Caterpillar 3516C Engine
The Caterpillar 3516C is a 69 L 16-cylinder ataac engine rated at 1800 rpm. It powers generator sets from Caterpillar, including the 3516C Generator Set and XQ 2000. It holds 233 L (61.6 gal) of oil and 61.6 L (16.3 gal) of coolant.
Also known as: Caterpillar 3516C
Part of the Caterpillar 3516C engine family — 4 variants share parts & fitment.
Service parts for the 3516C
The cheapest captured merchant offer per filter — see the full cross-reference below for every OEM/aftermarket option.
Prices captured from merchant listings; some links are affiliate links. Verify against your serial number before ordering.
Engine specifications
| Oil capacity | 233.0 L |
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| Coolant capacity | 61.6 L |
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| Displacement | 69.0 L |
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| Cylinders | 16 |
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| Aspiration | ATAAC |
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| Rated speed | 1800 rpm |
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Common problems
3- The battery is very warm to the touch.
Fix: Reduce the rate of charging by a significant amount. Complete the charging at the reduced rate. - The battery emits smoke or a dense vapor (gas).
Fix: Reduce the rate of charging by a significant amount. Complete the charging at the reduced rate. - A strong odor of acid is present.
Fix: Reduce the rate of charging by a significant amount. Complete the charging at the reduced rate.
Compiled from service & troubleshooting documentation across every generator set that uses the Caterpillar 3516C.
Maintenance schedule
| Item | Spec | Capacity | Part # | Interval | |
|---|
| Air filter | Engine Air Cleaner Element (Dual or Single Element) | | — | 8760 hr | |
| Fuel filter | Fuel System Secondary Filter | | 1R0763 | 1000 hr | Amazon eBay $16.61 |
| Oil filter | Engine Oil Filter Elements | | 3890434 | 500 hr | Amazon $148.00 eBay $82.42 PartsGeek $30.97 |
| Battery | Batteries | | — | 26280 hr | |
| Belt | Belts (Alternator and Fan Drive) | | — | 8760 hr | |
| Coolant | Cooling System Coolant (DEAC) | 630.0 | — | 26280 hr | |
| Oil | Engine Oil and Filter | 401.3 | — | 500 hr | |
| Spark plug | | | — | | |
Pooled from every document that names this exact engine — confirm the interval and part number against your unit's serial number.
Service specifications
3| Type | Item | Value | Unit | Condition |
|---|
| Other | Rating condition (diesel 7 L and higher) | 99 kPa (29.31 in Hg) dry barometer, 25°C (77°F) | | SAE J1995 inlet air standard |
| Other | Rating condition (diesel up to 6.6 L) | 100 kPa (29.5 in Hg) total barometric pressure, 1 kPa (.295 in Hg) vapor pressure, 25°C (77°F) | | ISO/TR14396 inlet air standard |
| Other | Rating condition (gas) | 100 kPa (29.61 in Hg) and 25°C (77°F) | | SAE J1349 standard |
Extracted from the manufacturer documentation linked to this model. Values are copied as printed; confirm against your unit's manual and serial number.
