Oil Viscosity, Powerstroke 6.0

[Fleetman]

New guy here.

I am reviewing used oil analysis on multiple 6.0's. Most are flagged for low viscosity, ranging from a high of 12.15 to a low of 10.86 (all at 100'C).

There are claims of fuel injectors failing prematurely on these units and I'm beginning to wonder if the viscosity is low enough to cause the injectors to "stumble" which may or may not ruin them over time??

These engines, due to the service they perform, are required to idle up to 50%. The fuel supplied is good. The oil used is Exxon XD-3, 15w40 and engine oil and all filters, including fuel, changed at 3k miles.

One other thing I wanted to mention, several samples show excessive sodium (approx 70 PPM) and the lab has flagged this as possibly a PCMO but invoices prove differently.

Sorry for the long first-time post and thanks for your time!

 

[Fleetman]

sorry folks.....2005 E-450, paratransit body, 6.0 Powerstroke.

 

[salesrep]

These engines have been notoriously hard on oil. I would test a couple of units with a premium oil and see what happens. Heck I'd switch em all.

What are your intervals? Conditions? etc.?

 

[Fleetman]

I would like to switch them all to a premium oil but that part is out of my control.

Specialized transport-type transit service....all stop and go with extreme engine idling time (50%) involved.

Oil and all filters changed at 3k. Sub-tropical climate during the summer months.

I see the oil has sheared considerably on most used oil analysis (1,973 samples, 40% are flagged for low viscosity).

 

[salesrep]

If you cannot switch oil, than you are obviously limited.
Make sure your fuel is lubricious enough. Think about adding a visc. improver to the oil.

 

[salesrep]

If its is bulk oil, you may be getting some pcmo. Better check.

 

[Mechan1c]

I feel your pain. Leaking injectors are wiping out even the best oils.

I have a fairly large fleet of school buses and 18 of my 2007 International's with '06 emission DT466's are leaking fuel into the oil as well. I'm running Delvac1 after the factory fill Rotella 15W40. These buses have between 16-25K on the engines. Between 6-11K on the Delvac1, the oil is rising on the stick, and 10 samples show fuel dilution is from 1-9% and V100 is 11.12-7.17 repectively. The over the phone response has been that up to 10% fuel dilution is "Normal." I've seen a lot of oil analysis in the last 23 years here, and 2% is the most I've seen, and never on anything this new. When we did have positive fuel and 2% dilution, a repair was needed and solved the problem.

I did a dye test on 1 bus and found fuel streams at each injector. Again, Navistar's people are telling me and the dealer that under 10% is ok and, that any dye test is going to show some leakage and that that's normal too!!

Another note: TBN, metals, and soot are all well within normal, but the thiness of the oil is disturbing.

 

[bmwtechguy]

In the situation above, I would want the added protection of Schaeffers additive package in their series 7000 15w40, at least until the fuel dilution problemn can be figured out. Wow, that's a lot of fuel dilution.

 

[RWEST]

Quote:
under 10% is ok and, that any dye test is going to show some leakage and that that's normal too!!