DETROIT DIESEL 53
Preventive Maintenance
15.1
Item 1
Check the oil level daily before starting the engine. Add oil,
if necessary, to bring it to the proper level on the dipstick.
Select the proper grade of oil in accordance with the
instructions in the Lubricating Oil Specifications in Section
It is recommended that new engines be started with 100
hour oil change periods. For highway vehicles, this
corresponds to approximately 3,000 miles, and for city-
service vehicles approximately 1,000-2,000 miles. The
drain interval may then be gradually increased, or
decreased, following the recommendations of an
independent oil analysis laboratory or the oil supplier
(based upon the oil sample analysis) until the most
practical oil change period has been established.
Item 2
Change the engine oil filter elements and gaskets each
time the engine oil is changed. Any deviation, such as
changing filters every other oil change, should be based on
a laboratory analysis of the drained oil and used filter
elements to determine if such practice is practical for
proper protection of the engine. Make a visual check of all
lubricating oil lines for wear and chafing. If any indication of
wear is evident, replace the oil lines and correct the cause.
Items 3 and 4
When the engine is equipped with a turbocharger, pre- lubricate it as
outlined under Install Turbocharger in Section 3.5.
If the engine is equipped with a governor oil filter, change the element
every 1,000 hours.
Item 3
Check the coolant level daily and maintain it near the top of the heat
exchanger tank or the radiator upper tank.
Clean the cooling system every 1,000 hours or 30,000 miles using a
good radiator cleaning compound in accordance with the instructions
on the container. After the cleaning operation, rinse the cooling system
thoroughly with fresh water. Then fill the system with soft water, adding
a good grade of rust inhibitor or a high boiling point type antifreeze
(refer to Engine Coolant in Section 13.3). With the use of a proper
antifreeze or rust inhibitor, this interval may be lengthened until,
normally, this cleaning is done only in the spring or fall. The length of
this interval will, however, depend upon an inspection for rust or other
Items 1 and 2
April, 1974
SEC. 15.1
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