Used Caterpillar 308E Excavator

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Caterpillar 308E Mini Excavator Detailed Introduction

The Caterpillar 308E is an 8-ton class compact hydraulic excavator belonging to Caterpillar's industry-leading E-series small excavator lineup. Engineered for versatile performance, high durability and low operating cost, it is ideal for light to medium-duty construction, municipal, landscaping, agricultural and small-scale demolition worksites, balancing power, maneuverability and fuel efficiency perfectly for both urban and rural operation scenarios.

1. Core Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Operating Weight	8,200 – 8,800 kg (18,080 – 19,400 lb, varies by configuration)
Gross Power	49.7 kW (66.8 hp) at 2,200 rpm
Emission Standard	U.S. EPA Tier 4 Interim / EU Stage IIIB
Rear Swing Radius	1,340 mm (4.4 ft, compact radius design)
Max. Digging Depth	4,170 mm (13.7 ft, standard arm)
Max. Digging Radius	6,620 mm (21.7 ft)
Max. Dump Height	4,380 mm (14.4 ft)
Bucket Capacity Range	0.22 – 0.52 m³ (0.29 – 0.68 yd³)
Travel Speed (Low/High)	2.8 / 4.7 km/h (1.7 / 2.9 mph)
Gradeability	30° (58%)
Drawbar Pull	65 kN (14,610 lbf)
Main Hydraulic System Flow	150 L/min (39.6 gpm)
Main Relief Pressure	35 MPa (5,076 psi)

2. Powertrain Performance

The 308E is equipped with a Caterpillar proprietary C3.3 ACERT 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, featuring electronic fuel injection and optimized combustion technology:

Excellent fuel efficiency: Up to 15% lower fuel consumption compared to the previous generation of 8-ton Cat excavators under the same working conditions, greatly reducing daily operating costs.
Strong environmental adaptability: The built-in cold start device supports normal startup at -20°C (-4°F), and the altitude adaptation reaches 3,000 m (9,840 ft) without power derating.
Low noise and vibration: Optimized engine mounting and noise reduction design keep external operating noise below 92 dB(A), meeting strict urban construction noise requirements.

3. Hydraulic System & Operation Performance

The 308E adopts Caterpillar's advanced load-sensing hydraulic system with independent flow distribution, delivering precise, smooth and responsive control:

Excellent micro-maneuverability: Fine control of boom, stick and bucket movement supports high-precision works such as pipe laying, trench finishing and landscape shaping, effectively reducing rework.
Standard boom offset function: The boom can swing 60° to the left and 50° to the right, allowing close-to-wall digging and operation in narrow spaces such as urban alleys, between buildings and indoor worksites, without frequent machine repositioning.
Compact radius (CR) design: The tail will not exceed the track width when swinging, greatly improving operation safety in confined spaces.
Dual auxiliary hydraulic circuits: Standard high and low pressure auxiliary circuits support compatibility with a wide range of work tools, including hydraulic breakers, grapples, augers, plate compactors and mowers, expanding application scenarios greatly.

4. Operator Comfort & Safety

The 308E's cab is designed with ergonomics and safety as core priorities, reducing operator fatigue during long shifts:

Safety certification: Both enclosed cab and open canopy options meet ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) and FOPS (Falling Object Protective Structure) international safety standards, protecting operators in extreme working conditions.
Comfort configuration: Fully adjustable air-suspension seat, high-efficiency automatic air conditioning system, and multi-position adjustable control levers reduce physical strain. Internal cab noise is controlled at only 75 dB(A), equivalent to normal office environment noise level.
All-round visibility: Frameless glass design with narrow pillars provides 360° unobstructed view of the worksite, optional rear-view camera further eliminates blind spots when reversing and operating at the rear.
Safety assistance: Standard travel alarm, automatic swing lock, and emergency descent function for work devices even when the engine is shut off, ensuring operation safety.

5. Maintainability & Durability

Caterpillar's design prioritizes low long-term operating cost for the 308E:

Ground-level service access: All daily maintenance points (engine oil filter, fuel filter, hydraulic oil filter, air filter, lubrication points) are arranged at accessible positions on the side of the machine, no need to climb on the upper structure for routine maintenance, cutting maintenance time by 30%.
Long service intervals: Engine oil and filter replacement interval is 500 working hours, hydraulic oil and filter replacement interval reaches 4,000 working hours, greatly reducing maintenance frequency and cost.
Intelligent management: Standard Caterpillar Product Link™ telematics system supports remote monitoring of machine location, working hours, fuel consumption, fault codes and maintenance reminders, making fleet management highly efficient.
High durability: Boom, stick and main frame are made of high-strength wear-resistant steel, reinforced undercarriage with optional heavy-duty steel tracks or rubber tracks (to protect paved roads) can adapt to harsh construction conditions such as rocky sites, with an average service life 20% longer than competing products of the same class.

6. Optional Configurations & Common Attachments

To meet customized demands, the 308E supports a wide range of optional configurations:

Cab options: Open canopy (for warm areas), enclosed heated cab (for cold regions), cab with FOPS level 2 certification (for demolition works).
Undercarriage options: Standard steel tracks, rubber tracks, extended track gauge for higher stability.
Work tool accessories: Quick coupler (realizes tool replacement within 10 seconds without manual operation), hydraulic breaker, wood grapple, auger, plate compactor, tilting bucket, mowing attachment, etc.

7. Typical Application Scenarios

Municipal engineering: Trenching for water pipes, gas pipes and communication cables, road repair, sidewalk construction, urban green belt maintenance.
Landscaping: Tree pit digging, site leveling, landscape shaping, river channel trimming.
Residential construction: Foundation excavation, small building demolition, site clearing, material handling.
Agricultural operation: Farmland water conservancy construction, reservoir digging, orchard management, livestock farm cleaning.
Emergency rescue: Post-disaster debris clearing, small obstacle removal, rescue channel opening.

Key Advantages Summary

Industry-leading fuel efficiency and low total cost of ownership;
Precise control performance and strong adaptability to narrow working spaces;
High structural durability and reliable performance under harsh conditions;
Convenient maintenance and Caterpillar's global after-sales service network, with sufficient spare parts supply;
High residual value, with second-hand market retention rate 10-15% higher than similar competing products.

Non flooded

No accident

Original product

Used Caterpillar 308E Excavator

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