The Cat G399 is an engine that uses natural gas rather than diesel fuel to run. Learn about the maintenance requirements for your G399 engine here.
This article will focus on the main problems and solutions encountered in the G399 Caterpillar engine.
To learn more about diesel engines’ general problems and solutions, check out this article.
1. Magneto issues: Magneto is the component responsible for generating and supplying high voltage pulse to the spark plugs for the combustion to take place in the cylinder.
When the magneto is faulty, the spark plugs fail to receive current, which then results in incomplete combustion. It sometimes leads to the formation of carbon buildup in your diesel engine.
If you notice symptoms of incomplete combustion, such as black smoke in G399, then you need to have a look at the magneto.
2. Turbo humming sound: Normally what causes the humming turbo sounds is a result of a bad bearing.
Should you replace the turbo? The answer is no. What you have to do is to replace the worn turbo bearings and the problem will be over.
3. Intake not sucking air: As mentioned earlier, incomplete combustion is one of the common problems of this engine. Sometimes incomplete combustion could be a result of insufficient air due to the intake not drawing in air.
If you have such a problem with this engine, replace the air filter to solve it. A clogged air filter will prevent the engine from receiving sufficient air for the engine to run properly.
4. Fuel contamination: This is another vital knowledge you need to have on this engine. Since the engine runs on gas, gas carries moisture, which leads to water contamination.
When the water contaminates the fuel, you begin to hear a knocking sound. This knocking sound could sometimes be heard while the engine is running.
5. Corrosion in the fuel system: Unlike diesel engines, G399 engines usually have issues with corrosion in the fuel system. The reason for that is the result of moisture present in the natural gas, which then leads to corrosion.
Therefore, you need to learn to manage the corrosion well so that it will not lead to serious problems in the future.
6. Ignition system problem: With the CAT G399, you could sometimes have ignition problems as a result of bad spark plugs. When the spark plugs are bad the engine will develop ignition problems. This problem can lead to engine misfiring and poor combustion, as mentioned earlier.
From this point, you could also deduce that when having misfiring on this engine, you need to check the ignition system such as the magneto, spark plugs, and other related things.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to troubleshoot the G399 engine problems now that you’re aware of some common problems associated with the engine.
If you’re looking to repair your CAT G399 engine, look no further than ProDieselParts. The best place to help you troubleshoot and provide you with the correct high-quality parts your engine needs to function.
