The chart below shows the most common questions asked by owners of Detroit Diesel® engines 12V92 Natural 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 Natural Owner's operating or service manual.

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Detroit Diesel 12V92 Usefull Information 

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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.