Contents
ENGINE VIEWS
TECHNICAL DATA
OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE
FAULT FINDING
CYLINDER HEAD
PISTONS AND CONNECTING RODS
CYLINDER BLOCK AND LINERS
CRANKSHAFT AND MAIN BEARINGS
TIMING CASE AND DRIVE
TIMING
LUBRICATING SYSTEM
COOLING SYSTEM
AIR CLEANERS AND FUEL SYSTEM
FLYWHEEL AND HOUSING
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENGINES FOR REFRIGERATION UNITS
APPROVED LUBRICATING OILS
APPROVED SERVICE TOOLS
- Safety first
- Wear safety glasses, gloves, and durable clothing.
- Work on a cool engine; hot coolant and metal will burn.
- Disconnect the negative battery cable to avoid accidental starts.
- Catch coolant, oil or fuel spills in a drain pan and dispose of fluids properly.
- Essential tools (basic kit most beginners have) — what each is and how to use it
- Metric socket set (3/8" drive ratchet and 8–19 mm sockets)
- Use to remove bolts and nuts. Fit the socket fully onto the fastener, pull with steady force. Use an extension to reach recessed bolts.
- 1/2" drive breaker bar
- Provides extra leverage for stubborn bolts. Fit a socket, brace the bar and apply smooth force; do not use cheater pipes on the breaker bar.
- Combination spanners (open and ring ends) in metric sizes
- Use where sockets can't reach. Place ring end fully on the nut and pull toward the long side of the spanner to avoid rounding the nut.
- Torque wrench (click-type, appropriate range for small engine bolts, e.g., 20–150 Nm)
- Required for final tightening of manifold bolts. Set to the specified torque, tighten smoothly until the wrench clicks. If unsure of exact spec, use the workshop manual; if manual unavailable, typical M8 head bolts are around 20–40 Nm but confirm.
- Flat and Phillips screwdrivers
- For hose clamps, small screws and prying off vacuum hoses.
- Pliers (slip-joint and needle-nose)
- For hose clips, pulling vacuum lines, and holding small parts.
- Hose clamp pliers or pliers with good grip
- Use to remove and reinstall spring-type hose clamps.
- Gasket scraper (plastic or thin metal) and razor blades
- Remove old gasket material from mating surfaces. Hold scraper at low angle and push; don’t gouge metal.
- Wire brush and soft-bristle brush
- Clean carbon and rust from surfaces and bolt threads.
- Penetrating oil (e.g., PB Blaster, WD-40 Specialist)
- Spray onto rusty or tight bolts, let soak for 10–20 minutes before attempting removal.
- Drain pan
- To catch coolant when you disconnect hoses.
- Shop rags and a spray solvent (degreaser or brake cleaner)
- Clean surfaces before installing new gasket.
- Flashlight or work lamp
- For visibility in the engine bay.
- Rubber mallet
- Light taps to free a stuck manifold without damaging it.
- Small magnetic pick-up tool
- Retrieve dropped bolts in tight spaces.
- Recommended extra or specialist tools (why they are required)
- Torque angle gauge (if the workshop manual specifies torque-plus-angle bolt tightening)
- Some engines require a torque then an angle; this tool measures angle precisely.
- Stud extractor or stud remover kit
- If manifold studs are seized or the studs break, a stud extractor helps remove them safely.
- Thread chaser or M8/M10 tap and die set
- To restore damaged threads in the head or on studs; necessary if threads are corroded.
- Vacuum/air hose labeling tape or numbered zip ties
- To mark and later reconnect vacuum and breather lines correctly.
- Engine support or hoist (only if manifold removal requires removing heavy components like turbo or intake plumbing)
- Helps to hold heavier parts or to remove a turbo if fitted. Most basic intake manifold jobs on these Perkins engines don’t require lifting the engine, but check your setup.
- New intake manifold gasket set (high-quality OEM or equivalent)
- Always use a new gasket; old gaskets will leak and cause performance/cooling issues.
- Preparatory steps (what to do before taking bolts off)
- Park on level ground, apply handbrake, chock wheels.
- Let engine cool fully.
- Label and photograph everything you disconnect (vacuum hoses, breather pipes, throttle linkages, heater hoses) so you can reassemble correctly.
- Drain enough coolant into a pan to drop the level below any hoses connected to the intake manifold (if the manifold carries coolant).
- Remove the air cleaner, intake hoses, and any piping that blocks access to the manifold.
- Remove heat shields or other obstructions.
- Removal procedure (high-level sequence for a beginner)
- Disconnect any electrical connectors, vacuum lines, throttle/linkage, and breather pipes attached to the manifold — tag them.
- Remove obstructing items: air intake, intercooler piping or turbo inlet if present, fuel lines only if they attach to the manifold (do not break fuel lines unnecessarily).
- Place drip pan under area and loosen coolant hoses that attach to the manifold; be ready for some coolant loss.
- Spray manifold-to-head bolts with penetrating oil and allow to soak.
