The chart below shows the most common questions asked by owners of Detroit Diesel® engines 12V92 Turbo when trying to troubleshoot why their engines underperform.  It categorizes areas of possible malfunction, likely cause and recommended action to bring your new, rebuilt or used  Detroit Diesel® engine back to proper operation.  The chart will give you confidence when speaking with your Detroit Diesel® engine mechanic or ordering parts.  As a quick reference guide only, the chart must not be thought of as a substitute for the use of your Detroit Diesel® engine 12V92 Turbo natural Owner's operating or service manual. PROBLEM POSSIBLE REASON CHECK We have 12V92 Detroit Diesel parts you can rely on, at the lowest prices online. For over 10 years, we have offered high quality replacement parts that are built to last. We know you have many options when looking around for parts, and may be tempted to buy used from a classified. Before you do so, consider Diesel Pro. We carry a huge selection of brand-new parts, and our refurbished parts are professionally cleaned and assembled in our shop. All of our parts are stored in a climate controlled warehouse, and handled with gloves to keep the parts new and free of corrosion. When buying from a classified, the parts are usually pulled from an old vehicle, a junk yard or from some other undesirable source. Then there is the question of the financial transaction. Many of these parts are worth hundreds of dollars, and paying cash to an individual seller is risky, especially if you are buying parts that are in a questionable condition. With Diesel Pro, you can buy with confidence. We offer secure payment processing, with encryption backed by the high standards set by U.S. banks. Plus, your satisfaction is guaranteed. We offer an industry leading one-year warranty on new parts. And, if needed, you can return unused merchandise within 30 days. Try us and you will see, we are the best way to buy Diesel parts online.
Engine will not start
Lack of air intake or restricted air intake
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Broken blower shaft
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Worn out blower shaft
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Defective fuel pump
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Defective starter
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Discharged battery
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High exhaust back pressure
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Black smoke coming out of engine
Defective injector
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Contaminated fuel
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Broken or worn cylinder parts
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Engine overloaded
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Faulty intercooler or aftercooler (for turbo engines only)
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White smoke coming out of engine
Broken piston ring
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Incorrectly installed ring set
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Defective injector
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Fuel quality or grade
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Long idle periods
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Broken or bent push rod
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Injector or governor improperly adjusted
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Low engine oil pressure
Water in engine oil pan
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Fuel in engine oil pan
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Defective oil cooler
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Engine overloaded
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Crankcase overfilled
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Low engine RPM
Improperly working injector
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Governor calibration
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Hi engine RPM
Governor calibration
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Engine overheating
Defective fresh water pump
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Defective raw water pump (marine engines only)
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Defective thermostat or thermostat seal
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Clogged radiator or heat exchanger (marine engine only)
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Grey smoke coming out of engine
Long idle periods
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Defective intercooler or aftercooler (for turbo engine only)
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Restricted air intake
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Defective injector
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Contaminated fuel
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Blower or turbocharger seals leaking
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Geartrain makes noises
Low oil level
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Engine driven accesories
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Damage main or rod bearing
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Detroit Diesel 12V92 Usefull InformationÂ
This engine, like other Detroit Diesels, has both a serial number and a model number. The serial number will start with 12VF, such as "12VF1234". The model number is an eight digit code, and for this engine, the model number will always start with 816, such as "8162-7000".
General Information
The Detroit Diesel 12V92 is a two cycle engine with a displacement of 1104 cubic inches or 18.1 liters. This engine has 7 main bearings, a stroke of 5 inches and a bore of 4.84 inches.
The natural or non-turbo engine has an oil capacity of 28-36 quarts. With filters, the capacity will be slightly lower, or 26.5-34.1 quarts. The turbocharged engine has a capacity of 38 quarts, with a minimum of 26.5 quarts needed for proper operation.
For turbo engines:
Please note this information is based on engine performance with a 12V-TAB marine engine with a TW-83 turbo and a 1.19 A/R turbine housing.
The normal oil pressure is 60 PSI at 2300 RPM, and a minimum of 40 PSI is needed for proper operation. The temperature of the lubricating oil should remain at 250 degrees F or less.
The normal coolant temperature is 185 degrees F at 2300 RPM, with a maximum of 200 degrees F.
The compression (at sea level) is 500 PSI at 600 RPM, with a minimum of 450 PSI at 600 RPM.