Perkins Serial Numbers Explanation
Deducting the relevant information from your Perkins engine is extremely important when purchasing engine replacement parts for maintenance purposes. Understanding this information will also play an important role in the sale of your Perkins engine, generator, or machine that uses Perkins engines.
The first item to be completed is the location of the Perkins identification tag. Mainly, it is a metal tag riveted on the engine block, with the serial number embedded. This tag will also have other Perkins information. A typical serial number is written as TU30008U510256F. On closer examination, this can be subdivided into five (5) segments. Typically this should be understood as TU, 30008, U, 510256, and F.
The “TU” stands for the engine family and type code. This refers to what most people call the “Model Number”. This “TU” should be cross-referenced to the “Perkins Engine Family and Type Table”. In that graph, the “TU” indicates that the engine model is T6.3544. Thus, you can immediately see that this engine is the base model is the 6.354 model. NB. A 6.354 engine is different from a T6.3544 engine.
The second number, 30008, is called the parts list number. Some technicians prefer to call this the “construction number”. This is used to select engine kits and parts by build number as indicated by Perkins.
The third factor “U” indicates the country of manufacture. The “U” stands for UK. Perkins engines were manufactured in many countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Uruguay, Japan, Korea, Italy, Mexico, the United States, Poland, India, South Africa, Turkey , Pakistan, Iran, Peru, and Yugoslavia, each with its own unique country code.
The fourth factor, number 510256 is the sequential serial number when the engine is removed from the assembly line. So this is the five hundred and ten thousand two hundred and fifty-six engine that will be built within this build number. This sequential serial number continues until the engine is discontinued or Perkins decides to build a different model. Breaks in the engine serial number (ESN) are crucial in determining the correct Perkins aftermarket parts.
The last factor, the “F”, indicates what year the engine was manufactured. “F” refers to the year 1979. The type serial number TU30008U510256F is typical of two (2) liter engines manufactured after 1974. Two (2) liter Perkins engines manufactured after 1994 will have a serial number slightly different engine.
A typical ESN after 1994 will look like DGB060081U0017B. It can be subdivided into D, G, B, 06, 0081, U, 0017 and B. This is an engine that is used in a Perkins generator.
The “D” represents the type of end of the generator that is connected to the Perkins engine. In this example, D is for Stafford Generator endpoints.
The “G” represents the type of engine application. Is it made for agricultural use? Construction use? G is used for generator applications.
The “B” is the engine type or engine model, as technicians prefer to say. The “B” here refers to the Prima or 500 Series engine. The most popular engine types are the 1004.4 and 1006.6 engines.
The “06” indicates the number of cylinders the engine has, in this case six (6) cylinders.
The “U” retains the same meaning as the first serial number explained, that is, the country of manufacture.
The “0017” is the sequential serial number, which means it is the 17th engine to be built that year.
The last letter of the serial number, “B”, is the year of manufacture. From the Perkins engine charts, B is from the year 1996.
There are other Perkins engine models and the serial numbers will vary slightly from the two explained here.