what is approved oil for Detroit

[ttomas]

I see a fair amount of discussion on approved oil. Is rotella 30 weight approved by Detroit? It is the only 30 weight I can find. Does it really make a difference which Brand I use. Thanks again for your responses. Tomas

[Sean]

Two-stroke (e.g. 6-71, 8V92) or four-stroke (e.g. Series-60)?  The specs are very different for each.

And 30-weight is not the first choice for either.

This document:
http://www.detroitdiesel.com/Support/On-Highway/Manuals/Lubricants_Fuels_Coolants/OilFuelFilterBulletin_7SE270_010307.pdf

will tell you everything you need to know about the lube oil requirements for your Detroit.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[Dallas]

Tomas,

Unless you are running in cool weather, you will want to use API CF-2 rated 40 weight oil.

Not 10W40, 15W40, 20W50 or any other multi viscosity motor oil.

Do yourself a favor and download Detroit Diesels TSB 7SE270 from:

http://www.detroitdiesel.com/support/on-highway/manuals/Lubricants_Fuels_Coolants/index.asp

It will explain what oil you need to use and why you need to use it.

Then go to:

http://eolcs.api.org/FindBrandByServiceCategory.asp?ServiceCategory=CF-2

And look at all the different oils that meet the CF-2 rating. (Yes, I know there are some multi viscosity oils, but they are only for use in certain situations. See 7SE270 above.)

I'm not sure where you are located but you can put Shell, Chevron, Texaco or any other oil distributor in your google search along with your city and state and it will tell you where you can find the oil for your bus.

Good Luck!

Dallas

[dwbruner]

Tomas,

I read on another thread that you have a mci9 1983 model with a 6V92ta.  Therefore you need to follow the 2-stroke oil specs in the previously recommended downloads/documents.

I also have a 6V92TA in my Eagle, but having trouble finding the Delo 100 40W recommended by Detroit Diesel.  However, I was recently referred to Exxon XD-3 Monograde 40W which has the same ash % as the Delo 100.  I have not purchased any yet, but I know it is available in my local area.

You can also go to the following link and click on the DDC OIL link for another perspective on the 2-stroke oil question: http://www.tejascoach.com/index.html

Good luck,
Darrin

[Sean]

... having trouble finding the Delo 100 40W recommended by Detroit Diesel. 

Detroit does not recommend specific brands of oil.  They simply publish the spec, which is in the document that I linked above (which comes from the page that Dallas also linked.)

Also, be aware that CF-2 by itself is not sufficient.  You need to make sure the oil meets all the criteria, including sulfated ash content. Note that Delo 400, for example, meets CF-2 but not the ash requirement.

FWIW, Shell Rotella-T 40 weight meets the spec, and is available nationwide at NAPA auto parts (although, to get straight 40, I have found that sticking to their outlets marked "Auto and Truck Parts" helps -- the smaller stores seldom have single-weight in stock).  I have found the Rotella to be more commonly available than Delo 100.  XD-3 40-wt is even rarer, in my experience.  I've been paying about $9-$10 per gallon at NAPA for the Rotella.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[Busted Knuckle]

... having trouble finding the Delo 100 40W recommended by Detroit Diesel. 

XD-3 40-wt is even rarer, in my experience.  I've been paying about $9-$10 per gallon at NAPA for the Rotella.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

Sean how many cases would you like me to have on hand for you when y'all come to "Dallas 'N' Cat's TN FALL BUS BASH @ Knuckle's Place", or would ya rather I pick up a barrel for you? I can get them any day of the week except Sat & Sun. I get it from Midwest Distributors in Paducah, KY they'll deliver here for free if I take it on a day their truck comes through regularly, or they'll deliver any day for a fee, or usually I pick up a barrel & a few cases when I'm in Paducah on other business (KY tax is cheaper 6% vs 9.75% which adds up at $500.00 + at a time) such as a Sam's run. FWIW BK

[dwbruner]

Sean,

You are correct....DD does not recommend a specific brand of oil.  What I was trying to say was:

"....having trouble finding the Delo 100 40W that meets the spec recommended by Detroit Diesel."

Delo 100 40W is hard to find in my area, but I'm told the Exxon XD-3 40W is readily available here locally.

