Time for oil and filter 3116 CAT

J

JamesB

New Member
May 21, 2013
26
Lake Havasu AZ/Long Beach CA.
Boat Info
1999 Sea Ray 400DB Sedan Bridge (Shady Lady). 3116TA CATS, Raythion 601XX GPS, Lowrance Color GPS/
Engines
Cat 3116TA
Couple of questions. I will use the 30wt CAT oil. Will this be ok for the ZF transmitions and the 8K Westerbeke as well? And as far as the Racors I'm told I should run 10 micron filters there. I believe that what I have been using. Also when changing the fuel filters on the engines is there a process to follow so I don't get air in the system? Jus use the little primer pump or what?

This is the first time doing it myself.
Thanks, Jim
 
JamesB said:
Couple of questions. I will use the 30wt CAT oil. Will this be ok for the ZF transmitions and the 8K Westerbeke as well? And as far as the Racors I'm told I should run 10 micron filters there. I believe that what I have been using. Also when changing the fuel filters on the engines is there a process to follow so I don't get air in the system? Jus use the little primer pump or what?

This is the first time doing it myself.
Thanks, Jim
Click to expand...
My ZF trans require ATF not 30W oil so check out the model and its specs carefully.
Oil should be ok in genset but others with more detailed knowledge will chime in re racor filters, etc.
 
I use the CAT SAEO 30W for the engines. My transmissions have ATF in them now, I've heard you can use a ##W oil, but I plan on changing it out with normal ATF, the ZF web site they recommend DEX III equivalent. I saw some use a Mobill synthetic ATF

For the generator I don't know. I was planning on just a 10W-30 for it, a little cheaper then the SAEO 30W CAT oil.

For the fuel filter on the engine yes you use the pump. There is a valve next to the pump. Turn it, pump till the filter is full and you can hear diesel returning to the tank. Turn the valve back and you are good to go.

The Racors I have are 30 micron. I think that a 10 micron might be a little too tight of a tolerance. Looking forward to reading the responses to see if I am incorrect!!! The Racor will have two gaskets in the filter once you unwrap it. One replaces the lid gasket, the other replaces the gasket on the T handle so you have a good vacuum.

Thanks!!!
 
ON the generator oil, if it is a Westerbeke, then SAE 30 is the proper oil; no need to run the Cat SAEO synthetic. Rotella T1 or Delo 400 in SAE 30 is fine.

As far as Racors go, it makes little sense to use 10 micron filters since the Cat High Efficiency filter is a 2 micron filter, so nothing that passes the Racors is going to get to the engine. Trapping 10 microns at the Racor significantly lowers the life of the filter or the point where it gets clogged up. The last thing you want to do is to have your filters clog up and have to change themwhile bouncing around in a crowded channel (These boats don't handle worth a damn on one engine!) or in 3-4' seas off shore. I've done it; you will bruise and burn every part of your anatomy while getting it done. The 30 micron filter lasts indefinitely, as long as you buy your fuel from a clean source and treat the fuel with the correct additives.
 
No need to use that miserable priming pump. Fill the racor and canister filters to top with filtered fuel. Advance the engine throttle to 50% and crank the engine. It will fire up just fine then return throttle to idle and check for leaks and bubbles. The only real time that priming pump is needed is if you run the boat out of fuel and have to prime the entire thing.
 
Alegria said:
I use the CAT SAEO 30W for the engines. My transmissions have ATF in them now, I've heard you can use a ##W oil, but I plan on changing it out with normal ATF, the ZF web site they recommend DEX III equivalent. I saw some use a Mobill synthetic ATF

For the generator I don't know. I was planning on just a 10W-30 for it, a little cheaper then the SAEO 30W CAT oil.

For the fuel filter on the engine yes you use the pump. There is a valve next to the pump. Turn it, pump till the filter is full and you can hear diesel returning to the tank. Turn the valve back and you are good to go.

The Racors I have are 30 micron. I think that a 10 micron might be a little too tight of a tolerance. Looking forward to reading the responses to see if I am incorrect!!! The Racor will have two gaskets in the filter once you unwrap it. One replaces the lid gasket, the other replaces the gasket on the T handle so you have a good vacuum.

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Ok thanks for the replies. My ZF's say to use 30wt oil, so I think the CAT SAO will be fine and iight ad well use it in the Gen set. This way I can just use one type for everything when checking/topping off.
I talked toy CAT mechanic and he said to use 10 micron Racors for sure. That is what he put in 2 years ago and I have had no issues. The fuel here is treated top quality stuff to boot. So I guess it will be 10s again
Thanks again for your input.
Jim
 
ZF recommended lubricants, broken out by product: https://www.zf.com/global/media/en_zf/lubricantslists/TE-ML_04.pdf

If you are like me, with the ZF IRM 220A transmissions, you can use any of the 04A, B or C groups. 04A includes engine oil with the API specs that Cat SAEO oil fits within (API CF, CF-4, SJ) so you should be fine to use that. SAE30 looks appropriate as well.
 
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