This is a Caterpillar C13 engine for sale in fairly used condition: a complete 12.5 litre inline-six ACERT diesel, inspected, tested and ready to ship worldwide. It ran in Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, International and Sterling trucks from 2004 until Cat left the on-highway market, and it’s still used in Cat machines and generator sets today.
We match the engine to your serial number and arrangement number, and send photos of the actual unit before you pay.
What’s Included With This Caterpillar C13 Engine for Sale
- Block with crank, liners, pistons and rods
- Cylinder head with overhead cam and valvetrain
- Unit injectors (condition noted on your quote)
- Turbocharger setup to suit the rating
- Oil cooler, front cover and flywheel housing
- Engine brake on most truck units
- Test results, photos, and crating on a heavy-duty skid
The ECM and harness aren’t included unless agreed in writing. Truck and industrial engines are dressed differently, so tell us which one you need.
Caterpillar C13 Specifications
| Engine | Caterpillar C13 ACERT |
| Layout | Inline six, turbocharged, air-to-air aftercooled |
| Displacement | 12.5 L (763 cu in) |
| Bore x stroke | 130 mm x 157 mm |
| Valvetrain | Single overhead cam, 4 valves per cylinder (24) |
| Fuel system | Mechanically actuated, electronically controlled unit injectors (MEUI) |
| Turbo | Series turbocharging on many ACERT ratings |
| Power | Roughly 305 to 470 hp on-highway; industrial ratings higher |
| Torque | Roughly 1,050 to 1,650 lb-ft on-highway |
| Truck years | 2004 to 2010 |
| Condition | Fairly used, tested |
ACERT was Caterpillar‘s answer to tighter emissions in the mid-2000s, using more advanced combustion control and turbocharging instead of cooled EGR on most engines.
Trucks and Machines This Engine Fits
- Peterbilt 379, 385, 386 and 387
- Kenworth T600, T800 and W900
- Freightliner Columbia, Century Class and Classic
- International 9200i and 9400i, Sterling and Western Star models
- Cat excavators, wheel loaders and other equipment running the industrial C13
- Generator sets and pumps
Truck engines from 2004 to 2006 and 2007 to 2010 are built to different emissions levels, and machine engines are a different arrangement again. Send us the serial number from your engine plate and we’ll match the Caterpillar C13 engine for sale to it.
Why People Still Want the C13
A lot of drivers see the 2004 to 2010 Cat engines as the last ones you could keep running without a laptop for every little job. There’s no DEF on the truck versions, parts are still easy to find, and most diesel shops around the world know them inside out. The C13 is also lighter than the C15, which suits day cabs, dump trucks and anything where payload matters. The trade-off is less torque for heavy hauling, so if you pull big loads up long grades every day, the C15 might suit you better. We’re happy to talk it through.
Things We Look At Closely
The C13 has a good name for a smaller-block highway engine, but a few things come up again and again. Injectors and injector sleeves wear on high-mileage engines. Heads can crack after overheating. On 2007 and later truck engines, the CGI system and the emissions hardware tend to need the most attention. We check each Caterpillar C13 engine for sale for these problems and tell you what we find.
Fairly Used, In-Frame or Out-of-Frame?
The price here is for a fairly used, tested Caterpillar C13 engine for sale. We can also quote a unit with an in-frame overhaul or a complete rebuild if the truck or machine works hard every day. Our guide to remanufactured vs rebuilt engines explains the difference.
How We Test It
- Compression or blow-by check on all six cylinders.
- Oil checked for coolant, fuel or metal.
- Coolant checked for oil and combustion gas.
- Turbos checked for shaft play.
- Head and block checked for cracks and leaks.
- Photos sent to you, and run video on request.
Every Caterpillar C13 engine for sale on our site passes these before it ships.
Signs It’s Time to Replace Yours
- Heavy blow-by and oil use
- Low compression across cylinders
- A knocking bottom end or spun bearing
- A cracked head or block
A single bad injector or a turbo fault isn’t a reason to replace the engine. Get it diagnosed first.
