Get better engine efficiency with a performance upgrade

Keep your engines compliant and competitive

Upgrade your Wärtsilä 4-stroke engines and reduce emissions and fuel consumption

Get better engine efficiency with a performance upgrade

The Wärtsilä 4-stroke engine performance upgrades will improve the efficiency and reliability of the engine. For you, this means fuel savings, lower operating costs, and reduced emissions.

Choose a performance upgrade if you want to:

• reduce CO2 emissions, improve CII and reduce EU ETS and Fuel EU penalties
• decrease fuel and maintenance costs
• improve the reliability of your engine

The Wärtsilä 4-stroke engine performance upgrade optimises the combustion process and tunes your engine to the most frequently used operating range. There is a tailored upgrade package for each engine type.

Engine performance upgrades are especially relevant when a planned maintenance window creates an opportunity to improve efficiency, reduce fuel consumption or address changing operational and regulatory requirements. Rather than replacing equipment, many operators use targeted upgrades to improve the performance of existing engines.

At a glance

What this is:

Wärtsilä 4-stroke engine performance upgrades help improve engine efficiency, reliability and emissions performance through tailored upgrade packages designed for specific engine types.

Why this matters:

• Reduce fuel consumption and operating costs.
• Improve engine efficiency and reliability.
• Support emissions and compliance objectives.
• Extend the value of existing engine assets

How this works:

Upgrade packages combine engine tuning and selected hardware improvements, such as turbocharger-related upgrades, to optimise engine performance for actual operating conditions.

Where this applies:

For ship owners, technical managers and engineering teams seeking to improve the efficiency, reliability and compliance performance of existing Wärtsilä 4-stroke engines.

What is an engine performance upgrade?

An engine performance upgrade modifies selected engine components or settings to improve efficiency, reliability or emissions performance.

Performance upgrades

Choose your engine from the list to learn the details of the tailored upgrade packages.Our upgrade solution is customised according to your needs and typical engine operation. Speak to our engine experts if your engine is not listed below for a tailored solution.

Wärtsilä 32 Performance Upgrade

Learn more

Wärtsilä Vasa 32 Performance Upgrade

Wärtsilä 38 Performance Upgrade

Wärtsilä 46 Performance Upgrade

Wärtsilä 46F Performance Upgrade

Wärtsilä 50DF Performance Upgrade

Wärtsilä ZA40S Performance Upgrade

Our upgrade solution is customised according to your needs and typical engine operation. Speak to our engine experts if your engine is not listed below for a tailored solution.

Boost the performance of your engine

The upgrades will make use of modern higher efficiency turbochargers. Combining them with engine tuning will optimise the performance of the engine. This will bring fuel savings and a decrease of generated emissions. As a result, your operating costs will be lower. In addition, this will help you comply with the ever-tighter emission limits.

Further optimise and improve your engine performance by combining the turbocharger upgrade with:

• Variable Inlet Closing (VIC)
• Variable Injection Timing (VIT)
• Camshaft with reduced overlap
• Air Waste Gate (AWG)

Three powerful benefits from performance upgrades

Saves money

• Lower fuel and maintenance costs
• Excellent payback time instead of turbocharger overhaul

Cuts emissions and maintains compliance

• Reduced CO2 emissions
• Compliance with IMO Tier II certification standards

Improves reliability

• Less smoke produced
• Lower engine thermal load
• Enhanced load acceptance capability for the engine
• Extends the turbocharger maintenance interval

Other engine upgrade solutions that further improve your engine’s performance

By keeping your engines up to today’s technical standards you ensure the reliability, performance, safety and availability of your asset. With upgrades, you can adjust your engine operation to changing conditions, extend the engine lifecycle and ensure fuel– and emissions efficiency.

UNIC engine control system upgrade

Takes care of all engine control and monitoring functions for both newly built engines and as a retrofit for older Wärtsilä engines

Find out more

SOLAS Solutions

Designed to prevent the unexpected regarding injuries, engine room fires, material and capital damages, or off-hire

Power Limitation Solutions

Reducing the designed maximum sailing speed to comply with EEXI

Fuel Conversions

Invest in fuel flexibility and alternative fuels, reduce your emissions and improve your compliance with regulations such as EEXI

Related solutions

Delivering the best know-how and expertise that stems from a thorough understanding of the engine

Enables cleaning of the charge air cooler without removing it from the engine. Reduced downtime and lowered SFOC.

Wärtsilä Turbo standby cleaner keeps your turbocharger in peak condition.

Eliminates the need for time-consuming scheduled manual washing and reduces the risk of unplanned downtime

Ensures the reliable operations of turbochargers and reduces potential turbocharger failure.

Wärtsilä Receiver temperature dew point control

Improves the efficiency and reliability of engine operation while lowering fuel consumption and emission.

The upgrade allows the time between overhauls to be extended from 12,000 to 18,000 running hours, reducing operating costs over the lifetime

Get more information from our references

• Splittnes A Wärtsilä Vasa 32 engine upgrade and Wärtsilä EnergoProFin help bulk carrier cut fuel use and emissions by 10% and meet IMO Tier II NOx emissions regulations. Read more
• 2 cruise ships upgraded for Tier II compliance Fred. Olsen upgraded five engines across two vessels, improving compliance, efficiency and long-term reliability. See the case
• M/S Finnsun Finnlines saves costs, improves reliability and reduces fuel consumption and emissions with a Wärtsilä engine performance upgrade for two vessels. Read more how to reduce fuel consumption and emissions

Frequently asked questions

When should a vessel owner consider an engine performance upgrade?

Performance upgrades are often evaluated during planned maintenance periods, overhaul projects or when operational requirements have changed.

Can performance upgrades reduce fuel consumption?

The page states that performance upgrades improve efficiency and can reduce fuel consumption through engine optimisation and upgraded components.

Can existing engines be upgraded instead of replaced?

In many cases, targeted upgrades can help vessel owners improve efficiency, emissions performance and reliability without replacing the engine.

Considering other ways to improve vessel performance?

Engine upgrades are one way to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. Explore the Energy efficiency page to compare operational improvements, maintenance-stage actions, dry-dock upgrades and newbuild strategies.

Explore vessel energy-efficiency opportunities

Improve engine performance during your next maintenance window

Explore whether a tailored performance upgrade could help improve engine efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and keep your engines competitive for future operating requirements.