Diesel Generator

Would you consider e-mailing customer services at caterpillar? Look up their web page. They can tell you exactly what to expect.

Good luck,

James

Guessing at about 15,000 ~ 18,000 hours. The complete overhaul should be at about 35,000 ~ 40,000 but I know some engines going to 50,000 ~ 55,000 h. Your local Cat dealer will be able to tell you. I don't like time based maintenance. I'd start measuring and trending running data, oil sampling to indicate wear metals, crankcase pressure to indicate ring and liner condition, oil consumption to indicate valve guide and liner condition and so on.

Whatever the recommendation from the manufacturer can probably be doubled,when using Schaeffer Oil. The friction modifiers almost eliminate wear. I know of generators running 20,000 + hours using Schaeffer oil and diesel treatment.

You can get the product at 216-401-1845.

Hi OILGUY, are you a sales rep/agent for Schaeffer Oils and products? No offense intended, just curious, or have you used their products over a number of years

I do tend to be a little wary of statements like "friction modifiers almost eliminate wear" and oil change periods "can probably be doubled,when using Schaeffer Oil." I would like to see a series of controlled tests on various types of diesel engines carried out by independent operators.

I'll second that!

I agree with you 100%.It has become a trend now a days that all sorts of fancy claims made by Smart people that Their lube oil is a wounder drug for all engine problems and their wounder oil will enhance engine life by 90%.here in India there was a company who claimed their magnetic device when fitted on fuel in let line will reduce fuel consumption by 25% and were circulating back up testimonials from ignorant engine owners at times i am amazed that even qualified mechanical engineers sing the same song.Even established research institutes,and Mechanical engineering professors claim and published smilier thoughts Like pure biofuels can run diesel gen-sets saving millions of $.and these professors are maneging to claim grants from international agencies like UN.

crm

You should be wary. Most claims cannot ever be proven. Think about it, there are over 1500 fuel treatments registered in the State of Ohio. How many of these are the best? From what I have seen and read, there are a few good products, and most that don't do much good.

I am many things. I used to be a school teacher, inventor, then a mechanical contractor for 30 years.

Currently, I am a manufacturer of tankless heater systems used in many of the large restaurant chains, and I am a Schaeffer rep.

I am not basing my comments in order to obtain a sale. They are based on testing done by my customers, and other reps' customers.

1 - For instance, I have an Amish customer with a small generator. He had been using a standard oil, and changing the oil every 300 hours. He switched to a Schaeffer product, and over the course of a year, has obtained a 1500 hour oil change interval.

Every oil change, he took an oil sample, and sent it in. All the samples came in perfect, until a ring broke. The generator had worked up to the manufacturers rated life. They started using Schaeffer 1/2 way through the life.

Now this test was not perfect. However, it was done in a machine that ran constantly. It was located indoors. The owner took accurrate notes as to fuel consumption, exact ol change hours, etc.

2 - A friend of mine sold diesel oil to an ndependent trucker from Arkansas. He Schaefferized his truck the day he bought it. After 1 million miles of hauling cross-country, he decided it was time for his 1st rebuild. Schaeffer paid Cat to tear down the engine, verify that all the parts were original and had not been rebuilt prior to that tear-down. After the engine was apart, Cat determined that all the parts were within new specs.

The injectors were send to Pro Diesel in Tennessee. They were inspected and determined that they were within new specs. They said they would warrant them for another year.

This particular vehicle had oil changes done between 48,000 and 74,000 mile intervals.The injectors were in such great shape because the owner used Schaeffer diesel treatment, every tankful.

3 - I have 6 customers that tried Schaeffer diesel treatment and achieved a 25% decrease in fuel consumption. Schaeffer says up 5%,however most of my customers get 10-15%.

You do not have to beleive me. If you think about it, it is very difficult selling a higher priced oil that no one has ever heard of before. Even though Schaeffer is 168 years old, every time I make a sale, I assist in the testing of the product by my customer.

I have done seminars where people that are not my customer stand up and brag about the fact that they have been using Schaeffer since the 60's or 70's, and that their equipment outlasts everyone elses equipment they know.

My initial sale is usually small, because they are spending the time to test the validity of my claims.

If you want more information, I can send you several testimonials.

I'm sure you know, but for the benefit of others that may not, this baby is no toy. At 8,000 hours, she is hardly broken in. I wouldn't look to fussing with the top end until about 20,000 or so, and, only if it had symptoms of deteriorating performance. Find out what CAT has to say and use that as a watch point. Do the oil analysis and other P/M checks as recommended by PetroPower in a prior post. Properly taken care of, you have a good piece of equipment that will last a very long time.

GO by Scheduled oil sampling, crankcase pressure and oil consumption as guide as Petro power has suggested use your CAT dealers services to arrive a logical conclusion don't go by thumb rules.

crm

This series has been around for many years now, so CAT will have accumulated many years experience of them. CAT is your best place for advice.

But be wary of claims for long running hours ,100,000, without rebuild. Analysis of the engine record sheets may find bearings, pistons, liners, valves etc being repeatedly replaced. So find out what constitutes a rebuild!