CAT 3126, Schaeffer 7k 15W-40 CJ-4, 295 hrs, 4 yrs

[REDDOG]

Here's another for you, Jim Allen and Dnewton3!

Caterpillar 3126, fire engine service

First run on Schaeffer's Supreme 7000 15W-40 CJ-4

1210 hrs on unit, 295 hrs and 4 years on oil.

Napa Gold oil filter

NO make up oil.

Analysis by Polaris Labs

(295 hrs)
Current 165 hrs 104 hrs New oil

Fe. 28 13 7 1
Cr. 1 0 0 0
Ni. 0 0 0 0
Al. 1 0 1 0
Cu 3 1 1 0
Pb 1 0 0 0
Sn 0 0 0 0
Cd 0 0 0 0
Ag 0 0 0 0
V 0 0 0 0
Si 8 5 8 16
Na 8 6 5 9
K 1 0 0 0
Ti. 0 0 0 0
Mo 306 331 272 360
Sb 293 285 258 350
Mn. 0 0 0 0
Li 3 0 0 0
B 3 4 4 1
Mg 735 792 642 862
Ca 1282 1393 1181 1349
Ba 0 0 0 1
P 1095 1043 895 1223
Z 1196 1241 1069 1417
Fuel All Soot 0.8% 0.4%. 0.4%
Water All Visc. @ 100C
14.0 14.1 14.2 15.6
TAN 3.15 2.89 2.65 3.00
TBN 5.35 6.35 8.63 9.39
OX. 9 8 9 8
NIT. 7 11 11 10
Current 165hrs 104 hrs New oil

I changed the oil and filter this time.

Thanks,

REDDOG

 

[Texan4Life]

great report!

 

[dnewton3]

Outstanding report!

After 4 years, and to look that good is very encouraging. Not only are the wear rates and magnitudes low, but the contamination and vis and TBN/TAN all look excellent.

I understand you OCId; shame, as it could have gone further. Not that you did badly, because you didn't. But as odd as it seems, you had life left in the sump!

I'm sure someone will chime in about the concern for "sludge", but when you look at the soot and ox and vis, I just can't see a major concern here in that regard.

Makes one wonder just where the practical limit is in this situation? Several hundred hours would easily be attainable if the mechanical conditions continue so as to not allow contamination in (fuel, dirt, coolant).

Data like this simply blows away the whole "... or one year ..." OCI mantra. Oil and filters have no idea how old they are in service. Is there a practical limit? Sure there is! But it's clear by these measurables you're no where in sight of them.

You are stretching out for the best ROI; that's great. Ironically, you haven't seemed to have reached the limit yet, so keep on extending! There is even more return for you out there.

Excellent showing for both the lube and the engine; to paraphrase Blackstone ... Try 400 hours or 5 years next time!



**********

Upon edit - I would like to know how many gallons the sump holds? Curious as to how well it's paying off to UOA every year as opposed to OCI, espcially with Polaris being very reasonable in the UOA cost. Your department must be saving big money over the annual OCI plan.

 

[REDDOG]

Dnewton3,

Thanks for the comments.

The sump is 7.5 gallons, so over 4 or 5 years the savings are quite significant.

REDDOG

 

[Donald]

Looks good. How did you get Polaris to give both TAN & TBN?

 

[salesrep]

Thanks for sharing Reddog. Outstanding report!

 

[REDDOG]

Donald,

I request the TAN in addition to the normal TBN. It costs a little extra but gives a better picture of the oil's condition.

Salesrep,

Yes, very happy with the performance of the oil in all our units!

 

[GBL]

Out of curiosity:

1. How old is the fire engine?
2. How many miles are on it?

I'm guessing the miles are few....

Also, does Caterpillar have a recommended limit on the TBN like Cummins does? (2.5 or half the new oil value)

 

[REDDOG]

GBL,

1. The engine is 10 years old.

2. You are correct, the engine has relatively few miles-18,900 at time of sample. You can see why we go by hrs!

3. The only CAT limit for TBN I have found is 1.

 

[GBL]

If you pushed the OCI a little it appears you'd be changing the oil and tires at about the same time......

 

[Jim Allen]

Missed this when it first appeared. Outstanding in all respects. Thanks for posting it, Reddog.