DETROIT DIESEL 53
13.3 Fuel, Oil and Coolant Specifications
DETROIT DIESEL LUBRICATING OIL SPECIFICATIONS
OIL QUALITY
COLD WEATHER OPERATION
OIL QUALITY is the responsiblity of the oil supplier. The term oil supplier
Cold weather starting will be facilitated when immersion type electrical coolant
is applicable to refiners, blenders, and rebranders of petroleum products, and
heaters can be used. Other practical considerations, such as the use of bat-
does not include distributors of such products.
teries, cables and connectors of adequate size, generators or alternators of
ample capacity, proper setting of voltage regulators, ether starting aids, oil and
There are hundreds of commercial crankcase oils marketed today. Obviously,
coolant heater systems, and proper fuel selection will accomplish starting with
engine manufactures or users cannot completely evaluate the numerous
the use of SAE 30 or SAE 40 oils. For complete cold weather starting informa-
commercial oils. The selection of a suitable lubricant in consultation with a
tion, consult an authorized Detroit Diesel service outlet. Ask for Engineering
reliable oil supplier, observance of his oil drain recommendations based on
used oil sample analysis and experience and proper filter maintenance, will
bulletin No. 38 entitled: "Cold Weather Operation"
provide the best assurance of satisfactory oil performance.
NORTH SLOPE & OTHER EXTREME SUB-ZERO
Detroit Diesel lubricant recommendations are based on general experience
OPERATIONS
with current lubricants of various types and give consideration to the commer-
cial lubricants presently available.
Some new special arctic lubricants have recently been developed for Military
RECOMMENDATION
use in extremely cold eliminates. The oils that have shown best cold temperature
performance may be described as multigrades having a synthetic base stock
Detroit Diesel engines have given optimum performance and experienced the
and low volatility characteristics. At this time a new Military arctic oil specifi-
longest service life with the following oil performance levels having the ash
cation is being developed. The good oil performers have passed the oil per-
and zinc limits shown:
formance criteria defined in (tentative) Federal Test Method 354 of Federal
Test Standard 791. The lubricants may be used where continuous sub-zero
New API
Former Military and
temperatures prevail and where engines are shut down for periods longer than
Commercial Lube
Letter Code
eight (8) hours. These are not comparable to the performance of SAE 30 or 40
SAE Grade †
Identification
Service Classification
oils at operating conditions and should be considered only as a last resort when
CC
SC
30 or 40
MIL-L-2104B 1964 MS
engine cranking is a severe problem and auxiliary heating aids are not available.
30 or 40
Supplemental
CB
OIL CHANGES
† SAR 30 and 40 grades have both performed satisfactorily in Detroit Diesel
engines. Obviously, the expected ambient temperatures and engines crank-
The oil change period is dependent on the operating conditions (e.g. load
ing capability must be considered by the engine owner/operator when select-
factor, etc.) of an engine that will vary with the numerous service applications.
ing the proper grade of oil.
It is recommended that new engines be started with 150 hour oil change
ASH LIMIT
periods. For highway vehicles this corresponds to approximately 4,500 miles,
The sulfated ash limit (A.S.T.M. D-874) of the above lubricants shall not ex-
and for "city" service vehicles, approximately 2,500 miles. The drain interval
may then be gradually increased, or decreased with experience on a specific
dispersant salts where 1.500% by weight is allowed. The majority of lubricants
lubricant while also considering the recommendations of the oil supplier
marked under the performance levels shown above have a sulfated ash con-
(analysis of the drained oil can be helpful here) until the most practical oil
tent between 0.55 to 0.85oo by weight.
drain period for the particular service has been established.
ZINC CONTENT
Solvents should not be used as flushing oils in running engines. Dilution of
The zinc content, as zinc diorganodithiophosphate, shall be a minimum of
the fresh refill oil supply can occur, which may be detrimental.
0.07oo by weight.
