Perkins Engine Serial Number Lookup

Guide on identifying your Perkins engine

Perkins Diesels are the most widely used engines in the world. Since Frank Perkins began in 1916 – the same year Foley Engines was founded – these engines have been made in many different countries. Because the engine is configured differently for each application, it is very important to determine the actual serial number of the engine you wish to repair or replace. That unique serial number, akin to a car’s VIN, will tell us when and where the engine was built, its horsepower rating, and the specific parts used in your engine.

Diesel

Perkins is one of the world’s leading suppliers of gas and diesel engines in the 4-2000 kW/5-2800 hp range, with the capacity to produce up to 900,000 units per year. Engine family and type code. Parts list number or SOS order reference number. Country of manufacture code. Engine serial number. Year of manufacture code. ¹ A number of engines were built with the letter ‘R’ as the year of manufacture code. In the middle of January 2008, the year of manufacture code was changed to the letter ‘S’. If your full engine serial number ends with the letter ‘R’, Perkins Engines Company Limited.

  • This system provides information as to the year, place, type and serial number of the engine manufactured. Perkins' identification system uses the following.
  • Perkins Diesels are the most widely used engines in the world. Since Frank Perkins began in 1916, these engines have been made in many different countries. Because the engine is configured differently for each application, it is very important to determine the actual serial number of the engine you wish to repair or replace.
  • SEARCH BY PART NUMBER. GB 4.135 Based on 4.154.Produced only by Toyo Kogyo. (Mazda) Variant used in '82-'84 B2200 trucks and in '83-'84 Ford Ranger Diesels. GC 4.182 Based on 4.154. HA 4.165 Four cylinder, 165 in³ diesel engine.Based on 4.154. Assembled by Perkins in Hannover for VW LT van.
  • Guide on identifying your Perkins engine. Typically, 4108 and 6354 engines have serial numbers stamped in the casting where the injection pump is mounted. The 4236 and 4248 engines usually have their numbers stamped into an area of the blocks behind the injection pump. The 3152 and 4203 series are often found stamped-in at the rear.

The Foley Tech Tip below will tell you where to find this important number and how to recognize it.

What your number looks like:

4 Cylinder Perkins Diesel Engine

You are looking for a stamped-in number on the block rather than a raised casting number. Sometimes a raised 377711000 is often found on Perkins diesels but this is simply a casting number. The stamped-in number we need is usually alphanumeric, beginning with two letters and then five digits, such as ED70058. Earlier engines had strictly numeric serial numbers using the model numbers to begin the sequence. An example of an early number is 108U..N.

Cummins Engine Serial Number Lookup

Where to find it

Typically, 4108 and 6354 engines have serial numbers stamped in the casting where the injection pump is mounted. The 4236 and 4248 engines usually have their numbers stamped into an area of the blocks behind the injection pump. The 3152 and 4203 series are often found stamped-in at the rear of the block above the bell housing.

Perkins Engine Serial Number Lookup Engine

The chart below is helpful in identifying the areas where a particular model’s serial number is located.

Engine TypePositionEngine TypePosition
3.152 Family14.300F
4.108A4.318F
4.154B6.354 FamilyD
4.203G or J4.212C
4.236C or H4.248C

Perkins Engine Serial Number Lookup Number

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