Thanks,
Darrin

[Sean]

Sean how many cases would you like me to have on hand for you when y'all come to "Dallas 'N' Cat's TN FALL BUS BASH @ Knuckle's Place", or would ya rather I pick up a barrel for you? I can get them any day of the week except Sat & Sun. I get it from Midwest Distributors in Paducah, KY they'll deliver here for free if I take it on a day their truck comes through regularly, or they'll deliver any day for a fee, or usually I pick up a barrel & a few cases when I'm in Paducah on other business (KY tax is cheaper 6% vs 9.75% which adds up at $500.00 + at a time) such as a Sam's run. FWIW BK

Sorry,  I should have qualified my statement:  Both of these products (Delo 100 and XD-3) are rare in retail stores.

I do know they are easy to buy by the barrel from distributors, but I don't have room for a barrel! 

Like most older two-bangers, my Detroit goes through a gallon or so every couple thousand miles.  I have a 3-gallon pneumatic oiler, and room for maybe another gallon or so here and there.  So, typically, the most oil I can buy and carry at once is perhaps four gallons.  So I stick to what I can find retail -- even on Saturday!

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[Busted Knuckle]

Like most older two-bangers, my Detroit goes through a gallon or so every couple thousand miles.  I have a 3-gallon pneumatic oiler, and room for maybe another gallon or so here and there.  So, typically, the most oil I can buy and carry at once is perhaps four gallons.  So I stick to what I can find retail -- even on Saturday!

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

OK but if ya change yer mind I'll probably have an extra case or 2 that you can aquire at the "TN FALL BUS BASH @ Knuckles" even on Sat or Sun. LOL!


Seriously if yer in the neighborhood stop on in! We'd all love to check out yer coach up close !  And well if ya ain't in the neighborhood, whats a few thosand miles among bus nuts? Just some fuel & oil! LOL! BK 

[Sean]

We'll certainly consider dropping by if the dates work for us and we don't get a call from the Red Cross.  It looks to me like you haven't nailed a date down yet.

We're tied up in California through most of July, then we will work our way east to be on standby during hurricane season.  We go back onto the on-call list with the Red Cross on August 1, and we can get called up basically any time after that -- so I can't really make any commitments.

That said, we are going to try to do the Escapade in Goshen, Indiana September 9-14, with possible Red Cross training afterwards up to the 19th.  We will likely try to be in the Nashville area either before or after the Escapade.  If your dates fit with that schedule, there is a good chance we can stop in.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[white-eagle]

just an update.  Called 3 different NAPA stores and the local tractor supply (TSC).  no one had 40 wt cf2 in stock.  a case could be ordered in at $10.68/gal for Rotella T.

Sean, we will also be at Goshen, so we'll see you there.  We may also be able to head on down to Dallas's TN Bus Bash afterward.

i'd also like to know more about Red Cross requirements.  i've offered before to assist.  We have our hi-speed Internet dish that can support about 10 users browsing and we've got a few extra computers we can bring.  During Katrina, couldn't find anyone to take us up on it.  send me offline if i can call you about it. 

[luvrbus]

guys,you can stop at any DD dealer like Williams or Stewart and Stevenson and buy the 2 stroke oil made by Mobil for the same price and sometimes cheaper than napa been doing this for years

[Jerry32]

I went to williams in spartenburg and they had detroit branded oil.   Jerry

[Sean]

Tom,

Regarding Red Cross, the only way to do it in your rig is to join the DOVES (www.DoveBOF.org).  By policy, we can't use your satellite connection or computers, but we've got plenty of those.  The gear usually arrives on site before we do.

Jerry and Luvrbus -- Sure, you can go to a Detroit dealer.  But my guide shows only about three dozen of them around the country.  There is never one within 50 miles when I need oil, but, then again, we tend to have a fairly weird travel pattern.  YMMV.

Incidentally, I have found that Allison dealers are virtually the only place to buy TranSynd in gallons.  When we had the tranny looked at by PEDCO, they sent me over to Valley Power to pick up ten gallons of it ($442 -- gulp) to refill.  I have heard rumors that sometimes Pep Boys carries it in quarts.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

I special order cases of Rotella T 40wt. from NAPA. Takes just a few hours to get there, usually. I often carry two full cases (12 total gallons) in the back bay, and a big 10gal. muck pan (from Ace Hardware). Even on the road then, I can usually change the oil in about 30min., pouring the old oil back in the gallon jugs for recycling. A few other "tools" make this easy: a plastic wide mouth 2qt. measuring cup and a large funnel. I need to get a lab test kit put in my "kit", as well. NAPA #1970 is the proper spin-on filter for my 8v71. A big 33gal. trash liner keeps the oil mess away from the rest of the tool bay.

There's several places near home that will recycle the oil, but I live in a fairly eco-friendly place. Up north, there's plenty of folks that would love to have your used oil for their burners and furnaces. It's best to change the oil after a long run, BTW.

HTH,
Brian B.