Another Oil Question!!!

[NeoplanAN440]

Has anybody used or heard of

Smitty's oil Supply
Fleetgard HD 40W

the bucket says it meets the CF2 and also even shows that its approved for 71,92 detroits!!

i always used Delo 100 or Rotella T,but they are harder to get.

[luvrbus]

Fleet Guard is Valvoline oil good stuff   


good luck

[wal1809]

I read an article written by the fella that owns Tejas Coachworks out of Mineral Wells, Texas.  He reccomended the Delo 100 because of the ash content.  On the web sight were pictures of a cut away of cylinder walls.  The Delo 100 looked clean the other brand oil cylinder looked burnt and not good at all.  I had trouble finding the Delo 100 and had to drive to the east side of Houston to get it.  The supplier had a pallet way up on the top shelf covered in dust.  They said they did not sell a lot of it.  I bought what they had, 2 cases of gallons and 2 cases of quarts.  My question:  Is there an alternative that will fit the bill here.  I suspect unless I get another oil source I will not be able to find the Delo 100 before long.

[JackConrad]

We use Rotella T 40W. We buy iy from the local are Shell distributor.  That article from Tejas Coach is several years old, and oil formulas have probably changed since it was written.  Stay with a 40W (not multi-weight) oil with a low ash content.  Jack

[wal1809]

We use Rotella T 40W. We buy iy from the local are Shell distributor.  That article from Tejas Coach is several years old, and oil formulas have probably changed since it was written.  Stay with a 40W (not multi-weight) oil with a low ash content.  Jack

Would you know off hand how low the content of the ash is in Rotella?  I would like this oil thing to be a little easier than what I am facing now.  That distributor is in a really bad part of town as well.  They have a security gate that is like getting in and out of Fort Knox.  It took 20 minutes to get in the place and 20 minutes to get out.

[bigjohnkub]

 I used Smitty's oil on a recent 1500 mile trip. I used 6 gallons of oil where on same trip last year used 2. The  rear of my bus was covered with oil. all of the Eagles behind me will not rust anymore. I drained this oil out and changed back to Rotella 40 wt. I will not use this oil in my Detroit. I have 5 gal in a sealed container that i will give you if you come by.
  Big john

[NeoplanAN440]

im asking,because i cant find any specs on this oil
it doesnt show the ash content on this one,but marks that its approved for the two strokes.

rotella is near the 1.0 mark on ash
and delo 100 is at 0.8 if i still have it right!!

i saw somebody writing that the new oils all have to have a low ash content to meet cf2 or cf4

and yes the tejas coach test is from some time ago,how would the test look today???

also i had to use delo 400 for some time,and i did not see a higher oil use as he wrote on his site.
but that maybe depends on the engine condition.

[NeoplanAN440]

I used Smitty's oil on a recent 1500 mile trip. I used 6 gallons of oil where on same trip last year used 2. The  rear of my bus was covered with oil. all of the Eagles behind me will not rust anymore. I drained this oil out and changed back to Rotella 40 wt. I will not use this oil in my Detroit. I have 5 gal in a sealed container that i will give you if you come by.
  Big john

sorry to ask,
but if you use 6 gallons on 1500 miles you have a bigger problem then just the wrong oil!!!
i use 1 quart on 1000 miles,and i think up to a gallon sounds ok.but 6 gallons???

[Barn Owl]

Stay with a 40W (not multi-weight) oil with a low ash content.

What Jack said is all you need to know about oil for two-strokes now.

You can try to chase down Delo 100 from the ends of the earth, but it would only serve to make you feel better, not that it would be any better than the many choices that are available now. I have an Exxon dealer here in town and I use their XD3 oil. Great price and easy to get. Use the Fleetguard if that is whats available to you.


Big John,

1500 miles and you blew out six gallons? No matter what oil you where using something must be wrong. Have you re-taken the trip with the Shell oil? There are formulation differences between brands, but they have to meet the standards.

[Barn Owl]

i use 1 quart on 1000 miles

My Wheezy bus uses 1 quart, and drops 3 per 1000 miles.

[TomC]

Standard oil usage on a 8V should be around 1 gallon every 2,200 miles.  Oil consumption of more then 1 gallon of oil in 1,000 miles needs to be looked at as to why it is burning so much.  I think you'd be concerned if your car was burning 1 quart of oil every 250 miles!  Good Luck, TomC

[NeoplanAN440]

I guess i will try it on my next trip to CA!!

i have to say that i change my oil more often then most of you,because i run wvo.
after a long trip,when i know the bus is standing for more then two weeks,i will do an oil change to get
what ever went down the rings out of my crankcase!!

[buswarrior]

The new oils are formulated for CJ, the newest standard for the emissions equipment.

Their compatibility, or the coincidence that they are low in ash, was not considered when developing the new CJ oils, and has nothing to do with our old 2 stroke engines.

As far as whether they are suitable, nobody has done any 2 stroke testing as far as the collective busnut knowledge base is aware, and likely never will be done. Who has the vested interest to pay the thousands of dollars?

The CF rating we cling to is about to be simply abandoned by the API, it is out of date and they don't care any more. Much like an old time "chauffeur's license" it will simply not exist as a designation, as the world has advanced beyond. There will be suitable oil, but what it gets called remains to be seen.

In comparing products, the earlier posts highlight the importance that you have the correct data sheet for the correct vintage of oil. There have been extensive changes in oils over the last 15 years or so, yesterday's data sheet is useless for today's decisions.

The safe route would be to consider most of what is on the internet out of date, save for the manufacturer's sites, and then, unless you can find a publishing date on it, still be suspicious.

Now, fear not, the oil companies will no doubt make some product that is suitable, for as long as there is a sufficient demand for it to pay, which should be a while yet. There are lots and lots of 2 stroke detroits happily running in construction and marine for a long time to come yet.

Moving forward from now, the trick will be to know which brands and to have a supplier willing to stock or order it for you. With no standard, each manufacturer will no doubt call it something to suit themselves.

These boards will continue to be a great source of correct info, as it becomes available.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[bigjohnkub]

Neo and Barn owl,
Not to whip a dead horse, but the same trip last year only used 2 gallon of Rotella T 40 wt. My bus leaks some, and I have the slobber catch on the tubes. The slobber catch can had about 1 qt. in it and I must presume that the rest went out the exhaust.
  I only posted because I tried that specific oil, and had a drastic change in consumption. I am leaving on a trip Friday and will recheck the usage with the shell oil. I would not use the Smitty's oil.

[gus]

My 671 uses about a quart in 400 mi and throws another three quarts for corrosion prevention.

I'm not too proud to keep adding oil when I think about the cost of replacing two crank seals!