This page gives you an overview of the company and its history, how the range is put together, how to identify the unit you have, and how we can help when you need a new one, a replacement or parts. When you’re ready to talk specifics, our sales team is a phone call or email away.

Who are Perkins Engines? A short history

Perkins Engines Company Limited is one of the best-known names in diesel power and, yes, it is a British company. Frank Perkins and engineer Charles Chapman founded the business in 1932, in a small office in Peterborough, England. Their first high-speed diesel engine, the four-cylinder Vixen, was followed by the more powerful Wolf, and by 1947 production had moved to the Eastfield site in Peterborough, which is still at the heart of the business today.

Caterpillar acquired the company in December 1997, and it continues to design and build under its own name as part of the Caterpillar group. According to Perkins, it now has distributors in 171 countries with more than 3,500 outlets, manufacturing and parts facilities on four continents, and the capacity to build up to 800,000 engines a year.

That global footprint matters when you’re choosing a power unit. Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) build Perkins into their tractors, plant and generator sets, so mechanics everywhere understand them, parts are widely available, and the machine is easy to support wherever it ends up working.

The Perkins engine range

Perkins builds diesel and gas units covering roughly 4 kW to 2,000 kW (5 to 2,800 hp) across industrial, agricultural, electric power generation and marine markets. The range is organised into numbered series. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the series number, the smaller the unit.

	Perkins series	What it is	Typical uses
	403 Series (400 Series)	Compact 3-cylinder diesel engines, 0.76 to 1.7 litres	Mini excavators, welders, lighting towers, small generators, turf care
	404 Series (400 Series)	Compact 4-cylinder diesel engines, 2.2 litres	Skid steers, compact loaders, compressors, materials handling, generator sets
	904, 1100 and 1200 Series	Mid-range 4 and 6-cylinder industrial engines	Tractors, telehandlers, construction plant, agricultural machinery
	1500 to 2800 Series	Larger industrial and power generation engines	Heavy plant, pumps, larger generator sets
	4000 and 5000 Series	Large-bore engines for electric power generation	Prime and standby power, data centres, utilities

Within each series you’ll find several models, with different capacities, naturally aspirated or turbocharged versions, and different emissions levels. That’s why the full model code matters so much when you’re ordering. A 404D-22T and a 404J-E22TA look similar on paper but are very different machines.

How Perkins model codes work

Perkins model codes look complicated, but they follow a simple pattern. Take the 404D-22TA as an example:

• 404 is the series and cylinder count. The first digit is the series family (400), the last digit is the number of cylinders (4).
• D is the generation. Earlier engines carry a C, current engines carry a J, and the letter usually tracks the emissions standard the engine was built to.
• 22 is the displacement, 2.2 litres in this case.
• T means turbocharged, and TA means turbocharged and aftercooled. No suffix means naturally aspirated.
• G at the end, as in 404D-22G, marks a version built for generator sets running at a fixed speed.

Stage V engines often carry an extra E, as in 403J-E17T, which tells you the engine has electronic control and is designed to work with exhaust aftertreatment.

How to identify your Perkins engine

The quickest way to get the right unit or part first time is with the serial number. Every Perkins carries a serial number plate, usually fixed to the cylinder block. The serial number is a code of letters and numbers, and the letters at the start identify the engine type and build list.

When you contact us, please send:

• The full serial number from the plate, exactly as written
• The model code, if you have it (for example 403D-15 or 404D-22T)
• The make and model of the machine or generator it’s fitted to
• A photo of the plate and the engine if you can

With those details we can check the exact build, find the right replacement or parts, and confirm fitment before anything is shipped.

Perkins engines and emissions: Stage V explained

Emissions rules decide what you can fit. In the EU and UK, new off-road machinery must use engines that meet Stage V, and in the USA the equivalent is EPA Tier 4 Final. Current models such as the 403J-E17T and 404J-E22TA are built for Stage V, using a diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter (DOC+DPF).

Older engines, such as the D-series 403 and 404 built to Stage IIIA, are still widely fitted in machines working today. When you are replacing a unit in an existing machine, the rules are different from building a new one, and what you’re allowed to fit depends on the machine, its age and the country it works in. Tell us what you’re replacing and where the machine is used, and we’ll help you find a compliant option.

Is Perkins a good engine?

It’s one of the questions our customers ask most, and the honest answer is yes. Perkins has a strong reputation for quality, reliability, straightforward servicing and long working lives.

The real advantages are practical:

• Parts availability: filters, gaskets, water pumps and service parts for common models are easy to source worldwide.
• Familiarity: engineers and mechanics around the world know them, which keeps servicing simple and downtime short.
• Range: with so many models across so many power ratings, there’s usually a like-for-like replacement or a sensible upgrade.
• Proven designs: the compact 400 Series in particular has been powering small machines for decades.

Like any diesel, a Perkins lasts longest when it’s serviced on time with the right parts. Most problems we see come down to missed oil and filter changes, poor fuel quality or overheating, not the design itself.

Buying a Perkins engine from Sleemans

Sleemans is the trading name of Sleeman & Hawken Ltd, and we’ve been supplying diesel engines and parts for nearly 70 years. We work with contractors, plant hire companies, agricultural businesses, original equipment manufacturers, generator builders and individual owners, in the UK and overseas.

When you buy from us, you can expect:

• The right unit first time. We check the serial number and application before we quote.
• New and replacement Perkins engines. We supply new units and help you find the right replacement for your machine.
• Perkins parts and service kits. Filters, gaskets, belts, water pumps and everything else you need to keep it running.
• Worldwide shipping. We can combine your order with other items through our consolidated shipping service.
• Straight-talking technical advice from people who know diesels.
• Order online or by phone. Buy parts online, or speak to our sales team for engines and larger orders.

Explore Perkins engines

Explore Perkins engines

• Perkins 403 engines: the compact 3-cylinder range, from the 403J-07 to the Stage V 403J-E17T
• Perkins 404 engines: the 2.2 litre 4-cylinder range, from the 404D-22 to the Stage V 404J-E22TA

Frequently asked questions