Description

Caterpillar M318, M320 2000 Service Manual

If you’re turning wrenches on a Caterpillar M318, M320 2000 Service Manual – wait. That’s the manual you need, not the machine. I’ve seen too many guys grab a reprint off some third-party site and end up torquing a wheel nut to 450 ft-lb because the copy was blurred. This is the real thing: 68 pages of Caterpillar’s own documentation, straight from Peoria. No aftermarket garbage. No guesswork.

You run a shop or a fleet, you know the cost of downtime when a lube tech skips the Boom and Stick Linkage – Lubricate step at 10 hours and you’re rebuilding a pin joint by 500. This manual lays out every interval – “When Required” all the way to “Every 250 Service Hours or Monthly”. Page numbers are pinned to the actual Caterpillar numbering system. You want the Fuel System Priming Pump – Operate procedure? It’s on page 183. You want the Wheel Nut Torque – Check spec? The manual tells you to check it every 50 service hours – and the torque value is referenced from the factory engineering table. I don’t have that number memorized for every machine, and neither should you. That’s why you keep this on the workbench.

Maintenance Interval Schedule – The Backbone of Reliability

Look at the table of contents. It’s not a fluff list. It’s a schedule built by Caterpillar engineers who know that a M320 working in a Texas quarry sees different wear than a M318 on a residential lot. The manual breaks it down: Every 10 Service Hours or Daily (including Brakes, Indicators and Gauges – Test on page 157), Every 50 Service Hours or Weekly (Drive Shaft Universal Joint – Lubricate, page 168), and the big ones at 250 hours – Axle Oil Level – Check front and rear, Air Conditioner – Test. Miss one of those and you’re pulling a final drive sooner than you budgeted.

When Required: Critical Checks You Can’t Skip

Section “When Required” lists tasks that are condition-based – like Battery – Recycle (page 152), Bucket Tips – Inspect/Replace (page 159), and Fuel System Priming Pump – Operate (three separate entries, pages 183-184 – because the procedure differs by machine prefix). If you’ve ever had a fuel system air lock on a M318 in the middle of a trench, you know that priming pump procedure is gold. The manual shows you the path through the primary filter, secondary filter, and injection pump without calling your dealer.

Lubrication Intervals – Why I Won’t Trust a Copy

Boom, stick, bucket linkage. Every 10 hours for the first 100 hours, then every 50. The manual doesn’t let you decide – it tells you which grease fittings and how many shots. Aftermarket manuals (I’ve seen them) will say “lubricate all points” and leave you counting zerks. This manual has separate entries for Boom and Stick Linkage – Lubricate and Boom, Stick and Bucket Linkage – Lubricate because they’re different grease patterns. That matters when you’re paying a technician by the hour and you don’t want a missed bearing to blow a $600 pin.

Safety Before All: Pre-Operation Checks

Page 157: Brakes, Indicators and Gauges – Test. Page 203: Seat Belt – Inspect. Page 207: Travel Alarm – Test. Page 210: Walk-Around Inspection. I don’t care if you’ve run excavators for twenty years – you need the factory procedure for the travel alarm test because some M320s have a two-stage alarm and the test sequence is specific. The manual includes the Safety Section (SAFETY.CAT.COM™ reference) that every operator is supposed to read. I’ve had more than one near-miss because a tech skipped the walk-around. This manual makes it a daily procedure.

Factory Specs vs. Aftermarket – Know the Difference

This is an original Caterpillar publication dated December 2000 – SEBU6879-06. It covers machines with serial numbers 6WL1-Up, 8AL1-Up, 6ES1-Up, 9SS1-Up, and 9PS1-Up. That’s five production lines of M318 and M320 excavators. The aftermarket versions you find on free access sites are often scanned from this same manual but with missing pages, faded torque charts, and no safety warnings. Pay once. Get the real thing. For other Cat diesels, check the Caterpillar C175, 3600, C8.7, C12.9 2016 Service Manual – Factory Tool Catalog if you work on the big stationary sets, or the Caterpillar 3500B 2002 Service Manual – Factory Specs for the high-horsepower engines. Also available: Caterpillar C27 and C32 Generator Sets Operation and Maintenance Manual. All factory originals.

And if you’re comparing driveline procedures, remember that Cat’s transmission diagnostics are different from a standard Manual Transmission. Don’t assume. The factory manual is the only source for the exact shift pressures and bearing preloads on these excavators’ travel drives. For general automotive transmission knowledge, you can reference Manual Transmission theory, but for your M318, stick to this manual.

FAQ – The Questions I Hear Every Week

Does this manual cover both the M318 and M320?

Yes. It covers both models with serial number prefixes listed on page 2.

What year models does this manual apply to?

It was published in 2000 and covers machines built up to that year. If you have a later model (2001+), you need the updated manual. This one is correct for 6WL, 8AL, 6ES, 9SS, and 9PS prefix machines.

Can I use this manual for full engine or hydraulic rebuild procedures?

This is an Operation and Maintenance Manual, not a full Service Manual. It covers daily, weekly, and periodic maintenance – oil checks, lubrication, filter changes, brake inspections. For major repairs (engine overhaul, hydraulic pump disassembly) you need the corresponding Service Manual (separate publication). The maintenance manual will tell you when to inspect and replace components, but not how to rebuild them. That’s what the Service Manual is for. If you need repair procedures, look for the “Disassembly and Assembly” manual for your specific machine.

Are torque specifications included?

The manual references wheel nut torque checks every 50 hours, but the actual torque values are in the general torque specification section. Page 211 directs you to the wheel nut torque check. For other fasteners, Cat uses standard torque tables (SAE grade) – those are in the supplemental “Torque Specifications” document. This manual tells you which fasteners to check, but you’ll need the spec sheet for the numbers. I keep both on my bench.

Don’t gamble your machine’s reliability on a photocopy or a PDF that came from a forum. The original factory documentation is the only thing that keeps your M318 or M320 running at peak efficiency and keeps your technicians safe. Get the real deal – access the factory manual today.