Caterpillar starts with a 'C'
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• Caterpillar has upgraded its heavy truck engines, including the 10.5-litre 3306 and the 14.61itre 3406 which are used by Foden in the UK.
The revised engines gain a 'C' suffix to distinguish them from the current 'B' models. They will appear first in the United States in early 1992, but are expected to be phased into Europe later on next year to supersede the existing range.
On the 3306C the changes are concentrated on the cylinder head, with a redesigned combustion chamber to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. For the 3406C all variants now benefit from a beefed up bottom end which was originally introduced in the 460hp (343kW) rating but was not sold in Europe. Both engines get new turbocharger installations.
The hardware improvements allow oil drain intervals to be extended on the 'C' models from 19,300km to 24,000km.
According to Otto Staleman, UK truck engine account manager for Caterpillar Overseas, the 3306C should be available here next autumn, with the 3406C following towards the end of the year, although ultimately the timing is tied to homologation requirements.
Staleman believes that the engine ratings available will be essentially as before, but that the versions of the 3406C of fered in the States with Cat's PEEC electronic control system are unlikely to appear in Europe for the time being.
As Staleman says, however: "The choice depends to a large part on what Foden want to put in their chassis."
For its 4000 Series tractors and multi-wheelers Foden currently uses the 3306B rated at 270hp (210kW) and 300hp (224kW), and the 3406B at 350hp (261kW) and 425hp (317kW), Foden says that no decision has yet been taken about the revised engines.