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The utility of Oil analyses

Yahoo Message Number: 114465
I just thought I would pass this along to everyone: I just had both my engine and transmission oils analyzed by a CAT SOS lab. My Rotella engine oil, after 2 years and 8000 Miles looks beautiful. Hardly any wear metals. Viscosity, soot, etcetera all look great. In fact he said I could go another 4000 miles/year with no problem. Engine has a 110k miles. My transmission, an Allison 4000, was converted to Transynd 8 years and 46k miles ago. It was drained and refilled with Transynd twice initially and the filters were later changed again by Eric Olstrom at about 93k miles at which point he added eight more quarts of Transynd. The analysis once again looks excellent. He said go another 20,000 and sample again.

I did an earlier SOS with CAT in 2008 for trend reference, and had been changing the oil at Speedco every year until about 4 years ago at which point, after running analyses on their little machine the guy pulled me aside and said that my oil looks like new oil after a year, I was wasting my money and to go two years. So I tried it, and CAT agrees. I don't trust the Speedco analyses. The CAT labs are very sophisticated.

Of course I only put on about 4,000 miles a year and many of you may do more than that. I used to have them pull the sample when they drain the oil. This time I purchased a very nice little vacuum pump for $32 from CAT. Then you buy their sample kits for $18 each which include a bottle that screws onto the pump and quarter inch tubing that you stick down the dip sticks tubes after you warm up the engine and tranny. Very easy works like a charm.

Rich 2002

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114489
Rick, my C-13 owners (manual that came from CC)with the coach says oil/filter change every 20,000 miles. This seems to be in line with your report.

Lee Zaborowski

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114490
While we're still on a year cycle for LOF, I did pull a sample for analysis at last years changeover. All looked good to go at that point. This year I'll pull sample at the normal yearly change point, and send it in for analysis before changing the oil & filter. (JG Lubricants. Same sort of set up, and I purchased three samples when I bought the kit.)

My expectations are that I'll shift to the every two year cycle on Oil & Filter.

I just had my Allison 3000 filters changed before this years travels. We had made the shift to Transyn when we bought the coach used in late 2009. Same double drain. The shop I was at for the Allison filter change offered me a quiet price on Transyn, so I went ahead and had them do a full drain and refill with the filter change. (Pulled a sample too, and it came back as looking good.) But I figured for an additional ~$200, might as well take them up on the offer of basically their costs of Transyn. (Old friends from elementary schoo with the Service Manager, so probably was treated different then I would have been elsewhere.)

I do also know a few RV owner's that have gone our synthetic with their oil changes. One of them has 5 years + on his oil, and changed oil filters and topped off at year 3. He went to every other year analysis, as the year 3 report showed healthy oil. Talked with him in February, and he'd just got back his year 5 analysis - and still good to run with. (Not that it matters, but it's an ISC in a Rexhall. And he does about 8-10K miles per year of traveling.).

I do trust lab reports from say CAT, JG, Blackstone. And I feel they sure give you a good baseline for going forward.

That being said, I'll stick with Dino, and will go ahead and swap out every two years with new filters. Unless I travel an extended set of miles in a year, and then I'll do it at the recommend mileage point.

Thanks for sharing your info.

Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114491
When you guys sample the oil, do you do any precautions to not get dirt in the sample when sliding the clear vinyl sample tube down the dipstick? The dipstick tube is not exactly "well sealed", so perhaps a little dirt on the inside could be scraped into the sample tube. The spec on silicone (dirt) is 20 ppm, which is pretty darn low. It would seem a little dirt collected in the sample tube could adversely affect the test.

Greg
06 Magna

2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114499
I'm a bit shocked that CAT would not have an air tight tube to the oil pan? Even a mere Cummins does this...

Hey Greg - Of course kidding!

I don't have a good answer for this, and could see how in the right, or wrong, conditions - it could be a factor.

My samples so far, have all been taken as part of a change over. It was when I switched to JG from Blackstone that I bought the three pack kit, with the vacuum tube and plastic tube lines. My first time doing so will be at the end of this years travel.

Your question is valid, and I'll ask it of JG - as those of you who visit the Allison section of IRV2 know the main founder is a straight shooter.

Let you, and the group know his answer.

Best to you, and all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114503
I have been using Speedco when changing the oil. The last two samples have been normal except in V40C and V100C. With 8000 miles on my 2017 change the V100 was at 11.8. My 2018 change with 10,000 miles showed 13.1. On the V40C the 2017 change was 97 with the 2018 change showing 84.

Should I be overly concerned with this dilution? I don't see a lot of smoke or blow back. I wonder what is the cause. We have a ISL 370 reprogramed to 400.

BVL
2003 CC Allure First Ave 30900

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114513
Hello Rich,
I too have a 2002 Magna with the c12. Mine is coach 6089. I am using Rotella T as well. I'm about to change oil and doing a sample. I was wondering what oil pressure yours runs at operating temp. I'm showing 35-40 on the gauge and silver leaf but a check with a remote gauge shows about 10psi higher. Coach has 85000 on the clock.

Thanks,
Rick

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114521
Rick, at operating temperature under a load it's about the same as yours, 38-40 on the Silverleaf. I don't even bother to look at the analog gauges they're so inaccurate. At idle its way lower. That's interesting you're getting about 10 lbs higher from a remote gauge.

Rich

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114538
Rich,
Thanks for the reply. That makes me feel a bit better; some of the truckers running C12s say they have 50-60 at running temp. I was a bit concerned. I too have Rotella T in mine. What number coach is yours and what model Magna? Ours is a 40' Interlude. Bought it in Texas; got a good deal on it because it needed a bunch of items replaced. Fridge, AC units, rebuild of the Hurricane, and other small stuff. Right now replacing shocks and all the tie rod and drag link ends. Might do the rear air bags too; the fronts look like they were replaced.

Rick



Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114570
Mine is coach 6148. It's a 42 Resort with a tag axle. Yeah I don't know about the pressures those truckers are seeing. The only time I see above 40 is when the oil is cold. It's been like this since I purchased the coach 11 years ago and Cat told me it's quite normal. These c12 are a relatively low oil pressure engine by design is my understanding. Same with turbo boost as opposed to some of the Cummins.

Rich

Re: The utility of Oil analyses

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 114572
BVL - I don't know the answer to the questions on the numbers reported on your ISL370.

On IRV2, Commercial Member with JG LUBRICANT SERVICES, monitors posts usually under the Allison segment of the forum. He's a retired Allison gent. You might either try calling his company and ask for input on the numbers and what they mean to your engine. Or, post a question in the IRV2 Allison forum and see if Tom responds.

http://jglubricantservices.com/online_store.html

Or another thought, call Cummins and ask for Tech Support and ask them if they know what this might mean to you. (They may not, but does not hurt to ask:)!).

Good luck to you, and please let us know what you learn,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017, ISL370(Updated to 400), CAPS era engine
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)