Community Forums

CAT Lover · 08-03-2013, 10:50 AM

It's so hard to find 10/30 oil. I had my oil changed the other day at the truck stop all they had was 15/40. Went back to Delvac. I've been useing Rottella for a while. Might try Delo next.

jauguston · 08-03-2013, 01:22 PM

Mel,

No clue. Call Tech Support.

Jim

jauguston · 08-03-2013, 01:27 PM

Cat lover,

I buy mine from my local Cat Dealer. Available in a 5 gallon pail.

Jim

Cat · 08-03-2013, 08:16 PM

The oil weight recommendation is dependent on the ambient temperatures I think the 10-30 is good to 104f. Above that you need 15-40 it's good to 122f. I don't remember the lower temperature recommendations are but it's in the OM manual.

moisheh · 08-04-2013, 05:01 AM

The Cat published viscosity recommendation for an RV has never been 10/30. It was always a choice based on ambient temperatures. The manuals that come with a new unit are Generic. They are guidelines that cover all types of applications. However the recent recommendations appear to suggest 10/30 as the preferred weight. BUT they still list other weights as OK.

Bigd9 · 08-04-2013, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mel stuplich

greezykid
You are lucky, an unscrupulous shop would have fixed the wire, AND replaced your HEUI pump, charging you, (and/or your warranty company), $1800
There is no way you would have known that only $187 could have fixed your problem.
Mel
'96 Safari,
250hp 3126 Cat,
with a 17 year old, (132k mile), HEUI pump

You are lucky, an unscrupulous shop would have fixed the wire, AND TOLD YOU THEY replaced your HEUI pump, BUT DIDN'T, and charge you, (and/or your warranty company), $1800

jauguston · 08-04-2013, 08:58 AM

Moisheh,

Do you consider 2003 "a recent recommendation" ? That is the publishing date on my engine manual. The recommendation is for operation in "average" temperatures between 0 and 104 degrees. If you use 10-30 oil it is not necessary to pull over if you see the temperature go above 104 degrees and change your oil to 15-40.

Cat Tech Support is supposedly the Gold Standard for the right answers. When in doubt call them and ask what oil weight they recommend for "your" engine.

Jim

moisheh · 08-05-2013, 03:31 PM

Jagauston: As I stated that manual is shipped with every engine. Cat does not know if it is going into a pump, truck or RV. Cat did publish an RV recommendation which I shared with everyone. I think it was dated 07. So that certainly supercedes your generic engine manual. This latest recommendation was published in February of this year ( or was it 2012) So that is a NEW recommendation

jauguston · 08-05-2013, 07:05 PM

What does Cat Tech Support tell you now. They tell me the same thing my 2003 manual says. Word for word. I certainly have no interest in knowing what you or anyone else uses.

Jim

mel s · 08-06-2013, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jauguston

What does Cat Tech Support tell you now. They tell me the same thing my 2003 manual says. Word for word. I certainly have no interest in knowing what you or anyone else uses.

Jim

I assume you mean the Caterpillar RV hot line at 1-877-777-3126?

Cat employees and engineers are not GOD....(call more than once and you may get conflicting information).
Example: in late '95, when my engine was built, the "Cat recommended" oil capacity for the 3126 was 32 quarts....in the years since it has been reduced to 28 quarts.

BTW, perhaps no one has an interest in what oil you use either.

Mel
'96 Safari

EDALLSAILS · 08-06-2013, 08:05 AM

What is the NEW recommendation from CAT? I'd like to see a copy of actual recommendation. Seems all retailers have 5 W 20 or 5 W 30 but no one seems to stock 15 W 40 weight oils. I use Rotella Syn or Mobil 1 depending on what is available. SHELL says that the Rotella Syn meets and or exceeds all MFG specification's. So, with all the advertising and rumors what is one to believe. Spoke with a CAT tech and he said SYN oil is a waste of money. OH Well, he certainly doesn't know his facts.

jauguston · 08-06-2013, 08:09 AM

Mel,

If noone was interested in what oil I am using this thread would have died long ago. (-:

When I got this rig without doing any research I automatically used Delo 400 15-40 like many others do. Then I had a injector fail and the Cat Tech that replaced it asked me what oil I was using. That got me to researching what Cat actually recommended. Now I use Cat spec 10-30 purchased from Cat. My engine-my choice.

Sail,

What "FACTS" do you know that the Cat Tech Support person doesn't?

Jim

mel s · 08-06-2013, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jauguston

Mel,

If noone was interested in what oil I am using this thread would have died long ago. (-:

When I got this rig without doing any research I automatically used Delo 400 15-40 like many others do. Then I had a injector fail and the Cat Tech that replaced it asked me what oil I was using. That got me to researching what Cat actually recommended. Now I use Cat spec 10-30 purchased from Cat. My engine-my choice.

Jim

jauguston
When I called the Cat RV hot/help line I was told:
1.) 15W-40 when the ambient temperature is expected to be + 5 degrees F to + 122 degrees F.
2.) 10W-30 in -4 to +104 temps...........
The only other question I have is: Who in their right mind drives a coach when it is colder than +5 degrees?

BTW, you're right about being resposable for the life of this thread...you are the author of 33% of the posts, (but I'm catching up).

Mel
'96 Safari

SmokinHagen · 10-25-2018, 04:47 PM

Had to have my 2006 Fleetwood with cat C-7 with 38,000 miles towed into the shop. Huei pump and injectors need to be replaced according to Freightliner service. Total price for the job was $14,526. Had it towed home!!! I bought a cat because I thought it was bullet proof. Oil and filters have been changed at 10,000 mile intervals. So that is my C-7 Huei story, very sickening.