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Understand your engine plate, know the parts you need for your engine

Over the years Perkins has produced hundreds of different engines – and each has a number of different variants. So how do you know the exact specification of your engine? 

All the information you need about your engine is included on your engine plate – although you do need to know how to read the information recorded on it. 

Engines vary according to the application and power requirements of the machine, and the components required may be different between engine variants. For example, different fan heights and pulleys mean differences in fan belts or the fitting of a turbocharger may mean different oil system requirements. Knowing the engine and serial number will enable you to decide on the exact parts you require when you need to service or repair your engine.

Engine serial numbers are found on a metal plate commonly fixed to the engine block, typically found on the left-hand side of your engine

Once you’ve located the plate, the letters and numbers that make up an engine’s model number are a series of codes to tell you the engine family, the number of cylinders, the emissions standard, the type of ignition, the capacity, the type of aspiration and if relevant the generator set rating. 

For example, a serial number could be PJ 12345 U 123456P


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PJ: is the engine family, in this case 1106D-E66TA 12345: is the engine build type number or engine order reference U: is the country of manufacture, in this case UK 123456: is the unique engine number P: is the year of manufacture

Normally having the first seven letters and numbers is enough for you to make sure you can quickly identify the right parts your engine needs. In many cases the first two letters may be enough, as the engine family number is a simple way to understand your engine type. 

Engine family number describes how the engine is made up using the example above, in this case an 1106D-E44TA.

  • 1106 is a 1.1L displacement per cylinder and six cylinders
  • D reflects this engine is suitable for EU Stage III / U.S. EPA Tier 3 equivalent emissions standards
  • E means the engine has an electronic management system
  • 66 confirms the engine has a total displacement of 6.6 litres
  • And TA means the engine has a turbocharger and is air-to-air charge cooled
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