- Engine: Truck with Hydraulic Electronic Unit Injection (HEUI)
- 3116
- Engine: Truck
- All
- Engine: Machine with Mechanical Unit Injection
- 3116
- 3116
Note: The full open temperature for the 119-3075 Water Temperature Regulator is 94 °C (201 °F). The full open temperature for the 115-4223 Water Temperature Regulator is 97 °C (207 °F).
Product Updates
There have been recent product updates in order to help maintain heat in the engine during cold weather.
Low Leak Thermostat
The low leak thermostat includes a single jiggle valve in order to vent air from the system. Low leak thermostats have a resilient valve seat in order to reduce the coolant passage to the radiator. Former thermostats that use two valves and thermostats that were seated metal to metal bypass more coolant to the radiator. The 119-3075 Water Temperature Regulator which is full open at 94 °C (201 °F). This is effective on the 3116 9gk1-UP Truck Engine. The 119-3075 Water Temperature Regulator is effective for General Motors models prior to 1996. A 115-4223 Water Temperature Regulator is also available. The 115-4223 Water Temperature Regulator is full open at 97 °C (207 °F). The alarm switch for the warning indicator must be changed if you use the 115-4223 Water Temperature Regulator. To avoid false warnings, this must be done on vehicles that are equipped with a high coolant temperature warning indicator. The alarm switch is provided by the truck manufacturer. The 119-3075 Water Temperature Regulator and the 115-4223 Water Temperature Regulator can be used on all 3116 Truck Engines.
Low Speed Viscous Fan Clutch
The low speed viscous fan clutch is available on some General Motors applications.
Since 1995, KUW has been a regular option that is available in production for buses. The KUW option is required on all buses that are built for Canada. This is used for all 1995 model year and later. A service clutch is required for buses that are 1994 and older. Either fan clutch can be retrofitted to all Topkick and Kodiak buses that are used with 3116 Engines.
Run the engine of a truck or a bus that is equipped with a low speed viscous fan clutch, at 1500 to 1800 rpm. This is done in order to disengage the clutch.
When the low speed viscous fan clutch is disengaged, the fan will rotate at 250 rpm regardless of the engine speed.
When the low speed viscous fan clutch is engaged, the fan will rotate faster than engine speed. Cold air is drawn across the radiator, and aftercooler cores. Also, the cold air is blown over the engine. For the best warm-up at idle, the engine speed should be 1200 to 1400 rpm. The most rapid warm-up is achieved when the engine is put under a light load, rather than at idle.
On Chevrolet and General Motors Corporation Trucks that are equipped with an air conditioner, you can achieve reduced time on engine warm-up. Set the air conditioner to the MAX position to recirculate the air within the cab. This will shorten the idle time that is necessary to warm up the engine.
Note: To reduce the possibility of condensation on the windows, the MAX mode should only be used when the truck is parked.
Some General Motors models require a snow valve which is the KZW option. This option is available on Topkick and Kodiak Truck models. Air that is under the hood travels through the snow valve which is needed for cold weather operation. Spray from snow and salt are less likely to get under the hood. The air under the hood is warmer than the air that is outside of the hood.
Cold Weather Recommendation
The attachments that are used for cold weather operation are the same as the previously published articles. The following articles were previously published:
- Truck Engine News, January 1994, page 1, "Cold Weather Operation"
- Truck Engine News, December 1994, page 1, "Cold Weather Operation Reminder"
- "General Motors What's New" December 1993
- "General Motors What's New" December 1994
Trucks and buses that are equipped with catalytic converters need to use the application chart for buses. The common truck engine that uses a catalytic converter is a 3116 (S/N: 9GK) Truck Engine. The 3116 Truck Engines require the application chart for buses.
When a manufacturer installs a 3116 engine in a truck or in a bus, the recommendations need to be used. In some cases, the material may not yet be in the OEM publications. The article should be used for reference when you specify equipment for new vehicles. Also, refer to the article when you add attachments for improved cold weather operation on existing units.
| Cold Weather Operation For Caterpillar Medium Duty Truck Engines |
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| Starting Aids | ||||
| Expected Coldest Temperature | Ether Aid (1) | Block Heater | Larger Alternator Battery | Intake Air Heater (1) (2) |
| Above −7 °C (20 °F) |
Available | Available | Available | Available |
−7 °C (20 °F) to −18 °C (0 °F) |
Available | Available | Available | Available |
−18 °C (0 °F) to −28 °C (−18 °F) |
Recom'd | Required | Recom'd | Recom'd |
−28 °C (−18 °F) to −40 °C (−40 °F) |
Recom'd | Required | Required | Recom'd |
| Below −40 °C (−40 °F) (3) |
Required | Required | Required | Required |
| ( 1 ) | Use only a factory installed ether aid with an intake air heater. Do NOT spray ether into the engine air inlet. Refer to theOperation And Maintenance Manual , "Intake Air Heater/Ether Start System" . |
| ( 2 ) | Standard on 3116 engines |
| ( 3 ) | Consult Factory. |
| Cold Weather Operation For Caterpillar Medium Duty Truck Engines Without Catalytic Converters |
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| Idle Temperature And Coolant Warm-up Improvements | ||||
| Expected Coldest Temperature |
Hand Throttle |
Shutters | Low Speed Viscous Fan Clutch |
Exhaust Restrictor (1) or Brake |
| Above −7 °C (20 °F) |
Available | Available | Available | Available |
−7 °C (20 °F) to −18 °C (0 °F) |
Available | Recom'd (2) | Recom'd (2) | Available |
−18 °C (0 °F) to −28 °C (−18 °F) |
Recom'd | Required (2) | Required (2) | Recom'd |
−28 °C (−18 °F) to −40 °C (−40 °F) |
Required | Required | Required | Recom'd |
| Below −40 °C (−40 °F) (3) |
Required | Required | Required | Required |
| ( 1 ) | Not available from factory. (see Caterpillar Dealer or Pacific Brake/Jacobs Dealer.) |
| ( 2 ) | Either shutters or low speed viscous fan clutch. |
| ( 3 ) | Consult Factory. |
| Cold Weather Operation Recommendation For Caterpillar Medium Duty Truck Engines In Bus Applications And Truck Engines With Catalytic Converters |
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| Idle Temperature And Coolant Warm-up Improvements | ||||
| Expected Coldest Temperature |
Hand Throttle (1) |
Shutters (2) | Low Speed Viscous Fan Clutch (3) |
Exhaust Restrictor (4)or Brake |
| Above −7 °C (20 °F) |
Available | Available | Available | Available |
−7 °C (20 °F) to −18 °C (0 °F) |
Required | Recom'd (5) | Required (5) | Recom'd |
−18 °C (0 °F) to −28 °C (−20 °F) |
Required | Required (5) | Required (5) | Recom'd |
−28 °C (−20 °F) to −40 °C (−40 °F) |
Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Below −40 °C (−40 °F) |
Required | Required | Required | Required |
| ( 1 ) | General Motors Option Code for Hand Throttle-KQY. |
| ( 2 ) | General Motors Option Code for Shutters-RPO VO4. |
| ( 3 ) | General Motors Option Code for Low Speed Viscous Fan Clutch-RPO KUW. |
| ( 4 ) | Exhaust Brake and Restrictor are not available from General Motors. |
| ( 5 ) | Either shutter or low speed viscous fan clutch. |