This is a [censored] and giggles kind of post. What oil is appropriate for an Olds diesel engine. I figure Rotella or Delo 15w40. Posibly even T6.
Oil For Olds Diesel
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JHZR2
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Any 15w40 would be fine.
Us that run pristine 70s/80s MB diesels often run 5w-40 syn on 30+ yo engines without issue.
Us that run pristine 70s/80s MB diesels often run 5w-40 syn on 30+ yo engines without issue.
That is good to know, as I'd probably use T6. Been wanting to mess around with one of these old diesels.
Was the Olds diesel a gas engine block remade into a diesel that always had problems?
Originally Posted By: Donald
Was the Olds diesel a gas engine block remade into a diesel that always had problems?
basically. They did upgrade the block. Imo the biggest problems were the lack of a fuel filter that removed water from the fuel. This destroyed the injection pump and injectors. Then throw in some bad glow plugs which leads to the owner using starting fluid on every start. Plus diesel oils were not very common at the auto parts stores so people just ran gasser oils. Any 15w40 would be fine in one and napa sells a filter and head to remove water.
Was the Olds diesel a gas engine block remade into a diesel that always had problems?
basically. They did upgrade the block. Imo the biggest problems were the lack of a fuel filter that removed water from the fuel. This destroyed the injection pump and injectors. Then throw in some bad glow plugs which leads to the owner using starting fluid on every start. Plus diesel oils were not very common at the auto parts stores so people just ran gasser oils. Any 15w40 would be fine in one and napa sells a filter and head to remove water.
There was a water separator in the tank and for the most part it worked(at least on my '81)... Had to pull the tank and clean the screen as sludge was blocking it and would not pick up fuel is below 1/4 tank... Injection pumps usually had issues due to governor ring breakage which severely retarded timing(yep had that problem)...
Biggest problem was head bolts breakage, was common for bolts to snap causing head gasket to blow and dump the coolant(yep had this problem as well but I caught it in time to save the gasket, was OK with new bolt)... The early ones with the "D" block would sometimes blow the main webs out of the block(mine had the "improved" DX block)... Busted wrist pin bosses in the pistons was another issue(that was the fatal blow for mine but I'd already sold it)...
Biggest problem was head bolts breakage, was common for bolts to snap causing head gasket to blow and dump the coolant(yep had this problem as well but I caught it in time to save the gasket, was OK with new bolt)... The early ones with the "D" block would sometimes blow the main webs out of the block(mine had the "improved" DX block)... Busted wrist pin bosses in the pistons was another issue(that was the fatal blow for mine but I'd already sold it)...
I have a dx that's being put in the s10. I have just start project.
i understand gm suggested sae30 preferred in summer,
15w-40 upto such a temp
then 10w30 in winter
I used some traveller sae30 i had.
ken
i understand gm suggested sae30 preferred in summer,
15w-40 upto such a temp
then 10w30 in winter
I used some traveller sae30 i had.
ken
Is this thread in the correct forum ?
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Originally Posted By: Donald
Was the Olds diesel a gas engine block remade into a diesel that always had problems?
No, it wasn't, although it was made with the same tooling so obviously it looks similar. Enthusiasts can build a gas engine from a diesel, but not vice-versa.
Was the Olds diesel a gas engine block remade into a diesel that always had problems?
No, it wasn't, although it was made with the same tooling so obviously it looks similar. Enthusiasts can build a gas engine from a diesel, but not vice-versa.
Zaedock is correct. the diesel shared tooling with gas 350 but that's it. The block contain high amounts of nickel making it stronger.
my engine has new ARP head bolts, all new gaskets/seals, fuel filters, and many more things. it will be powering the old s10.
Ken
my engine has new ARP head bolts, all new gaskets/seals, fuel filters, and many more things. it will be powering the old s10.
Ken
That sounds like a cool project. Are you by chance starting with a diesel s10?
With good head bolts, if you warm it up a little before putting a load on it you'll probably not have issues, I used to warm mine till it came off high idle even in 80* weather... No warming probably won't help the governor ring in the injection pump, but I'd bet it'd go a long way to extend the life of pistons...
I cautioned the neighbor that bought it to warm it up before driving, especially in cold weather but I'd hear it light off and go rap-rap-rap down the street with smoke billowing out the back... Couple months later it was dead...
