Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company
EMD Oil Centrifuge
The engine lubricating system of Progress Rail EMD marine and stationary engines consists of three (3) separate systems: the engine lubricating oil system, the piston cooling oil system, and the scavenging oil system.
The engine lubricating system supplies oil for the lubrication of the various moving parts of the engine. The piston cooling system supplies oil for the cooling of the pistons and lubrication of the piston pin-bearing surfaces. The scavenging oil system services the purpose of supplying the other two (2) systems with cooled and filter oil by taking the oil drained into the oil sump and forcing it through the filter and coolers from where it flows to the suction strainer housing, supplying the lubricating and piston cooling oil pumps.
The cleanliness of the lubricating oil is a crucial factor in maximizing engine service life while minimizing operational costs, which ensures smooth diesel engine operation. Particles in the lube oil can be very destructive. They can also be accurate indicators of problems in the Progress Rail EMD engine. The following are some sources of particles in a lubricating oil system:
– Wear: As wear occurs, potentially abrasive particles and contaminants are generated in the lube oil.
– Corrosion: Corrosion produces oxides that circulate in the oil.
– External Contamination: Dust, dirt, and other airborne contaminants can enter the lube oil system through breathers, open ports, and hatches.
– Scale and Rust in Reservoirs: Large reservoirs and piping can rust and corrode, generating debris.
– Lubricant Degradation: As the base stock of the oil degrades, solid by-products are produced.
The IOW Group oil centrifuge complements the lube oil filter. It removes fine abrasive contaminants, soot, and wear debris missed by the mechanical oil filter. This will significantly reduce long-term wear, extend engine life, and decrease maintenance costs over the Progress Rail EMD engine’s service life.
Next Generation Engine Centrifugal Oil Filtration System
The IOW Group oil centrifuge is the highest-performing and only self-monitoring oil centrifuge spinner in the world. The IOW Group oil cleaning centrifuge stands as the premier centrifugal bypass filter on the market. Its patented design delivers unparalleled fluid-cleaning performance, removing contaminants down to the sub-micron level.
Taking efficiency to the next level!
The IOW Group centrifuge outperforms competitors, including the Spinner II (Mann Hummel, Glacier), with its exceptional efficiency and superior filtration results. When selecting an oil centrifuge, it’s essential to evaluate the innovative features, advantages, and benefits of the latest technology.
What sets the IOW Group oil centrifuges apart as the market leader?
Bowl Disc Technology – This advanced technology enhances efficiency by removing more contaminants. The IOW oil centrifuge is the only device of its size, powered by engine oil pressure, to incorporate bowl discs, typically found in much larger industrial centrifuges. This allows it to eliminate significantly more small particles than any other competitor.
Fully Sealed Centrifuge Bowl – This feature minimizes the risk of cross-contamination between cleaned and dirty oil, ensuring a higher purity level in the filtered oil.
Remote Monitoring – The IOW oil centrifuge is unique in that it offers operators a choice of remote monitoring. This feature provides asset protection providing valuable insights into the device’s speed, cleaning efficiency, and service needs, helping ensure optimal operation. Remote monitoring reduces maintenance hours and boosts productivity.
Distributor Impeller – This component eliminates back pressure by efficiently drawing in contaminated oil. As the lube oil enters the oil centrifuge at its base, the distributor impeller draws it into the centrifuge during the spinning process. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination due to back pressure and increases the speed of the centrifuge bowl (rotor).
Engineered To Perform!
Add Oil Centrifuge to your Progress Rail EMD engines.
Oil Supply to Oil Centrifuge
In general, the oil supply should be taken from the hottest and highest pressure source available on the dirty side of the full-flow oil filter. The operating oil pressure for the IOW MP600 oil centrifuge should not be in excess of 7 bar (101 PSI) and should not be below 3 bar (43.5 PSI). The oil feed line to the centrifuge should be close to the engine’s oil pump and preferably before the oil cooler and the full-flow filter.
If your Progress Rail EMD engine has a scavenger lube oil system, you should set up the IOW MP600 oil centrifuge as an independent kidney loop filtration system. The scavenge pump operates at too low a pressure to drive a pressure-driven centrifuge (although it produces lots of oil flow), and the other pumps have enough pressure but no excess flow to drive the centrifuge. A kidney loop filtration system contains a pump/motor and IOW MP600 oil centrifuge to form an independent filtration unit. The EMD engine centrifugal oil filtration system can run immediately or continuously as needed.
Clean Oil Return to Sump
The IOW MP600 oil centrifuge should be securely mounted to prevent excessive vibration. When mounting the oil centrifuge, it is important to choose an installation location with sufficient room to remove the centrifuge cover assembly and centrifuge bowl assembly (rotor assembly). The CentriClean Separator Control Unit (SCU) should be mounted where the remote monitor is easily visible. The IOW MP600 oil centrifuge should be securely mounted either to the Progress Rail EMD engine or can be mounted remotely. If mounted from the engine, a pressurized drain system (PDS) may be required.
