How do you maintain a Perkins engine?

Maintaining your Perkins engine is easy to do if you follow the relevant guidelines in your operating manual. These are set out simply and include daily, weekly and yearly checks, also expressed in terms of the number of hours for which the engine has been running. It is possible to download the relevant manual if you no longer have yours.

Maintaining your Perkins engine is the key to its optimum performance. Slight changes in performance can easily go un-noticed, often a drop of 20% in performance can happen before the operator notices. Missing service intervals can lead to reduction in performance, let alone the worst case of a vital part failing.

Each engine we supply comes with a detailed list of checks for you to carry out at set intervals.The performance checks required will vary buy engine type and operating conditions, so it is wise to ensure the checks and frequency are right for your engine.

The regular checks that you need to carry out fall into daily and weekly categories, along with regular servicing and others at various specified intervals. They all have the same aim of ensuring that your engine runs as long as possible at the maximum efficiency. No two schedules are exactly the same, so you should always check the schedule for your particular engine.

Every Perkins engine has its own maintenance schedule.
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Every Perkins engine has its own maintenance schedule.

Every Perkins engine has its own maintenance schedule.

It’s also worth noting that the checks either relate to the calendar time or the hours your engine has been running. Checks should take place far more often on an engine in almost constant use than for one used occasionally. So, for example, changing the cooling system engine coolant is recommended every two years – but it will need attention sooner if your engine runs for 3,000 hours, which is the equivalent of running 24/7 for just over four months.

Remember, the daily checks are just as important as the regular servicing

Daily checks include:

  • Cooling system coolant level
  • Driven equipment
  • The engine air cleaner service
  • Engine air pre-cleaner, cleaning it if necessary
  • Engine oil level
  • Fuel system primary filter/water separator
  • V-belts
  • Walk-around inspection

Every 50 service hours or weekly checks include:

  • Fuel tank water and sediment, draining if necessary

Major service intervals are typically every 500 hours for minor services and in multiples of 500 hours for major services including; 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4,000 hours. For more information check the Operation and Maintenance Manual for your engine.

Your Perkins distributor is your first point of call if you need to obtain a new service schedule or any other advice relating to maintenance issues.

Preventive maintenance

Regular maintenance is the best way of ensuring your engine lasts as long as possible. There are regular checks that you should carry out in line with the recommend schedules to do this.

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Product offering

Using official Perkins repair products can considerably enhance the performance of your engine and extend its life. These parts are available to order quickly and easily from your local distributor.

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Genuine experience

Supporting your engines is a truly global undertaking. Our main warehouse site locations in the UK, USA, Brazil and Singapore, were deliberately chosen to give as wide a reach across the world as possible.

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