3406E CAT Engine for Sale | Caterpillar 14.6L Inline 6 Diesel (2WS Prefix)

$13,999.00

Product Overview & Specifications

Displacement: 14.6L (893 cu in)
Engine Family: Caterpillar 3406 Inline Six Diesel
Configuration: Inline 6, OHV, 24 valves
Horsepower: 355 to 550 hp by calibration
Condition: Used OEM, tested and inspected
In Stock, 2WS Prefix Available, Other Prefixes on Request
Free Shipping to All 50 States via Crated Heavy Freight, 7 to 14 Business Days
All 6 Cylinders Compression Tested, Results Available Before You Pay
Engine Hours Documented Where Available
Serial Number and Prefix Confirmed Before Shipping
Top End and Bottom End Inspection Documented
100% Application Fit Verified Before Every Order Ships
No Core Charge, Keep Your Old Engine
15 Day Replacement Warranty on Internal Defects

100% Fitment Assistance

15 Days Replacement Warranty

Free & Fast Shipping

Category: Engine

Description
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About This Engine

The Caterpillar 3406E is the electronically controlled evolution of the legendary CAT 3406 inline-six diesel that powered Class 8 over-the-road trucks, heavy industrial equipment, marine pleasure craft, and standby generators for decades. Produced from 1993 to 1999 in this exact configuration, the 3406E was Caterpillar’s answer to growing emissions regulations and demand for electronic engine management while preserving the bulletproof inline-six architecture that made the 3406 family famous.

The 3406E delivers 355 to 550 horsepower and 1,350 to 1,850 lb-ft of torque from 14.6 liters of displacement, depending on the specific calibration and application. Internally it uses a cast iron block, single-piece cast iron head, four valves per cylinder, electronically controlled HEUI injectors, and turbocharged air-to-air aftercooled charge air. The combination of cast iron mass, conservative bore/stroke geometry, and electronic engine control gives the 3406E its trademark reputation: million-mile service life with proper maintenance.

The 2WS Prefix

The 2WS prefix on a 3406E serial number identifies engines built at a specific Caterpillar plant during a specific production window. Many fleet operators and rebuilders specifically seek 2WS prefix units because the parts compatibility, calibration history, and known service characteristics are well documented in the CAT service network. Tell us your truck VIN, equipment serial number, or current engine prefix and we confirm 2WS compatibility before order.

Common 3406E Applications

Class 8 trucks: Peterbilt 379, Kenworth W900, Freightliner FLD120, International 9900
Heavy haul: dump trucks, log trucks, water tanker trucks
Industrial: rock crushers, asphalt plants, large compressors
Marine: pleasure cruisers, commercial fishing, workboats
Generator sets: standby and prime power applications
Off-road equipment: large wheel loaders, articulated dumpers

Signs You Need a Replacement 3406E

Excessive blow-by past breather, ring or liner wear
Coolant in oil, head gasket or liner seal failure (rebuild candidate)
Crank or main bearing knock under load
Loss of power across all speeds, turbo or fuel system wear
High oil consumption beyond 1 quart per 8 hours of operation
Persistent coolant leaks from O-rings on liner pack

What Is Included, What Is Not Included

INCLUDED	Complete engine: block, crankshaft, rods, pistons, camshaft, head, valve train, oil pan, valve cover, turbocharger, fuel system components present on donor unit, water pump, oil pump.
NOT INCLUDED	ECM (sometimes available separately, call to discuss), engine harness, exhaust manifolds (sometimes included), starter, alternator, accessory drive, clutch and flywheel, motor mounts, front cover assembly.
Fluids	Drained before shipping. Refill with CAT-spec 15W-40 diesel motor oil. Always pre-lube before first crank.
Core Note	No core charge. You are not required to return your old engine.

