I just bought an 81 chevy with the 5.7 diesel. everything works and its super clean. Not only did I pay $700 for it but its a one owner with 44,000 miles on it. The only issue I have is I cant find any fluid capacities on it anywhere. Does anyone have a link where I can find the oil capacity or does anybody know off-hand? Btw I know this is a [censored] engine so please dont knock my purchase. I was on a tight budget.
1981 Chevy 5.7 IDI Diesel
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some of the biggest problems with those was the lack of s water seperating fuel filter. put a spin on one on it,napa can sell you a mount and a filter. i think its a 3123 napa filter. it needs a diesel oil but you already know that.back then people were used to gassers and put gasser oil in them and that killed them. get all the glow plugs working. do not use starting fluid ...ever! these 3 things will make a huge difference in how long it runs.
I think another thing about these that helps the life is don't hot rod it. A lot of those old diesels would run just fine if you didn't have a lead foot and let them take their time to wind up.
Helm inc should have the owners manuals and service manuals.
44000 miles. That's awesome.
Originally Posted By: abycat
44000 miles. That's awesome.
http://www.amsoil.com/mygarage/VehicleLo...02WD%20PICKUP+Z
CAPACITIES:
Engine, with filter..........5 quarts [1]
Cooling System, Initial Fill..........23.8 quarts
AMSOIL Antifreeze and Engine Coolant
Automatic Transmission, THM400 Initial Fill..........4.3 quarts
Automatic Transmission, THM350 Initial Fill..........3.5 quarts
Automatic Transmission, Total Fill
3 speed THM400..........11 quarts
3 speed THM350..........10 quarts
Manual Transmission, 3-SPD..........3 pints
Manual Transmission, 4-SPD..........8 pints
Differential, With 10.5 RingGear Rear..........6.3 pints
Differential, With 8.5 RingGear Rear..........4.2 pints
Differential, With 8.8 RingGear Rear..........3.6 pints
Differential, With 9.5 RingGear Rear..........5.5 pints
Differential, With 9.75 RingGear Rear..........5.9 pints
Originally Posted By: Chris142
some of the biggest problems with those was the lack of s water seperating fuel filter. put a spin on one on it,napa can sell you a mount and a filter. i think its a 3123 napa filter. it needs a diesel oil but you already know that.back then people were used to gassers and put gasser oil in them and that killed them. get all the glow plugs working. do not use starting fluid ...ever! these 3 things will make a huge difference in how long it runs.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: abycat
44000 miles. That's awesome.
Originally Posted By: earlyre
http://www.amsoil.com/mygarage/VehicleLo...02WD%20PICKUP+Z
CAPACITIES:
Engine, with filter..........5 quarts [1]
Cooling System, Initial Fill..........23.8 quarts
AMSOIL Antifreeze and Engine Coolant
Automatic Transmission, THM400 Initial Fill..........4.3 quarts
Automatic Transmission, THM350 Initial Fill..........3.5 quarts
Automatic Transmission, Total Fill
3 speed THM400..........11 quarts
3 speed THM350..........10 quarts
Manual Transmission, 3-SPD..........3 pints
Manual Transmission, 4-SPD..........8 pints
Differential, With 10.5 RingGear Rear..........6.3 pints
Differential, With 8.5 RingGear Rear..........4.2 pints
Differential, With 8.8 RingGear Rear..........3.6 pints
Differential, With 9.5 RingGear Rear..........5.5 pints
Differential, With 9.75 RingGear Rear..........5.9 pints
I would use Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 motor oil...
Napa's water separator filter is a FIL3405 and their base is a FIL4770.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: abycat
44000 miles. That's awesome.
dnewton3
Staff member
Do what you can to make it last, but don't sink an ton of money into it, because that engine will disappoint eventually, regardless how you treat it.
The LF9 engine was a real dog for GM. Legendary problems, head bolts, crankshafts, warping, you name it...
The V6 versions were terrible too...
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oldsmobile_Diesel_engine
However, that boat of a car could get 30 MPG though...
Now if you find a diesel Chevette...
Legendary problems, but largely due to unintentional consumer abuse.
My brother had an Olds wagon with the diesel 5.7 Olds engine, ran perfectly through 200K. No issues. Ever. At the time, though, my Dad was on his second Peugeot diesel, a 505, so he made none of the owner mistakes that killed these things early.
It was totaled when he was rear-ended at a toll booth. High speed collision, the other driver didn't brake for the stopped cars.... The Olds saved him.
Quite the impressive capacity on the cooling system initial fill
23.8 quarts!
Don't let it get hot, don't beat on it, try to avoid towing with it, get a better heated fuel/water separator (although that's less of a problem now than when it was built, fuel quality is better now). If you plan on driving it in winter, be sure the plug-in engine heater heats, or invest in a magnetic oil pan heater (Wolverine is a good one)-an IDI can be fun to start in winter, esp. if it has a direct drive (non-gear reduction) starter.
If you baby it, it should last a while, but watch your coolant CLOSELY-any unexplained drop or weird color changes, be prepared for HG trouble.
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