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE USE OF CURRENT OIL
Full flow oil filtration systems have been used in Detroit Diesel engines since
they have been manufactured. For the best results, the oil filter element should
PERFORMANCE LEVEL PRODUCTS MEETING PRESENT
be replaced each time the oil is changed.
MILITARY LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
NEW ENGINE OIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
be identified as follows:
A relatively new engine oil classification system has been introduced to
Comment on
Military or
API Letter
industry that describes that criteria required to meet each performance level.
Commercial
Appplication
Code Service
A simplified cross-reference of oil and current commercial and military speci-
Identification
Classification
and Performance
fication is shown below.
Supersedes MIL-L-45199B
CD/SC
MIL-L-2104C
(Series 3) intended for
CROSS-REFERENCE OF LUBE OIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
diesel service.
API
CC/SE
Supersedes MIL-L-2104B
MIL-L-46152
Code
Comparable Military or Commercial Industry Spec.
intended for gasoline
Letters
engine passenger cars.
MIL-L-2104A
CA
Meets the performance
Universal
Numerous
Supplement 1
CB
criteria of all industry
MIL-L-2104B (see Note 1 below)
CC
accepted tests and all
MIL-L-45199B (Series 3)
CD
current military specifications
MIL-L-46152 (supersedes MIL-L-2104B for Military only)
including MIL-L-2104C and
MIL-L-2104C (supersedes MIL-L-45199B for Military only)
MIL-L-46152.
none
SA
none
Detroit Diesel does not have sufficient experience with any of the above de-
SB
1964 MS oils - Auto passenger car
scribed lubricants to recommend their use. Some oil suppliers have reported
SC
1968 MS oils - Auto passenger car
satisfactory performance of the above identified products marketed by them.
SD
1972 MS oils - Auto passenger car
If an owner operator intends to use any of the above described products, it
SE
is recommended he obtain evidence form the oil supplier that the lubricant has
NOTE 1: MIL-L-2104B Lubricants are currently marketed and readily avail-
performed satisfactorily in Detroit Diesel engines. The above products may be
able for Commercial use. MIL-L-2104B oils are obsolete for Military
satisfactory for use in Detroit Diesel engines under the following conditions:
service applications only.
1. The sulfated ash (A.S.T.M. D-874) limit of the above lubricants shall not
Oil performance meets or exceeds that of CC and SE oils.
detergent-dispersant salts where 1.500oo by weight is allowed.
Oil performance meets or exceeds that of CD and SC oils.
2. The ozinc content, as zinc diorganodithiophosphate, shall be a minimum of
0.07 o by weight.
For complete descriptions, consult the following publications:
3. Sufficient evidence of satisfactory performance in Detroit Diesel engines
1. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Technical Report J-183a.
has been provided to Detroit Diesel and/or the customer.
2. Federal Test Method Standard 791a.
LUBRICANTS NOT RECOMMENDED
PUBLICATION AVAILABLE
SHOWING COMMERCIAL "BRAND" NAME LUBRICANTS
The following lubricants are NOT recommended because of a history of poor
performance in Detroit Diesel engines:
A list of "brand" name lubricants distributed by the majority of worldwide oil
suppliers be purchased from the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA).
Military or
API Letter
Comment
The publication is titled, "EMA Lubricating Oils Data BOOK for Heavy Duty
Commercial
on
Code Service
Automotive and Industrial Engines." The publication shows the brand names,
Identification
Classification
Performance
oil performance levels., viscosity grades, and sulfated ash contents of most
Excessive ash
"brands" marketed.
MIL-L-2104B/1968 MS
CC/SD
deposits formed
ENGINE MANUFACTURES ASSOCIATION
Excessive ash
MIL-L-45199B
CD
111 EAST WACKER DRIVE
(Series 3)
deposits formed
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601
History of poor
Numerous
Multigrade oils
performance
most heavy duty
diesel engines
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