Centrifuge Oil Return – Gravity Drain
The most straightforward approach is a gravity-drain approach, where the processed, cleaned oil exiting the centrifuge flows back directly into the Progress Rail EMD engine crankcase unrestricted. The drain line must be sloped downward from the centrifuge outlet and free of sharp bends or traps. The gravity drain return line must be large enough to prevent oil flooding of the centrifuge bowl (rotor). For the IOW MP600 oil centrifuge, the recommended drain line is unrestricted 4″ minimum drain, returning above the normal sump oil level.
Centrifuge Oil Return – PDS Air Assist
If the oil centrifuge is situated some distance away from the oil sump or the drain line is smaller than the recommended size, a pressurized drain system (PDS) may be required to aid drainage. As the oil level rises inside the chamber, it lifts the float and actuates a valve connected to an air supply. The pressurization of the chamber causes the lube oil to return to the oil sump quicker. Air supply above six (6) bar pressure has to be connected to the PDS unit via an air pressure regulator.
Upgrade your Mechanical Oil Filter on your Progress Rail EMD engines.
Need a reliable automatic lube oil filtration system? The best Progress Rail EMD lube oil filter replacement is the IOW eQlyps mechanical oil filter. The IOW eQlyps is a complete filtration solution (primary oil filtration solution). It is equipped with the Q series backflushing filter, backflush pump, and IOW MP centrifuge, with remote monitoring technology, which means customers receive the highest level of filtration performance currently available. IOW Group is the only manufacturer that supplies this complete filtration system.
eQlyps the competition with IOW Group’s complete filtration solution!
The oil centrifuge, backflush filter, and backflush pump support each other, ensuring that each component lasts longer and filters more effectively. This results in extended engine lifespans, longer oil change intervals, and reduced maintenance, ultimately increasing productivity and, therefore, revenue. The IOW eQlyps mechanical oil filter reduces operating costs and environmental impact.
To learn more, visit our blog pages “What is an Automatic Backwash Filter?” and “eQlyps Automatic Backflushing Lube Oil Filter.”
Avoid operational delays caused by cartridge clogs!
Case Studies: Real-World Applications
Progress Rail EMD 12-645 engine
If your Progress Rail EMD 12-645 engine has a Spinner II 3600 oil centrifuge (Glacier FM600 or Mann Hummel FM600 centrifuge), it is time to upgrade it to the IOW MP600 oil centrifuge filter. At the same engine oil pressures, the IOW Group oil centrifuges spin faster than any competitor oil centrifuges. The higher centrifuge bowl RPMs generate greater centrifugal force, which produces higher separation efficiency. Elevate your Progress Rail EMD oil filtration system with the new oil centrifuge from IOW Group.
Run Cleaner, Run Longer: Upgrade to the IOW Group Oil Centrifuge!
Progress Rail EMD 16-645 engine
This 141′ twin screw towboat is powered by two (2) 16-cylinder Progress Rail EMD model 645E diesel engines. This customer uses Chevron Delo 710 LE 40 marine diesel engine lube oil.
We installed a kidney loop oil filtration system with the IOW MP600 oil centrifuge and the IOW Mechline lube oil pump. The IOW Mechline lube oil pump is a mechanically sealed triple-screw pump. If preferred, the IOW Magnaline triple-screw pumps are magnetic-driven and completely leak-free. To learn more, visit our blog on the Benefits of using Sealless Magnetic Drive Pumps.
At 86 PSI IOW Mechline lube oil pump pressure, the CentriClean SCU 0002 remote monitor displayed 4,472 RPMs (IOW MP600 centrifuge bowl RPMs). The CentriClean remote monitor is one of the best predictive maintenance tools.
Results: During 1,800 run hours, the IOW MP600 oil centrifuge removed 7.5 lbs of soot, dirt, engine sludge, and solid particles.
On the water, reliability is everything!
Progress Rail EMD 710 engine
Progress Rail EMD engines have a long history in the marine and industrial marketplace. Progress Rail continues manufacturing the EMD 710 Series engine, building upon the legacy that started in 1922 with the US Navy. The Progress Rail EMD 710 is a medium-speed, two-stroke diesel engine. The Progress Rail EMD marine engines are different from the railroad and stationary engines, mainly in the shape and depth of the engine’s oil sump. The engine oil sump has been altered to accommodate the rolling and pitching motion encountered in maritime applications.
IOW Group is taking efficiency to the next level. Adding an IOW Group oil centrifuge will help you avoid operational delays caused by cartridge clogs.
The IOW Group oil centrifuge is impressively effective!

IOW Group MP600 vs. Spinner II 3600 Oil Centrifuges
Next Generation Engine Centrifugal Oil Filtration System!
Separator Spares & Equipment is an Authorized IOW Group Distributor. We can provide quality customer support for your aging infrastructure needs and an extensive rolling stock of IOW Group centrifuges and spare parts.
If your Progress Rail EMD engine has a Spinner II oil cleaning centrifuge, now is the time to upgrade your bypass oil filtration system. Better bypass oil filtration is the answer! Enhance the performance of your Progress Rail EMD engines with IOW Group’s advanced oil centrifuge. Reduce maintenance costs, extend engine life, and ensure smooth operation with the world’s highest-performing self-monitoring oil centrifuge. To learn more about IOW Group, please visit www.iowgroup.com.