Who Buys This Engine
Owner-operators keeping an older Pete or Kenworth on the road, small fleets, equipment owners, generator users and buyers overseas who want a mechanical-style Cat they can service themselves. Plenty of drivers would rather keep a pre-2010 truck running than buy new, and a Caterpillar C13 engine for sale is often the cheapest way to do it.
Where Our Engines Come From
Wrecked or retired trucks, and machines being parted out. We record the donor for every Caterpillar C13 engine for sale, with miles or hours where we have them.
Fitment Details We Need
Send us these and we’ll confirm the right Caterpillar C13 engine for sale:
- Truck or machine make, model and year
- Engine serial number and arrangement number
- Horsepower rating you need
- Transmission and engine brake setup
- Emissions rules where you are
Before You Buy Any Used C13
Whoever you buy from, ask for the serial number and arrangement number first. They tell you whether it’s a truck or industrial engine, which rating it carries and which emissions level it was built to. Ask for compression or blow-by results, the condition of the oil and coolant, and photos of the actual engine and data plate. A run video is worth asking for too.
With any Caterpillar C13 engine for sale, find out whether it has been overhauled and when. Ask about the injectors and sleeves, and whether the engine ever overheated. On 2007 and later truck engines, ask about the CGI system and what emissions parts come with it. Check whether your existing ECM will work with it or needs reprogramming.
Look at your own truck or machine as well. If the old engine failed from overheating, fix the cause before the replacement goes in. A tired radiator, a weak fan or a bad water pump will damage the new engine too.
Looking After It Once It’s In
The C13 lasts well when it’s looked after. Change oil and filters on time, keep the coolant clean and at the right mix, and use good diesel. Let it warm up before you load it and cool down after a long pull. Keep an eye on oil pressure and coolant temperature, and act on any change. Owners who treat a Caterpillar C13 engine for sale that way usually get a lot of work out of it. Oil analysis is cheap and catches wear early, so it’s worth doing on a working truck or machine.
If anything changes after fitting, a new noise, smoke or an alarm, call us early. Small problems cost less when caught on time, and that’s true of any Caterpillar C13 engine for sale.
Fitting Tips
- Flush the cooling system and check the radiator.
- Fresh oil, filters and coolant.
- Prime the fuel system before first start.
- Make sure the ECM matches the engine and rating.
- Run it in gently before full loads.
Shipping
We ship every Caterpillar C13 engine for sale on a heavy-duty skid, by truck across North America and by container worldwide. It’s a heavy engine, so plan for a forklift or crane at the other end. Duties and local fees are paid at your end. See our shipping policy.
How Ordering Works
Once you send your details, we check stock and fitment and come back with a written quote. It shows the engine price, what’s included, the warranty terms and the freight cost to your nearest port or address. Nothing is final until you’ve seen photos of the engine and agreed to the quote. After payment we crate the engine, book the freight and send you the tracking details. Most orders leave us within a few working days, though sea freight to some countries takes several weeks door to door. If you’re in a hurry, ask about air freight. It costs more, but it can save a truck or car from sitting idle for a month.
Warranty and Returns
Every Caterpillar C13 engine for sale is covered against internal mechanical failure, with terms written on your quote. See our refund and returns policy.
Other Caterpillar and Heavy-Duty Engines
We also sell the Caterpillar C15, Caterpillar 3306, Caterpillar C18 marine and the Cummins ISX15. If you’re weighing up the bigger Cat, read how reliable the C15 is and our C15 problems and solutions guide, or browse all Caterpillar engines and the shop.
Questions
Is this engine new?
No. It’s fairly used and tested.
Can a truck C13 go in a machine?
Sometimes, but the arrangements differ. Tell us the machine and we’ll check.
Is shipping included?
No. We quote freight with the engine.
How do I order?
Add this Caterpillar C13 engine for sale to your cart, or send your serial number through our contact page. You can also call +1 (209) 733-0882 or WhatsApp +1 209 690 5983. We confirm the fit before you pay.
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