CAT special application oil

quality time

quality time

Well-Known Member
Oct 30, 2007
2,360
Upper Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
Miss Stress
2006 50' Post
Engines
Series 60 Detroits
I am planning on using the CAT oil but am not sure if I should use 30 or 40 weight. What grade/brand do you CAT guys use? I just found out that the SAO is $19/gallon - ouch!
 
I use single viscosity Shell Rotella T.

The Cat SAEO is a synthetic blend that has certain characteristics that prevent intercooler deposits, which is the reason Cat issued a technical bulletin on 3116 and 3126 engines. The main ingredient that causes the deposits is the additive package that contains viscosity enhancers needed for multi-viscosity oil. Rotella T in SAE 30 or SAE 40 does not contain any viscosity enhancers and it meets all Caterpillar requirements for 3116 and 3126 engines. In fact, if you compare Cat SAEO and Rotella T you see almost no difference in the specifications.

The only thing Rotella T doesn't have that SAEO does have is the dealer mark-up and the $20/gal price. But don't misunderstand ......anything Caterpillar puts their name on is good and SAEO is great oil, particularly if you run a lot of hours per year.

SAEO is hard to get in some locations because dealers have to buy a pallet load at a time of the special oil. Many dealers don't do enough marine business to warrant the inventory expense so you may have to look hard to find t he Cat oil.

For more information go to Cat.com, look under parts, then fluids or search for SAEO or for part number 170-5261.
 
Thanks Frank, I was told that it is hard to get and to start looking early to find enough for an oil change. My local CAT dealer has 17 gallons (30 wt) in stock as of today. I think I will look into the Shell. I know it's insignificant but the CAT only comes in gallon containers so it will be cumbersome to store.
 
I also used the Rotella T-30. Bought locally for under $10/gallon. The previous owner of my boat used the Rotella and when MarineMax changed the oil in my boat last year they used the Rotella. I have the oil analysis from every year since new and no problems what so ever. I spoke with the CAT mechanic and he also suggested the Rotella T-30.

As an aside, When I changed the oil this past fall, I prefered the gallon jugs. I also bought a case of quarts to top off to the tick marks. I also used the Rotella in my genie. I pumped out the old oil with the Reverso and poured in the new oil the old fashion way....with a funnel.
 
The reverso pump works both ways.....that's why they named it REVERSO. Pouring 26 qts of oil in thru a funnel takes forever and usually makes a mess....why not just use the Reverso pump?
 
fwebster said:
......why not just use the Reverso pump?
Click to expand...

Honest answer......Gary!....yes our very own Gary....It was my first time using the Reverso and Gary scared the bagesus out of me by saying that my reverso impeller was going to blow up and I was going to spill oil ALL over my clean bilge..etc...etc..etc. I didn't want to get stuck changing the reverso impeller in the middle of the oil change. I thought that by minimizing the amount of time I used the pump that I enhanced the chances of getting through the oil change without any extra work or clean up....

That Gary.......:smt021
 
Frank,

What do you think about Chevron Delo 400? I have been using that in a straight wt like you mentioned without the viscocity improvers. I think it is similar to the Rotella. Would it be worth changing?
 
Delo 400 is great oil. I find that oil popularity is somewhat hooked to geography. In Tennessee, where I have equipment, Rotella is available everywhere so I've used it for ....heck, forever. When we started boating on the coast, I stuck with Rotella T since I knew to be excellent oil. In Florida, Delo 400 is just as popular as Rotella T and most of the commercial boats use it.

Honestly, if the engines have always had Delo 400 in them, I wouldn't change oils for the difference between them.
 
Frank, to clarify on the storage comment. I meant I would rather have it in 5 gallon pails vs. lugging around 14 gallon containers.
 
I also use Rotella T SAE 30 @ C$10/gallon in 5 gallon pails and have a couple of empty pails available for the spent oil.

The reverso system is great - it's also a good idea to have a spare impeller available for the Reverso pump just in case of a failure during the procedure. I also collect an oil sample for analysis by my Cat dealer at the end of each season, the results are very comprehensive. Other threads available search "Rotella T". Good luck.
Cheers,
Warren
 
I agree Warren. At Gary's suggestion, I do have a spare reverso impeller. I was just trying to avoid having to change it in the middle of an oil change. I know my time is coming though.....so If I remember during the 2008 season, I'll just change it out and order another spare.
 
Hey Guys-

I guess I'm lucky. The boat's coming up on its eighth season with no impeller issue on the Reverso (I use mine to empty and fill). BUT - now that I've said that, I will need to get a spare. Dom or anyone, where did you get the spare, and do you have a part number or anything off of the packaging? Thanks in advance.

Oh, and to stay "on-topic", I use that CAT SAEO 30W. I get it every year from the local CAT franchise without any of the "hard to locate" issues that are spoken of here, and pay around $13 gallon. I like that I can pick it up all at one time along with my oil filters, fuel filters, and SOS kits. I realize I could possibly save $36 by going to a different parts store and buying Rotella. $36?? No thanks, I like the convenience.
 
My local CAT dealer does not keep much SAEO on hand, I checked awhile ago and they only had 6 gallons. Now they have 14. Their price is $19.15/gallon.

I also would like to know part # for the Reverso impellor if anybody has it handy.

Frank H - where do you get your Rotella T from? I searched for local dealers but couldn't find any close to us.
 
Aaron, a local auto shop had to order it by the case. I am pretty sure that anywhere they work on diesel trucks either has it or can order it. If you can't find it, let me know and I will get some from my supplier and meet you someplace. (you can buy lunch!). I used to use the Cat SAEO but the supplier ran out so I went with Rotella. I will continue use Rotella in the future.

Frank
 
Thanks Frank, my uncle owns a garage so I'll see if he can get it for me. I'd buy lunch but it's slim pickings out here in the Grove! Maybe we can go to the Chesapeake Inn this summer.
 
Jeff, Aaron: I bought my Reverso impeller from the Canadian division of http://www.marineparts.com/ They were great! Personalized service - even e-mailed me drawings as needed. Sorry I don't have the part no. (on the boat - might be MMD48500 @ $37 - from an invoice I found but I have also bought Westerbeke parts, etc. from them and I'm not certain that this is the correct part number). They should be able to get it for you and confirm on the basis of the pump design..
Good luck!
Warren
 
Hey guys! I'm doing my first change on my '07 44 Db w/ QSC 8.3 500's and the specs recommend 15w-40 and the Cummins Mech who did the Capt's briefing also recommended 15w-40. Brands?: he said either Rotella, Chev Delo or Cummins/Valvoline Premium Blue. Down here in Louisiana, all of these are pretty readilly available and I think the Valv Prem blue is a synthetic right? On all my vehicles, bikes, etc I've always used Mobile 1 synth, and was thinking of using a synthetic here also since I'll be keeping this baby for a long time. I've always had gas motors (last vessel was '87 36ft Carver w/ twin Crusaders) so that's what I know well. Appreciate you veterans of diesel's input.
 
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