The 3406E was a direct fit in the following:

Peterbilt 379, 378, 357	1993 to 1999 (3406E spec’d)
Kenworth W900, T800, T600	1993 to 1999 (3406E spec’d)
Freightliner FLD120, Classic XL	1993 to 1999 (3406E spec’d)
International 9900, 9800, 9300	1993 to 1999 (3406E spec’d)
Mack RD-Series	Some 1993 to 1999 spec configurations
Industrial Equipment	CAT 988, 992 wheel loaders (industrial trim), CAT 5230 excavator (genset trim), various crushers and compressors
Marine	Pleasure craft, commercial fishing boats, workboats spec’d for 3406E
Generator Sets	CAT 3406E gen-set models 350 kW to 600 kW range

Application is everything for an industrial diesel of this size. Tell us your truck make, model, transmission, gear ratio, and intended use. We confirm bell-housing pattern, accessory drive, mounting points, and ECM compatibility before every order ships.

Every used 3406E we ship goes through this process:

Compression test across all 6 cylinders, pressure per cylinder recorded
Visual inspection of block, head, and liner pack
HEUI injector and HEUI pump operation inspected
Turbocharger shaft play, wastegate, and aftercooler inspected
Crank and rod bearing inspection where access permits
Engine hours recorded where ECM data available
Serial number, prefix, and CAT-spec calibration documented
Donor application, hours, and operating history disclosed where available

This is heavy industrial diesel. Full inspection documentation, including pictures of bottom-end where access permits, is available on request before order confirmation.

engine-family	Caterpillar 3406 Inline Six Diesel
generation	1993 to 1999), 3406E (Electronic
serial-prefix	2WS
configuration	24 valves, Inline-6, OHV
displacement	14.6L (893 cu in)
bore-x-stroke	5.40 in x 6.50 in
compression-ratio	16.5:1
aspiration	ATAAC, Turbocharged
fuel-system	HEUI Electronically Controlled Unit Injectors
fuel-type	Diesel
block-material	Cast Iron
head-material	Cast iron, single-piece
cooling-system	Liquid cooled with thermo fan clutch
electrical-system	12V or 24V by application
production-years	1993 to 1999
horsepower	355 to 550 hp by calibration
torque	1, 350 to 1, 850 lb-ft by calibration
engine-weight	900 lbs dry, Approximately 2
condition	tested and inspected, Used OEM

FAQs

What does the 2WS prefix mean on a CAT 3406E?

The 2WS prefix identifies a specific Caterpillar production plant and serial number range for 3406E engines. Many fleet operators and rebuilders specifically request 2WS prefix units for known parts and service compatibility. Tell us your application and we confirm 2WS suitability.

How many miles or hours can a CAT 3406E last?

Class 8 over-the-road trucks regularly clear 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 miles before requiring an inframe overhaul. Industrial and gen-set 3406Es regularly clear 25,000 to 40,000 hours of service. Service life depends heavily on maintenance discipline.

Will a 3406E fit my older mechanical 3406A or 3406B truck?

Mechanically yes (same block, mounts, and bell-housing pattern), but the 3406E requires an ECM, electronic harness, and HEUI fuel system that are completely different from the older mechanical engines. Plan on a complete electronic conversion when retrofitting an older mechanical truck.

How is the 3406E different from the CAT C15 that replaced it?

The C15 is essentially the same architecture as the 3406E with updated emissions hardware (EGR on later C15 ACERT, then DPF on C15 BXS). For fleet operators avoiding emissions hardware, a clean 3406E is preferred over a C15 ACERT or BXS.

What transmission options pair with the 3406E?

Eaton Fuller 13-speed, 18-speed, and 9-speed manual transmissions are most common in trucks. Allison HD4060 and HD4070 automatics for some industrial and severe duty applications. Tell us your transmission for compatibility check.

Is there a core charge?

No. You keep your old engine, no return required.

How does shipping work?

Free heavy crated freight to all 50 US states. Transit time 7 to 14 business days due to engine size and weight. We use heavy haul carriers experienced with industrial diesel.