1. Home
  2. / Interesting facts
  3. / How Many Liters of Fuel Does the World’s Largest Combustion Engine Consume Per Day?
Reading time 2 min of reading Comments 4 comments

How Many Liters of Fuel Does the World’s Largest Combustion Engine Consume Per Day?

Published on 22/11/2025 at 04:00
maior motor de combustão do mundo de 14 cilindros e 2.300 toneladas entrega 108.920 bhp e equipa navios como o Emma Maersk
maior motor de combustão do mundo de 14 cilindros e 2.300 toneladas entrega 108.920 bhp e equipa navios como o Emma Maersk
  • Reaction
  • Reaction
  • Reaction
  • Reaction
  • Reaction
46 people reacted to this.
React to this article

The Largest Combustion Engine in the World, with 14 Cylinders and 2,300 Tons, Drives Giant Container Ships with Power Greater Than 108,000 BHP

The 14-Cylinder Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C, a two-stroke diesel engine with turbo, holds the title of the largest combustion engine ever built.

Designed to move large container ships, it stands out for its monumental size and ability to generate power at exceptional levels. With a height of thirteen meters, a length of twenty-six meters, and a total weight of 2,300 tons, the structure stands as one of the largest engineering feats ever applied to maritime transport.

Impressive Dimensions and Performance

The assembly brings together components of equally extraordinary scale. The crankshaft weighs 300 tons and each of the 14 pistons weighs 5 tons. Operating at 102 rpm, the engine delivers 108,920 BHP, equivalent to 80,080 kW, consuming around 250 tons of heavy fuel oil per day. Even in its most efficient configuration, the burn rate reaches 1,660 gallons per hour.

Expansion of an Established Project

The Finnish manufacturer Wärtsilä decided to develop the new model upon realizing that the 12-Cylinder RTA96C engine would not meet the growing demand for ever-larger ships, such as the Emma Maersk. The solution was to expand the power range of the original design by adding two extra pistons to achieve the necessary 80,080 kW.

Structural Adjustments to Support the New Configuration

The addition of new cylinders required careful revisions. The material of the crankshaft was updated to withstand the increased torque, and engineers meticulously analyzed the stiffness and structural strength of the assembly. The goal was to ensure efficient and safe operation, even with the significant increase in load and internal stresses.

Entry Into Operation and Production Value

First produced in 2006, the 14-Cylinder Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C entered commercial service that same year, installed on the Emma Maersk, then the largest container ship in the world. The manufacturing process, extremely complex and resource-demanding, results in each unit exceeding a value of 25 million dollars.

Sign up
Notify of
guest
4 Comments
most recent
older Most voted
Built-in feedback
View all comments
MeuPau
MeuPau
25/11/2025 06:55

Tem pouco anúncio nessa pagina, coloca mais **** da nem para ler a matéria com essse monte de anúncios

Douglas
Douglas
23/11/2025 20:25

Será que as autoridades fiscalizam isso?

Antônio
Antônio
23/11/2025 17:12

Tá aí os maiores poluidores, enquanto o governo se preocupa com carros os navios estão detonado o meio ambiente!!!

Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Journalist specializing in a wide variety of topics, such as cars, technology, politics, naval industry, geopolitics, renewable energy, and economics. Active since 2015, with prominent publications on major news portals. My background in Information Technology Management from Faculdade de Petrolina (Facape) adds a unique technical perspective to my analyses and reports. With over 10,000 articles published in renowned outlets, I always aim to provide detailed information and relevant insights for the reader.

Share in apps
4
0
I'd love to hear your opinion, please comment.x