Manufacturers introduce Tier 4 emission downgrade kits for unregulated markets

30 December 2013

Manufacturers of heavy-duty nonroad diesel engines—including Cummins and Caterpillar—have announced engine modification kits for Tier 4 interim (Tier 4i) and Tier 4 final nonroad diesel engines that will allow the sale of used Tier 4 equipment in markets that have more relaxed emission regulations, outside of North America and Europe. Modified engines can be operated using high sulfur diesel fuels. The modification process includes emission de-certification of the engines and may involve the removal of aftertreatment systems, such as diesel particulate filters, that require ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel.

Cummins announced a “Sulfur Tolerance Kit”—including new engine calibrations and hardware—intended to provide options to operators and dealers who may ultimately sell Tier 4 powered equipment in the used market, offering flexibility in the regions into which they deliver the equipment. The kit allows an engine to be operated on fuels containing “far more sulfur than ULSD”, said Cummins.

While Cummins has not provided any particulars on their Tier 4 modification approach, Caterpillar released more technical details on their Tier 4 equipment modification program announced last month. For Cat Tier 4i engines below 130 kW, Caterpillar will offer modification processes that include the removal of emission aftertreatment. Cat Tier 4i engines between 130 kW and 895 kW (7-32 L engines) will not require any modification.

Modification processes will be made available to customers in lesser regulated countries through their local Cat dealers beginning in 2014. Caterpillar intends to extend the used equipment migration program to Tier 4 final products in the future. Since Caterpillar began introducing Tier 4i products in February 2011, the field population has grown to over 82,000 products operating in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia.

Many models of Tier 4i and Tier 4 final engines require the use of ULSD to enable catalytic aftertreatment systems that are necessary to meet emissions regulations in North America and Europe. ULSD is not widely available outside of those regions.

Source: Cummins | Caterpillar