DETROIT DIESEL
Fuel, Oil and Coolant Specifications
1. The sulfated ash (ASTM D-874) limit of the above
OIL CHANGES
lubricants shall not exceed 1.000% by weight, ex-
The oil change period is dependent on the operating
cept lubricants that contain only barium detergent-
conditions (e.g. load factor. etc.) of an engine that will
dispersant salts where 1.500% by weight is allowed.
vary with the numerous service applications. It is rec-
ommended that new engines be started with 150 hour
2. The zinc content. as zinc diorganodithiophosphate,
oil change periods. For highway vehicles this corre-
shall be a minimum of 0.07% by weight.
sponds to approximately 4.500 miles. and for "city"
service vehicles, approximately 2,500 miles. The drain
3. Sufficient evidence of satisfactory performance in
interval may then be gradually increased or decreased
Detroit Diesel engines has been provided to Detroit
with experience on a specific lubricant while also con-
Diesel Allison and/or the customer.
sidering the recommendations of the oil supplier
(analysis of the drained oil can be helpful here) until
the most practical oil drain period for the particular
LUBRICANTS NOT RECOMMENDED
service has been established.
The following lubricants are NOT recommended be-
Solvents should not be used as flushing oils in running
cause of a history of poor performance in Detroit
engines. Dilution of the fresh refill oil supply can occur,
Diesel engines:
which may be detrimental.
Full flow oil filtration systems have been used in
Detroit Diesel engines since they have been manufac-
tured. For the best results, the oil filter element should
be replaced each time the oil is changed.
NEW ENGINE OIL CLASSlFICATION SYSTEM
A relatively new engine oil classification system has
been introduced to industry that describes the criteria
required to meet each performance level. A simpli-
fied cross-reference of oil and current commercial and
military specifications is shown below.
CROSS-REFERENCE OF LUBE OIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
COLD WEATHER OPERATION
APIt
Cold weather starting will be facilitated when immer-
Code
sion type electrical coolant heaters can be used. Other
Letters
Comparable
Military
or
Commerical
Industry
spec.
practical considerations. such as the use of batteries.
CA
MlL-L-2104A
cables and connectors of adequate size, generators
CB
supplement 1
or alternators of ample capacity. proper setting of vol-
cc
MIL-L-2104B (see Note below)
CD
MIL-L-45199B (Series 3)
tage regulators, ether starting aids, oil and coolant
MIL-L-46152 (supersedes MIL-L-2104B for Military only)
+
heater systems, and proper fuel selection will accom-
MIL-L-2104C (supersedes MIL-L-45199B for Military only
plish starting with the use of SAE 30 or SAE 40 oils.
SA
none
SB
none
For complete cold weather starting information. con-
SC
1964 MS oils - Auto passenger car
sult an authorized Detroit Diesel Allison service out-
SD
1968 MS oils - Auto passenger car
SE
1972 MS oils - Auto passenger car
let. Ask for Engineering Bulletin No. 38 entitled,
Cold Weather Operation of Detroit Diesel Engines.
Oil performance meets or exceeds that of CC and SE oils.
Oil performance meets or exceeds that of CD and SC oils.
NOTE:
MIL-L-2104B lubricants are currently marketed and
readily avilable for commercial use. MIL-L-2104B lubricants
MIL-L-46167 ARCTIC LUBE OILS FOR
are obsolete for Military service applications only.
NORTH SLOPE & OTHER EXTREME SUB-ZERO
Consult the following publications for complete
OPERATIONS
descriptions:
The MIL-L-46167 specification was published by the
1. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Technical
Military on 15 February, 1974. Federal Test Method
Report J-183a.
354 of Federal Test Standard 791 is an integral test
2. Federal Test Method Standard 791a.
requirement of MIL-L-46167. Lubricants that have
PUBLICATION AVAILABLE SHOWING
passed the oil performance requirement limits of
COMMERCIAL "BRAND" NAME LUBRICANTS
Method 354 may be used where continuous sub-zero
temperatures prevail and where engines are shut down
A list of "brand" name lubricants distributed by the
for periods longer than eight (8) hours. The lubricants
majority of worldwide oil suppliers can be purchased
that have shown the best performance when subjected
from the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA).
to Method 354 evaluation may be described as multi-
The publication is titled, EMA Lubricating Oils Data
grades having a synthetic base stock and low volatil-
Book for Heavy-Duty Automotive and Industrial En-
ity characteristics. These lubricants are not comparable
gines. The publication shows the brand names. oil
to the performance of SAE 30 or 40 oils after the en-
performance levels, viscosity grades. and sulfated ash
gine has started and is operating at elevated engine
contents of most "brands" marketed.
temperature conditions. For this reason, MIL-L-46167
ENGINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
lubricants should be considered only as a last resort
Ill EAST WACKER DRIVE
when engine cranking is a severe problem and auxiliary
CHICAGO. ILLINOIS 60601
heating aids are not available.
Page 68
