, the cylinder is not 32 cubic inches or liters... That would be a tiny motor

Thanks for the explanation