Recommended fluids
| Fluid | Grade | Standard | Ambient | Capacity | Notes |
|---|
| Coolant | Cat DEAC | | | | Diesel; 3,000 Service Hours or Three Years; annual S·O·SSM Level 2 coolant sampling and analysis |
| Coolant | Cat ELC | | | | Diesel; 12,000 Service Hours or Six Years; add Cat ELC Extender at 6,000 service hours or one half of service life; annual S·O·SSM Level 2 coolant sampling and analysis |
| Coolant | Cat NGEC | | | | Natural Gas; 16,000 Service Hours or Three Years; use interval that occurs first |
| Engine oil | Cat NGEO | | | | Natural Gas |
| Engine oil | Cat Arctic DEO SYN SAE 0W-30 | | -40°C to 30°C | | Engine Crankcase; Industrial Engines |
| Engine oil | Cat DEO SYN SAE 5W-40 | | -30°C to 50°C | | Engine Crankcase; Industrial Engines |
| Engine oil | Cat DEO SAE 10W-30 | | -18°C to 40°C | | Engine Crankcase; Industrial Engines |
| Engine oil | Cat DEO SAE 15W-40 | | -9°C to 50°C | | Engine Crankcase; Industrial Engines |
| Fuel | | LCV = 42700 kJ/kg | | | MaK technical data; without engine-driven pumps, tolerance 5% |
| Fuel | 35° API gravity at 60°F (16°C) | LHV 18,390 Btu/lb (42 780 kJ/kg) | | | Fuel at 85°F (29°C) weighing 7.001 lbs/U.S. gal (838.9 g/liter) |
| Grease | Cat Generator Set Grease | | | | Part Number 108-8611 |
Extracted from the manufacturer documentation linked to this model. Values are copied as printed; confirm against your unit's manual and serial number.
Parts cataloged across the Caterpillar 3516C family
8| Part # | Description | Category |
|---|
| 174-6854 | Hydrosolv 100 liquid cleaner, 19 L (5 US gallon) | fluid |
| 1U-5490 | Hydrosolv 4165 liquid cleaner, 19 L (5 US gallon) | fluid |
| 138-8440 | Component cleaner | other_service |
| 1440725 | Connecting rod | other_service |
| 245-5829 | Coolant Battery Tester Refractometer | other_service |
| 294-7420 | Refill ampoules for 298-5311 Coolant Nitrite Test Kit | other_service |
| 298-5311 | Coolant Nitrite Test Kit for SCA | other_service |
| 8T-5296 | Coolant Conditioner Test Kit | other_service |
Parts cataloged across all variants of this engine family — verify the exact part fits your specific variant and serial number before ordering.
Aftermarket parts that fit this engine
53Parts listed by aftermarket suppliers as fitting this engine — leads compiled from supplier catalogs; verify the exact part for your serial number.
Filters for this engine
- Fuel filter (primary): Caterpillar 1R0763 Caterpillar 3890433 Donaldson P551313 Donaldson P551316 Wix 33528 Wix 33685NP
- Fuel filter (secondary): Caterpillar 1R0763 Donaldson P551313 Wix 33528
- Oil filter: Caterpillar 3890434 Donaldson P551808 Wix 57792
Cross-referenced via Donaldson + OEM/engine-maker interchange — options to verify against your serial number, not confirmed for every exact variant.
Also used in
1- Caterpillar 789D — Dump Truck
Other equipment known to use this engine, via filter-application cross-reference — useful for sourcing parts even when your exact machine isn't listed elsewhere on this page.
Common questions
What is the oil capacity of the Caterpillar 3516C?
The Caterpillar 3516C engine has an oil capacity of 233.0 liters.
What is the displacement of the Caterpillar 3516C?
The Caterpillar 3516C has a displacement of 69.0 liters with 16 cylinders.
Which generators use the Caterpillar 3516C engine?
The Caterpillar 3516C powers 3 generator set(s), including Caterpillar 3516C, Caterpillar 3516C Generator Set, Caterpillar XQ 2000.
What oil filter does the Caterpillar 3516C use?
The Caterpillar 3516C uses oil filter part numbers Caterpillar 3890434, Donaldson P551808, Wix 57792.
What fuel filter does the Caterpillar 3516C use?
The Caterpillar 3516C uses fuel filter part numbers Caterpillar 1R0763, Caterpillar 3890433, Donaldson P551313.
How often should you change the oil in the Caterpillar 3516C?
The Caterpillar 3516C oil change interval is every 500 hours.
What is a common problem with the Caterpillar 3516C engine?
A commonly reported issue on generators using the Caterpillar 3516C is: The battery is very warm to the touch.. Fix: Reduce the rate of charging by a significant amount. Complete the charging at the reduced rate..