2003/06/01 Caterpillar

Engine:

3508 (S/N: 8TL1-UP; 9WN1-UP; 3PS1-UP; 96Y1-UP; 69Z1-UP; CTF1-UP; 1JZ1-UP; 3HM1-UP; 23Z1-UP; 70Z1-UP)

3508B (S/N: BAG1-UP; 2BM1-UP; 3DM1-UP; 7SM1-UP; 1TW1-UP; 3DW1-UP; CTC1-UP; 1FZ1-UP; S2A1-UP; S2B1-UP; S2D1-UP; S2E1-UP; S2F1-UP)

3512 (S/N: 50Y1-UP; CTE1-UP; 1KZ1-UP; 3RS1-UP; 3WS1-UP; 66Z1-UP; 24Z1-UP)

3512B (S/N: 2RD1-UP; AAG1-UP; 7HM1-UP; BRN1-UP; 4TN1-UP; 4DR1-UP; 1PW1-UP; 2GW1-UP; 8EM1-UP; CTB1-UP; FFG1-UP; S2G1-UP; S2H1-UP; S2J1-UP; S2K1-UP; S2L1-UP; S2M1-UP; S2N1-UP; 2EZ1-UP; 1GZ1-UP)

3516 (S/N: 2TS1-UP; 3JS1-UP; 3XS1-UP; 29Z1-UP; CTD1-UP; 1LZ1-UP; 4MJ1-UP; 5MJ1-UP; 3SS1-UP; 72Z1-UP; 25Z1-UP)

3516B (S/N: 2TD1-UP; CBN1-UP; 8CN1-UP; 8KN1-UP; 9AN1-UP; 2FW1-UP; 3CW1-UP; 4BW1-UP; CTA1-UP; 1HZ1-UP; CDE1-UP; TAK1-UP; S2P1-UP; S2R1-UP; S2S1-UP; S2T1-UP; S2W1-UP; S2X1-UP; S2Y1-UP)

3606 (S/N: 8RB1-UP)

3608 (S/N: 6MC1-UP; 1ZD1-UP; 8LL1-UP; 7WR1-UP)

3612 (S/N: 9RC1-UP; 9FR1-UP; NZA1-UP; 2NZ1-UP)

3616 (S/N: 1PD1-UP; 1FN1-UP)

3618 (S/N: 2MW1-UP)

3616 (S/N: RMN1-UP)

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) creates regulations in order to ensure the safety of shipping. For marine diesel engines, SOLAS has regulations that are documented in the SOLAS consolidated edition 2001 that is published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The specific regulations that are addressed by this article are in "chapter II-2 Fire protection, Fire detection, and Fire extinction". "SOLAS Regulation 15.2.11" "Oil fuel lines shall be screened or otherwise suitably protected to avoid, as far as practicable, oil spray or oil leakages onto hot surfaces, into machinery intakes, or other sources of ignition. The number of joints in such piping systems shall be kept to a minimum."

The above SOLAS regulation has been subject to interpretation. Some marine surveyors advise an exact interpretation of this rule. In these cases, the shipyard has been required to apply screening to all fuel and oil line connections in order to get a marine certification. The standards organization DNV will make sure that all DNV certified engines comply with the regulation for fuel and oil containment. The new requirements become effective 1July 2003 for all Caterpillar marine engines regardless of the date of manufacture. If a marine engine must be recertified after 1July 2003, the marine engine must conform to the new regulation.

In order to meet the SOLAS regulation, customers and shipyards have applied a marine certification society approved tape to fuel and oil line connections. The tape will prevent spraying if the joint should work loose. The marine certification society approved tape is now available as a Caterpillar part number. The tape should be applied to all fuel line connectors and all oil line connectors on marine certified diesel engines. The new part numbers are 237-3859 Tape for 35 mm (1.4 inch) wide tape and 237-3860 Tape for 50 mm (1.9 inch) wide tape. The tape is available in rolls that are 10 m (33 ft) long.

A rough estimate of the amount of tape that is needed for 3500 and 3600 diesel engines is provided in Table 1. These estimates are based on covering all fuel and oil line connections. Engine attachments can drive the need for additional tape. The quantities that are listed in Table 1 should be a sufficient amount of tape in order to cover fuel and oil line connections on most marine diesel engines.

The tape can be applied easily to a connection. A single wrap is sufficient to seal a joint from fuel or oil spray. A clear film must be peeled off the adhesive side of the tape before the tape is applied to a joint. The foil side of the tape will be visible after the application of the tape. Refer to Illustration 1 for the correct application.

Illustration 1	g00999326

Although the tape will prevent fuel or oil spray, fuel or oil may still leak from the tape. The tape should be applied so that any potential leaks will not fall on a hot surface or a heat source. Refer to Illustration 2.

Illustration 2	g00999328

Note: The tape should not be reused. New tape should be applied if the old tape is removed in order to service the engine.

The standards organization does not require the tape to be classified with a Society Type Approval. However, the tape must withstand the temperatures of an operating engine and the adhesive should be resistant to fuel and to oil. There are other tapes that can be used as screening material. Use the following types of tape: 3M aluminum foil tape 425 and 427 and Venture Tape Corporation VentureClad 1577CW. These tapes are not available through the Caterpillar parts system. These tapes are another option for screening fuel and oil line connections.

The tape is meant only as a backup for safety. The proper torque must be applied to all fuel line connections and all oil line connections. Ensure that all connections have the required torque before applying the tape.