Oil Chage in a 22 year old diesel engine???

[steveebryant]

"I have a 22 year old Yanmar 2GM20F. The previous owner used a brand of oil manufactured by Ford for diesel engines. I want to change to Rottela diesel motor oil. Is there a real or only perceived threat to the engine if I change between one diesel motor oil to another?”

 

[spinwing]

I haven’t the vaguest idea what the previous oil was, but when I asked ‘the go-to guy’ at my yard he told me to get Rottela. That is all they use for diesel oil changes no matter what was in it before. They are a very well respected yard. I have a 22 y.o 3GM30F

 

[Bill1565]

Don't hear it much anymore, but they used to say don't mix oils in the crankcase. Drain old brand and change filter, and you should be fine.

 

[KD3PC]

Steve

there are still weights of oil even in the Rotella line, so with an "older" engine use one towards the higher end of your weather spec...some of the thinner oils may "slip" by and cause some smoking an older style non-syn might not..

My 1991 4jh2 with 2300 hours has no issues with the change to Rotella..

definitely change the oil and filter if you switch to the rotella, or other synthetic from a conventional. Have some good rags/absorbent pads (some use pet accident pads - cheaper) as the synthetics are a tad tougher to clean up or remove from surfaces.

I have gotten good service for the last 12-15 years using rotella in all my engines, cars, boats, etc...still use Harley Davidson heavy oil in that though. Other wise no issues at all..

best of luck

 

[Steve Dion]

Steve:

I have never heard about changing brands of oil, but I personally have had issues with using synthetic oil in an older unit.

We put some Amsoil (synthetic) in the manual transmission of my BMW and the damn thing started leaking like a sive. I changed back to non-synthetic but the damage was already done.

We have interchanged between Rotella & Delo over the years and this has never been an issue for us.

 

[jassprag]

Shell Rotella is one of the best diesel motor oils there is. 15w40 is the most used weight for all season use in heavy diesel truck enignes. Chevron and Mobil both have diesel motor oils that are very good. Don't bother with synthetic. The big 3 engine (cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit) manufacturers do not recommend or market synthetic motor oil. The one trucking company that I know of that uses synthetic has engine problems.

 

[steveebryant]

Thanks for the replys. I am going to change to Rotella.
One other question:
"I have heard that I could use motor oil in the boat's transmission. Is there any problem with using Rotella diesel engine motor oil in the transmission?"
Please comment.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[Steve Dion]

Steve:

I believe that the manual recommends 30wt oil for your engine. Most owners are now using 15-40wt oil for their engines.

Personally I have used the same oil for our engine & transmission in our 2GM. Many owners have used the wrong oil in their transmissions too and it does not seem to make a big difference, but I would use whatever the mfg recommends.

You can contact your distributor in your area and ask them what they do.

 

[KD3PC]

Re: transmissions....

the wrong fluid can be a problem and ruin the clutch discs....you need to identify the transmission and look it up in your manual...I have a KBW-20 and it REQUIRES Dexron ATF...not motor oil...other Kanzaki/Hurth gear sets may use straight weight motor oil...depends on the gear/clutch type the gear box uses..

And I learned this very recently...although us old guys, kanzaki and the manual calls this device a "reverser" or "reversing gear" the rest of America calls it a transmission...whether it is or not...btw, there is a difference.

You can search this forum for more on what fluids to use..others will say there is no difference in the use of OIL or ATF...my dragging neutral says otherwise...and there are several out there replacing discs that are gummed up beyond repair having used the wrong stuff...if in doubt RTFM....

 

[Alex Dare]

oil

One thing I would be very careful about would be using synthetic oil in the transmission. Since it's a wet clutch you run the risk of the plates (or in some transmissions cones) slipping due to the properties of the synthetics.
In my motorcycle I used synthetic gear oil in the gearbox but non synthetic motor oil in the engine which shared it's oil with the clutch.

 

[kloudie1]

OK, guys.. lets not confuse the issue here.. The 2 GM 20F that Steve asked about came only with a cone clutch type transmission and not multi plate.. The power density in that transmission (size of gears and cone clutch mating faces for horsepower handled) is such that any kind of motor oil is OK ! My personal opinion is that Rotella T, 15-40 (not Rotella T6 Synthetic) is a perfect oil for his engine and the “clutch” which is yet another word used to describe the transmission or reversing gear.. All three of those transmission names are used in the Yanmar shop manual ! No wonder there is some confusion about the nomenclature.