- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,156
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
Caterpillar 3100 series engines are load sensitive at low rpms, and, above 2400 rpms which gets them into overloaded territory, if you run them more than 8% of the time above 2400 rpm.
Cats love to be worked and that means loaded enough to hear the turbos producing some boost and generating enough power to build some heat in the coolant. If you just idle them along, like running them below 1100-1200 rpm, you create a sooting condition and your oil samples will tell on you.
On my 450DA, 3116/350hp Cats, getting enough speed to get the hull to try to plane begins to load up the engines and was at about 1350 - 1400 rpm…..probably lower on lighter hulls like the 370/380, 400/410's. My engines were really happy at 1750-1900 rpm and they were also extremely efficient at that power setting.
Where you choose to run tends to be a compromise of how rough the seas make the ride and what rpms are best for the engine your wallet efficiency.
Cats love to be worked and that means loaded enough to hear the turbos producing some boost and generating enough power to build some heat in the coolant. If you just idle them along, like running them below 1100-1200 rpm, you create a sooting condition and your oil samples will tell on you.
On my 450DA, 3116/350hp Cats, getting enough speed to get the hull to try to plane begins to load up the engines and was at about 1350 - 1400 rpm…..probably lower on lighter hulls like the 370/380, 400/410's. My engines were really happy at 1750-1900 rpm and they were also extremely efficient at that power setting.
Where you choose to run tends to be a compromise of how rough the seas make the ride and what rpms are best for the engine your wallet efficiency.