Procedure for Cleaning an Engine that is Saturated with Water{1000} Caterpillar

Caterpillar Products:Commercial Engines 3500B and 3500C

Caterpillar Products:Machine Engines All 3500 Series

Engine:Commercial with Mechanical Unit Injection (MUI) 3500

Introduction

Do not perform any procedure in this Special Instruction until you read this information and you understand this information.

This Special Instruction describes the procedures for cleaning an engine that is saturated with fresh water. This Special Instruction does not apply to an engine that may have been saturated with salt water.

Water Contamination

Note: If the engine is totally submerged, perform all of the Steps. If the water level did not get higher than the bottom of the cylinder heads perform Steps 9 through 26.

Note: Perform the following steps as soon as possible once the engine is no longer submerged.

1. Drain the water from the inlet system and from the exhaust system.

2. Remove the aftercooler core and evacuate the water from below the aftercooler and from the air lines that are going to the cylinder heads.

3. Remove the air cleaners and drain water from turbochargers.

4. Remove the plug from the front or rear of the cylinder block. Evacuate the water that is under the plenum's cover.

5. Remove the air cleaners and install new air cleaners.

6. Remove the injectors and evacuate the water from the cylinders.

7. Use a borescope and check for rust or for contamination on top of the piston and inside the cylinder.

8. If there is not any rust or not any debris is evident, coat the walls of the cylinder with oil in order to prevent rust. If the engine will not be operated for several weeks, use VCI oil instead of engine oil.

9. Remove the camshaft covers and inspect the camshaft and the lifters for rust. If no rust is found spray parts with engine oil or a rust preventive. If the engine will not be operated for several weeks use VCI oil instead of engine oil.

10. Power up the engine but do not start the engine. Check for any diagnostic codes by using the Caterpillar Electronic Technician (ET). Replace the following components that may be damaged:
    • ECM

    • Sensors

    • Wiring harnesses

11. Drain the oil pan.

12. Remove the oil filters and install new oil filters.

13. Prelube the engine until all water is displaced from oil galleries.

14. Drain the oil pan.

15. Remove at least one of the side covers and clean the remaining mixture of water and oil from the oil pan. If the engine will not be operated for several weeks use a VCI oil instead of engine oil to coat the internal parts.

16. Remove the old oil filters and install new oil filters.

17. Fill the engine with new engine oil.

18. Start the engine and allow the engine to operate at no load for 15 minutes.

19. Drain the oil pan.

20. Remove the old oil filters and install new oil filters.

21. Clean the remaining mixture of oil and water from the oil pan.

22. Fill the engine with new engine oil.

23. Start the engine and allow the engine to operate at no load for 15 minutes.

24. Shut down the engine. Sample the engine oil for water.

25. If water is not present in the engine oil, cleaning is complete.

26. If water is present repeat Steps 19 through 24 until the water is not present in the engine oil sample.

Note: Refer to the appropriate Reuse and Salvage Guidelines manual for reusability of parts that may have been damaged due to water entry. Notify the dealer's Technical Communicator (TC) in order to contact the Dealer Solution Network (DSN) if there are questions. Provide the appropriate photos and documentation.