Official Caterpillar3116/3126 Thread

[fwebster]

Was there any conclusion to the great oil debate from last fall? After reading 40 pages of this thread I still can't tell whether the Shell Rotella T4 15W-40 that I used last year is still OK.

This was my conclusion, after spending several days trying to muddle thru the various Cat publications I posted this on CSR in October, 2022:

Hi Frank,
I trust your expertise and don't want to appear argumentative, I just want to make sure I understand things clearly.
After a less than convincing phone call with the local cat dealer, and conflicting information I began to read over the SEBU you posted. Can you help me understand if I am interpreting these footnotes correctly?
(page 27) "Cat Special Application Engine Oil (SAEO), API CF oil of SAE 30 and SAE 40 viscosity grades is recommended for use in 3116 and 3126 marines engines"
Page 7 Note: Cat offers Special Application Engine Oil (SAEO), of SAE 30 and SAE 40 viscosity grades that fullfills all the requirements of API CF category oil. These oils are recommended for use in 3116 and 3126 marine engines only.
Page 11 Note: API oil category CF is obsolete. The API (American Petroleum Institute) does not license this category effective end of 2010. API does not validate the quality of API CF oils and does not allow the display of API symbol (also called API doughnut) with CF as highest claim on the oil container. Oils that claim the requirements of API CF can be used ONLY in Cat Series 3112 and Cat Series 3126 Marine Engines and in 3600 engine models per the OMM of these engines. Refer to the details given in the Marine engine section in this Special Publication.

I'm not offended and am not in a position to argue since this can of worms Caterpillar have given us can be confusing. I Just hope this doesn't add to the confusion:

First, I am not concerned with SAEO and that point isn't worth discussing because you cannot even buy it now. The parts guy I use at Thompson Cat in Nashville told me I asked for "unobtainium" when I asked if he had any SAEO in inventory. It no longer shows up on their "Available To Order" list.

API ratings are backwards compatble so Rotella-1 which is rated CF, CF-2. CF-2 is ok but CF-2 is for only for 2 stroke engines which means you shouldn't use it in 3116/3126 engines.


The safest approach is to follow table 1, page 6; and, table 4, page 10 on SEBU6250-31.

Cheat sheet: This came from a meeting I had with the Caterpillar SOS lab folks at Thompson Cat in Nashville: Caterpillar strongly recommends DEO-ULSD (preferred) or DEO rated CI-4 in 15W-40 since they are developed and optimized for use in Cat engines. Some retail oil distributors are now handling Cat oils.

As a second choice, commercial oils with API CK-4 rating or which meet Caterpillar requirements of ECF1, ECF-2 and or ECF-3 are acceptable.

and, as a third choice, API CJ-4, CI-4, CI4-plus, CH-4 but do not meet any Cat ECF specification.

Unfortunately, Shell's reformulation of Rotella-T-1, SAE-30 & SAE-40 don't meet any of the above specs for any Caterpillar engines not involved in the construction industy.

However, if for some reason, you are determined to not use Caterpillar products, Shell Rotella T-4 15w-40 meets Cat ECF-2, and ECF-3, and API CK-4, CJ-4 and Chevron Delo 600 ADF 15W-40 meets or exceeds Cat ECF-3 and API CJ-4, CK-4, so both are aceptable for the oil requirements Cat published in 2/2022 and are second only to DEO-ULS.

 

[Strecker25]

Cheat sheet: This came from a meeting I had with the Caterpillar SOS lab folks at Thompson Cat in Nashville: Caterpillar strongly recommends DEO-ULSD (preferred) or DEO rated CI-4 in 15W-40 since they are developed and optimized for use in Cat engines. Some retail oil distributors are now handling Cat oils.

That's why I went with it. I'm trusting CAT that the aftercooler fouling is a thing of the past but even if it's not, I know the internal engine components are protected to CAT spec and I can clean the aftercoolers on a more frequent basis. Realistically, I don't expect any difference and I like following CAT recommendations whenever possible

 

[ttmott]

This was my conclusion, after spending several days trying to muddle thru the various Cat publications I posted this on CSR in October, 2022:





I'm not offended and am not in a position to argue since this can of worms Caterpillar have given us can be confusing. I Just hope this doesn't add to the confusion:

First, I am not concerned with SAEO and that point isn't worth discussing because you cannot even buy it now. The parts guy I use at Thompson Cat in Nashville told me I asked for "unobtainium" when I asked if he had any SAEO in inventory. It no longer shows up on their "Available To Order" list.

API ratings are backwards compatble so Rotella-1 which is rated CF, CF-2. CF-2 is ok but CF-2 is for only for 2 stroke engines which means you shouldn't use it in 3116/3126 engines.


The safest approach is to follow table 1, page 6; and, table 4, page 10 on SEBU6250-31.

Cheat sheet: This came from a meeting I had with the Caterpillar SOS lab folks at Thompson Cat in Nashville: Caterpillar strongly recommends DEO-ULSD (preferred) or DEO rated CI-4 in 15W-40 since they are developed and optimized for use in Cat engines. Some retail oil distributors are now handling Cat oils.

As a second choice, commercial oils with API CK-4 rating or which meet Caterpillar requirements of ECF1, ECF-2 and or ECF-3 are acceptable.

and, as a third choice, API CJ-4, CI-4, CI4-plus, CH-4 but do not meet any Cat ECF specification.