- Loosen and remove manifold bolts/studs in a criss-cross sequence to relieve stress; take care to support the manifold as bolts are removed.
- Gently pry the manifold free using a gasket scraper or rubber mallet as needed — don’t pry against mating surfaces harshly.
- Lift the manifold out and set on a clean bench. If it’s heavy or awkward, get help.
- Inspection and cleaning (what to check and why)
- Inspect mating surfaces on the cylinder head and manifold for flatness, nicks or corrosion.
- Check manifold for cracks, carbon build-up, or coolant leaks at the ports.
- Inspect studs/bolts for threads damage, stretch (elongated), or corrosion.
- Clean old gasket material fully with a gasket scraper and solvent; make sure ports are clean and dry.
- Check coolant passages for corrosion and blockages; flush if needed.
- Parts that typically must be replaced and why
- Intake manifold gasket (always replace)
- Reason: compressed and damaged once removed; reusing causes air or coolant leaks and poor engine performance.
- Manifold-to-head bolts/studs and nuts (replace if damaged)
- Reason: corroded or stretched fasteners don’t hold torque and can fail; replacing is cheap insurance.
- EGR valve gasket, thermostat housing gasket, throttle body gasket (if present)
- Reason: all old gaskets are likely compromised when disturbed.
- Coolant hoses and hose clamps (replace if old or brittle)
- Reason: disturbed hoses can leak; hose failure after reassembly is messy and avoidable.
- Manifold itself (replace only if cracked or warped)
- Reason: a cracked manifold causes leaks or coolant loss; warp can prevent sealing even with a new gasket.
- Studs or tapped inserts (if threads are damaged)
- Reason: damaged threads will not hold torque; repair is required to avoid head damage.
- Reinstallation tips (how to put it back correctly)
- Ensure all surfaces are clean, dry and oil-free before fitting the new gasket.
- Fit new gasket(s) and position manifold carefully.
- Thread bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
- Tighten bolts in a criss-cross pattern gradually to seat the gasket evenly.
- Use the torque wrench and torque to the specification in the Perkins workshop manual; if only general guidance is available, use appropriate torque for the bolt size but verify with manual.
- Reconnect hoses, vacuum lines and linkages per your photos/labels.
- Refill coolant to the correct level, bleed cooling system per manual or by running engine to open thermostat and topping off.
- Start engine and check for leaks (air, coolant or exhaust at manifold flange), and re-torque bolts after warm-up if recommended by the manual.
- How to use key tools — quick practical tips
- Ratchet and sockets: use the largest socket that fits; extensions give reach; release bolt slowly once loosened so it doesn’t drop into engine bay.
- Breaker bar: stand with feet stable; use steady force, not jerks; if a bolt won’t move, apply penetrating oil and heat if safe.
- Torque wrench: set desired torque, tighten smoothly until you hear/feel a click; do final torque with clean, dry threads and new washers where required.
- Gasket scraper: hold close to blade angle and push; avoid gouging the metal. Use plastic scraper first if worried.
- Penetrating oil: apply, wait, tap the fastener lightly with a hammer, then try loosening.
- Thread chaser: run gently through threads with light oil; do not use excess force.
- Common problems and fixes
- Bolt breaks or studs seize
- Use penetrating oil, heat if appropriate, and stud extractor or drill and helicoil if needed; replace studs if corroded.
- Coolant leak after reassembly
- Re-check gasket surfaces for flatness, re-torque bolts, replace gasket with correct type if necessary.
- Vacuum leak / rough idle
- Check all vacuum hoses and intake boots; ensure gasket is sealed and manifold mating surface is clean.
- Cracked manifold found
- Replace manifold; welded repairs are sometimes possible but not recommended for reliability.
- Final checks and running-in
- After assembly, top-up coolant, reconnect battery, and start engine. Check for leaks and listen for air hissing or unusual noises.
- After a short run, let engine cool and re-check torque on manifold bolts if the manual recommends it.
- Dispose of old gasket, fluids and used rags responsibly.
- Quick parts list to buy before you start
- Intake manifold gasket (OEM or equivalent)
- Any EGR/thermostat/other related gaskets that will be disturbed
- Replacement bolts/studs/nuts if old ones are corroded or damaged
- New coolant hose(s) and clamps if they’re old
- Penetrating oil, solvent, shop rags
- Final note (brief)
- Expect the job to take several hours if you’re a beginner. Take photos, label parts and proceed deliberately. If you encounter seized studs, cracked manifolds, or damaged head threads, a machinist or experienced mechanic help may be required. rteeqp73
Perkins Engine & Borg Warner Gearbox Ready for Transport In this episode Ziggy is putting the engine back together. It looks pretty rusty so we cannot wait for it to be refurbished and come ...
PERKINS DIESEL Generator Upgrade Engine Trouble Pt.1 In this video we take a look at this underperforming gen set that is powered by a Perkins 6.354 diesel engine.
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