All you need to know before buying the Detroit 3-53 Diesel Engine

The Detroit Diesel 353 engine, also known as 3-53 was a high-powered diesel engine manufactured by Detroit Diesel Engines. While the ‘3’ in the name represented the number of cylinders it featured, ‘53’ referred to the cubic-inch displacement per cylinder of the engine.

Specifications

The Detroit 3-53 is a two-cycle engine, which features a bore by a stroke of 3.875 by 4.5 inches, or 98 mm by 114 mm. The total displacement of the engine, as suggested by its name, is 3×53, equaling 159 cubic inches, or 2.61 liters. Comprising of three cylinders, the compressions ratio of this engine is 21 to 1. The engine offers a power output of 101 horsepower at 2,800 rpm, while it is known to provide a continuous gross power of 70 horsepower at 2,400 rpm. It produces a maximum torque of 205 ft-lbs at 1,800 rpm.

The 3-53 comprises of a 12 V, 42-amp alternator, complete with a crankshaft pulley as well as an exhaust manifold. The engine features a 22-inch, five-blade design fan. The flywheel and flywheel housing in the 3-53 Detroit diesel engine is SAE No. 4. It makes use of a variable speed, throttle-controlled governor. The engine also features a cam-operated, clean-tip unit type fuel injector, as well as a full-flow system oil lubrication filter, complete with a 10-degree inclined oil pan. The starting motor of the 3-53 engine makes use of a 12 V system.

Engine Dimensions

The 3-53 engine presents a length of 33 inches, a width of 27 inches, and a height of 35 inches. When weighed dry, without any fluids present in it, the engine clocked 965 pounds.

Pros and Cons

Pros of 3-53 Detroit Diesel Engine

A two-cycle diesel engine such as the 3-53 undergoes a power stroke every two strokes. The primary benefit of this cycle is the high horsepower per Cubic Inch Displacement (CID) ratio, as a direct result of the high thermal efficiency of the engine.
When it comes to marine applications, a two-stroke engine like the Detroit 3-53 offers immense versatility, and can easily be operated in both – clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.
When modified, the 3-53 promises improved fuel economy, and can even ensure quieter operation, complete with increased horsepower.

Cons of 3-53 Detroit Diesel Engine

The 3-53 engine has an oil-filled crankcase and does not run on a fuel-oil mixture as is the case with a conventional 4 cycle engine.
The horsepower-to-weight ratio is relatively low in the Detroit 3-53 engine, especially as the weight of this engine is rather high. A Detroit engine with 159 CID weighs 965 lbs, while a Cummins 6BT engine with a relatively high 359 CID weighs only 975 lbs.
All Detroit 53 series engines use a unit injection system, wherein the unit injector creates injection pressure is created in the injector body itself via a camshaft-driven plunger in the injector. In practice, this mechanical system works well, however, it can prove to be tricky to synchronize the injectors as each bank is controlled by a shared linkage.

If you have been looking forward to purchasing the Detroit 3-53 Diesel Engine, then you can always get in touch with Swift Equipment – your one-stop shop for new and used diesel engines!