7.2 Diesel Performance
by Justin Cupler
Caterpillar (Cat) is well known for large, earthmoving machinery, but is often overlooked when it comes to on-highway engine production. One of the engines Cat manufactures is the 7.2 liter C7 engine. The two versions of this engine are: the 2004 EPA (EPA 04) compliant and the 2007 EPA (EPA 07) compliant model
Horsepower
When installed in a truck or bus, the EPA 04 version of the Cat C7 produces 190 to 230 horsepower at 2,500 revolutions per minute, the output rises to 230 to 330 hp at 2,400 rpm when installed in a recreational vehicle (RV) or fire-fighting truck. The EPA 07 model produces 210 hp at 2,500 rpm to 300 hp 2,400 rpm in trucks and buses and 300 to 360 hp at 2,400 rpm in RVs and fire-fighting trucks.
Torque
The EPA 04 version of the Cat C7 produces 520 to 860 pound-feet of torque at 1,440 rpm, depending on options. The EPA 07 version is slightly more powerful, producing 520 to 925 pound-feet of torque at 1,440 rpm.
Internals
The internals of the EPA 04 and EPA 07 engines are identical as all that was changed was the emissions controls. These engines have a bore (cylinder width) of 4.33 inches, a stroke (distance piston travels inside the cylinder) of 5 inches and a 16.5:1 compression ratio. These engines have an inline six-cylinder (I-6) configuration.
References
Writer Bio
Justin Cupler is a professional writer who has been published on several websites including CarsDirect and Autos.com. Cupler has worked in the professional automotive repair field as a technician and a manager since 2000. He has a certificate in broadcast journalism from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Cupler is currently studying mechanical engineering at Saint Petersburg College.
