Straight or inline engines are internal combustion engines where all cylinders are aligned in a single row. They are common in four, six as well as eight cylinder configurations. A major advantage of this type of engines is their simplicity compared to horizontally opposed or even V designs. Their crankshaft and cylinder banks can be milled from the same metal casting The configuration requires fewer camshafts and cylinder heads Straight engines are usually small and can therefore be mounted in any direction The engine is much easier to maintain because most of its components and accessories are reachable from the sides rather than from the top or bottom of the cylinder banks.

The straight-six or I-6 layout is the simplest engine configuration that has both primary and secondary mechanical engine balance; and it does so without a balance shaft. It is characterized by much less vibration compared to engines with fewer cylinders.

This reduced vibration is achieved by mirroring the front and rear trio of cylinders. The pistons are designed to move in pairs, but 360out of phase; they also move on different strokes of a complete 4-stroke cycle. This eliminates the possibility of polar rocking motions. Its six crank throws are arranged in three planes with the planes offset at 120°. This way the sum of the secondary forces caused by differences in sinusoidal motion is zero. The C18 also possesses a carefully designed vibration damper that helps with absorbing torsional vibration.

Marine operators look for engines that are rugged and powerful and the I-6 is exactly that engine.

At Depco, we pride ourselves on our commitment to providing high-quality products that meet your needs. That’s why every product that enters our facility undergoes a comprehensive inspection, testing, and servicing process, known as “The Depco Way.” This includes the Caterpillar C18 marine engine, which undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that it meets our high standards of quality and reliability.