CAT 3116 oil usage

[Ken2]

I'd run a modern 15w40 or straight 40. I'd only use the 30 in cold weather conditions. I'm not familiar with your crankcase vent system, and don't know if the 15w40 vapors through the turbo would cause a problem. I think I'd try to contact a tech rep at the Cat factory about the 15w40. A CI-4 15w40 is a better oil than a CF 40 wt., and I'd use the better oil except in special cases like a Detroit two-stroke engine (which must only use a CF-2 oil).


Ken

 

[Craig]

Cat does market a SAEO oil just for the 3116 and 3126 engines.
Straight wt 30 and 40 wt oils. Dino I assume and I don't know
who really makes it for them.

I boat in the Great Lakes, almost never when under 40 degrees so
I guess I would opt for the 40 wt if I go with this oil rather than
Amsoil 30 wt.
Craig

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Craig - as I commented earlier I believe in using the Manufacturer's recommended and officially Approved and Listed lubricants - regardless of the brand

I agree with Ken2 comments too - see my earlier post and I think it is wise to opt for the "CAT" SAE40 oil if this is what they recommend. I have never seen heavy diesel engines peform well with low HTHS viscosities or SAE30 oils unless the prevailing (low) ambient calls for it

In the high mountains (two-three meters of snow) of NZ we always only used 15w40 lubricants in earthmoving equipment

Doug

 

[Craig]

Finally received my oil analysis from Oil Analyzers regarding
the CAT 3116.
This is Amsoil Heavy Duty synthetic 30wt diesel engine oil ACD.
Hours on oil 80
Hours on engine 685
Oil capacity 30 qts with Amsoil bypass filtration (2 BE 110's)

Fe 12
Cr 0
Pb 2
Cu 3
Sn 1
Al 9
Ni 0
Ag 0
Mn 0
Si 1
B 0
Na 1
Mg 0
Ca 3746
Ba 0
P 1252
Zn 1324
Moly 0
Ti 0
V 0
Cd 0
Glycol Negative
% Water % fuel Viscosity@100 C 11.1
Soot % oxd 21.1
% nox 14.3
TBN 11.2
They say oil is fine for continued use. IMHO this looks great
to me. Your input is appreciated.

They sent me a separate letter with a data sheet from
Walker Air Sep on possible problems relating to oil
usage. Very good possibility that this is the reason
for my usage.

I am very impressed with Amsoil's effort to help me out.
The analysis was free as was the advice.
Craig
Athena
'00 Mainship 390 trawler

 

[Craig]

Hey guys any input here? I thought the UOA looks good
but need your expert advice.
Craig

 

[1040 WreckerMan]

Well, I'm certainly no expert but the UOA looks fine to me. Was the oil usage changed at all? I allow more room for acceptable oil usage in marine engines since they are always working hard, unlike most land applications. I ran a 84 footer with two twin turbo 8v71 Detroits that were run very hard. Hard to compare these two engines since those 8v71s were 2 strokes and if there was no oil on them or under them, there was no oil in them. I usually had to add 1.25 gallons to each engine on an average day. These were typically run at full load/rpm (2350) for 12+ hours at a time.

Back on the subject, I think you could run that oil to 125hrs with no problem. As for breather fumes, they are really not a problem unless you have an intercooler. I don't think a quart in 20 hrs is excessive and wouldn't worry (even if yours is intercooler) unless it increases. But that's just my .02 worth,

Patrick

 

[Rickey]

Everybody's stuffed by now Craig, so here's my 2 cents worth. I am far from an expert on this for sure,so please take my analysis as such. Wear metals look very low, lots of calcium,phosphorus and zinc left for anti-wear and detergent-dispersant purposes. TBN could have come from a new container of oil. If you can lower the consumption with viscosity adjustments or changes to the vapor seperator device that would be icing on the cake. For what it's worth my dad used to say that if a little oil was used at least you could know that things were being lubricated. Good luck and have fun with your boat. Rickey.

 

[Craig]

Thanks guys, the engine does have an intercooler by the way.
I'll just keep extra oil on board.
Craig

 

[1040 WreckerMan]

With the oil consumption you are seeing, I would not worry about it. However, the crankcase pressures in modern diesels are quite a bit hihger than in older mechanical diesels. Even in my over the road trucks I've converted the engine breathers into road draft tubes. If you have an easy way to vent the fumes to the outside, or maybe to the bilge water, you might consider that. The less oil vapor that goes through an intercooler the better, IMO.
Patrick