I cautioned the neighbor that bought it to warm it up before driving, especially in cold weather but I'd hear it light off and go rap-rap-rap down the street with smoke billowing out the back... Couple months later it was dead...
I have always heard that if you hot rod the diesels of that age they were junk but if you took it easy with them they would last forever.
Originally Posted By: jhellwig
I have always heard that if you hot rod the diesels of that age they were junk but if you took it easy with them they would last forever.
In the case of the Olds deisels that isn't true, if they ran over 80-100K mi without breaking something you were lucky indeed...
Just my opinion but my belief is they weren't suited for short cycle operation, so when Joe Sixpack rattled up to the local watering hole or 7-11 for some refreshment, constant clatter caused fatigue in the metals... If they were run for hours at a time like the over the road trucks, I'd suspect they would have a better record...
BTW these things were so bad CBS aired a 60 Minutes report, there is a good reason they are rare today...
I have always heard that if you hot rod the diesels of that age they were junk but if you took it easy with them they would last forever.
In the case of the Olds deisels that isn't true, if they ran over 80-100K mi without breaking something you were lucky indeed...
Just my opinion but my belief is they weren't suited for short cycle operation, so when Joe Sixpack rattled up to the local watering hole or 7-11 for some refreshment, constant clatter caused fatigue in the metals... If they were run for hours at a time like the over the road trucks, I'd suspect they would have a better record...
BTW these things were so bad CBS aired a 60 Minutes report, there is a good reason they are rare today...
I always thought that GM should have copied Mercedes in making a passenger car diesel.
The four cylinder Benz diesel was s-l-o-w but would live forever.
I write this having had two 123 240Ds.
You want more power?
Add a cylinder.
Still not enough?
Turbocharge it.
The five cylinder would also live forever even with the turbo, while the turbo five had power comparable to what GM got out of its V-8.
Of course it was still slow, just not as much.
The four cylinder Benz diesel was s-l-o-w but would live forever.
I write this having had two 123 240Ds.
You want more power?
Add a cylinder.
Still not enough?
Turbocharge it.
The five cylinder would also live forever even with the turbo, while the turbo five had power comparable to what GM got out of its V-8.
Of course it was still slow, just not as much.
What is interesting to me is that Nissan made an engine called the LD28, which is close to the L-series gasoline engine. Did they work well? Also, they created an engine called the RD28 which is similar to the RB-series gasoline engine. How did that work?
Sometimes I wonder if it was possible to build a good Olds diesel, and that maybe the reason this engine was bad was due to hasty execution.
Sometimes I wonder if it was possible to build a good Olds diesel, and that maybe the reason this engine was bad was due to hasty execution.
I remember my Dad having a 1984 Cadillac Seville with the Olds 5.7 Diesel. Contrary to what many experienced, that car ran great the whole time he had it. I still remember that he used Castrol HD30 in the summers and 15W/40 in the winter. That car was sold still in immaculate condition somewhere around 1992 with 120,000 trouble free miles to the neighbor. I was so sad as the new owner completely trashed it within a year.
yup.... those and the ht-4100 put my kids through college...really!
Originally Posted By: artificialist
What is interesting to me is that Nissan made an engine called the LD28, which is close to the L-series gasoline engine. Did they work well? Also, they created an engine called the RD28 which is similar to the RB-series gasoline engine. How did that work?
Sometimes I wonder if it was possible to build a good Olds diesel, and that maybe the reason this engine was bad was due to hasty execution.
When I had my E30 I was pretty interested in the BMW M21 diesel that was available in Europe (Constanty Kulka, the Polish violinist drove an 80s 5 series diesel FWIW)...
What is interesting to me is that Nissan made an engine called the LD28, which is close to the L-series gasoline engine. Did they work well? Also, they created an engine called the RD28 which is similar to the RB-series gasoline engine. How did that work?
Sometimes I wonder if it was possible to build a good Olds diesel, and that maybe the reason this engine was bad was due to hasty execution.
When I had my E30 I was pretty interested in the BMW M21 diesel that was available in Europe (Constanty Kulka, the Polish violinist drove an 80s 5 series diesel FWIW)...
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