Unfortunately, Shell's reformulation of Rotella-T-1, SAE-30 & SAE-40 don't meet any of the above specs for any Caterpillar engines not involved in the construction industy.

However, if for some reason, you are determined to not use Caterpillar products, Shell Rotella T-4 15w-40 meets Cat ECF-2, and ECF-3, and API CK-4, CJ-4 and Chevron Delo 600 ADF 15W-40 meets or exceeds Cat ECF-3 and API CJ-4, CK-4, so both are aceptable for the oil requirements Cat published in 2/2022 and are second only to DEO-ULS.

That's why I went with it. I'm trusting CAT that the aftercooler fouling is a thing of the past but even if it's not, I know the internal engine components are protected to CAT spec and I can clean the aftercoolers on a more frequent basis. Realistically, I don't expect any difference and I like following CAT recommendations whenever possible

I understand the reformulation for multi-vis oils have greatly reduced / eliminated the paraffin. It was the paraffin that condensed out in the aftercoolers and caused the performance issues.
Keep me straight here Frank.
Tom

 

[mrsrobinson]

After reading every oil thread here (I think) and talking to

my local CAT dealer
my GFs brother-in-law
dockmates
barista at the local coffee shop
cashier at 7-11
the mailman
my retired neighbor
my cat

I went with this. My speed increased 13%, fuel burn reduced 9%, my hull is shinier and cocktails taste better now , oh and my holding tank no longer smells.

 

[Dani-Lu]

After reading every oil thread here (I think) and talking to

my local CAT dealer
my GFs brother-in-law
dockmates
barista at the local coffee shop
cashier at 7-11
the mailman
my retired neighbor
my cat

I went with this. My speed increased 13%, fuel burn reduced 9%, my hull is shinier and cocktails taste better now , oh and my holding tank no longer smells.


View attachment 151613

You had me until the holding tank part…. Ha ha ha

 

[mrsrobinson]

On a serious note, I don't think I will use the 5 gallon containers again. I had to transfer it to 1 gallon containers to get the oil in w/out spilling. That was not fun 7+ times for each engine.

 

[Strecker25]

On a serious note, I don't think I will use the 5 gallon containers again. I had to transfer it to 1 gallon containers to get the oil in w/out spilling. That was not fun 7+ times for each engine.

Why not pump it in with the Reverso? That’s what I do, even for the 1G on the genset

 

[The Bill Collector]

Why not pump it in with the Reverso? That’s what I do, even for the 1G on the genset

+1

 

[carterchapman]

And all those years I ran Rotella T-1 40 wt in my 3126's!

 

[mrsrobinson]

I forgot to bring the cheap/sacrificial oil to flush the hose with, and did not want to push old oil back into the pan. So, good point, I'll buy 5 gallons again. I did use the pump to fill the generator.

 

[Njlarry]

Ok, Frank has confinced me to change from T 1 single wt to T 4 multi this year.
Does anyone understand 1. The difference between a 2 stroke and a 4 stroke diesel oil and 2. Is Rotella T 4 low parafin? Could not find much info on the Shell site.

 

[yobub]

On a serious note, I don't think I will use the 5 gallon containers again. I had to transfer it to 1 gallon containers to get the oil in w/out spilling. That was not fun 7+ times for each engine.

I bought the 3 gallon pack at walmar

 

[yobub]

Have you opened it? I was expecting gallon jugs but it seems like it is a bag.

 

[kvduff]

Have you opened it? I was expecting gallon jugs but it seems like it is a bag.

I used those same 3gallon bag in the box today. Worked perfectly! Starboard side I could sit the box on top of the aftercooler cover and ran the spicket open half way. Portside was able to sit right on the deck and ran right into a funnel. Wasn’t sure how they would work but they were perfect.

 

[Magic]

Interesting YT videos on 3116 injector replacement

Part 1

Part 2

 

[Strecker25]

Interesting YT videos on 3116 injector replacement

Part 1

Part 2

He has a great channel, mostly truck engines, but they are very interesting

 

[Njlarry]

Thank you for posting the videos. Definetly two of his best. Most of his videos I have to look at his ugly mug yaping into a mic while not understanding anything. These vids made the job clear but over my level and needs many special tools.

 

[Magic]

One of the commentors referenced an alignment kit from MRC that was better than the CAT one.

I found it here along with an old instruction video. It's still expensive as all hell though.
https://meyermrc.com/products.html

 

[mrsrobinson]

If I clean the hull where the exhaust exits on both sides of the boat, then take a trip, the starboard side is soot free, the port side has a little bit of soot. Is this normal? Never gets any worse than what you see in the picture.

I'm getting the 'file too large" error this morning, here's a link to the photo

0 new items by Greg Robinson

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

On the 450DA it is my understanding that due to the differences in hose routing, one side puts more water out the top fitting than the underwater fitting. Don't know if that applies to your vessel, or if it even has ANYTHING to do with your own soot experience.

That said, I ran the FLORIDA LOOP this past summer, never cleaning the hull sides, as an experiment to see real world how much soot my 3126TA CATS might produce.

You'll find those photos posted in this forum # 2783 & 2784.

May not be a fair comparison, as I keep a good bit of wax on my hull year round

You did not mention how many hours/miles of operation is tied to your photos.

BEST !

RWS