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Cat T45B Fork lift runs on propane fuel, recommended oil is 10w40. Only runs 2 or 3 minutes at a time. Would a straight 40w Synthetic or 10w40 work best? The moisture in the crankcase is a problem.
Fork lift that never reaches operating temp oil recommendations
- Thread starter cabocaptain
- Start date
id use whatever 10w40 is cheap. no benefit to synthetic or 40w in that application
my own forklift i (1949 towmotor) use 15w40 and change 3 or 4 times a year , same kind of useage
i should add that a extended run once every few months would help things along. i try to leave mine on high idle for at least 20 to 30 mins every so often
my own forklift i (1949 towmotor) use 15w40 and change 3 or 4 times a year , same kind of useage
i should add that a extended run once every few months would help things along. i try to leave mine on high idle for at least 20 to 30 mins every so often
I run Supertech 20w50 in mine because but more so to quiet it a little when i'm revving it to get the cylingers going up fast when heavily loaded so i'm not just sitting there waiting. I stopped worrying about frequently running it long enough to get it up to temp and change it every year and the inside is fine. No hour meter but it probably runs only 3-4 hours in total a year. I keep the used oil as top off for the puffing brush hog.
BrendanC
$100 site donor 2024
i run Mobil 1 0w-40 in our fork lift changed every 6 months with a carquest premium filter. like the cold flow characteristics of a 0w in something that goes from cold start to wide open often. Mobil 1 0w-40 is very good oil for something that has no emissions system.
We used to have an old propane Hyster at a previous job. I don’t think we ever changed the oil in it, just topped it off with Wolf’s Head 10w-40 conventional. That’s what we had on hand. It would see extended runs sometimes but did lots of short runs too.
The winter rating won’t affect it at all.
I've taken on the maintenance for our Cat GP30K with a 4G64 at work. I've started using Delvac 1300 10w30 but 10w30 is a listed grade for ours.
I'm with you on the moisture in the crankcase. Not sure how to address this other than change the oil a bunch. It's an easy change at least.
I check oil and coolant weekly and plug it into a battery tender over the weekend.
Any thoughts on the moisture?
I'm with you on the moisture in the crankcase. Not sure how to address this other than change the oil a bunch. It's an easy change at least.
I check oil and coolant weekly and plug it into a battery tender over the weekend.
Any thoughts on the moisture?
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I have thought about a block heater that I could plug in overnight to keep the moisture down. Most aftermarket ones go in a freeze plug on the block. Has anyone tried that? Would it work?
So you noted that moisture was a problem, how do you know this? What are you seeing?
I’m seeing gook on the dipstick.
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Oil is thick like chocolate milkshake
I haven't tried, but a freeze plug block heater won't get the oil up to temp. Maybe an oil pan heater, if anything.
Would change that ASAP and monitor closely.
Sounds like a good usage case for an electric forklift.
DELO has a natural-gas rated oil that would be perfect.
Get the DELO 600 ADF in 10w-30, since the oil never gets that hot you'll be fine running the lower viscosity.
Because it's a very low-ash oil, it's particularly good in Propane and CNG engine.
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