| Author | Message | ||
| Buddy Tennison (Buddyten)
Registered Member Username: Buddyten Post Number: 27 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 207.68.235.83 Rating: N/A |
We have just had our 8V71 rebuilt. Probably has less than 2000 miles on it. We only drive it on weekends, and not every weekend at that, probably 2-3 weekends out of the month. Most of the time is fairly short runs of 400-500 miles round trip. Our mechanic told us that it would take about 10 to 15,000 miles ( or more becasue of the way we drive it) to get it "broken in" good and that we should expect some oil consumption in that time. For example, this weekend, we went from Tupelo, MS to Montgomery, AL. From there to near Gadsden, AL and then back to Tupelo, MS. Round trip, approx 600 miles. For a good part of this, it was very hilly. We used a little over 2 gallons of oil. We are using Rotella Straight 40W. We are getting little or no smoke. Only at start up, and some when under heavy load. Before rebuild, we were getting heavy oil coating or blowby on the back of the bus. We are not getting that now. Back of bus is pretty clean. A friend driving behind us for part of the way said virtually no smoke. We checked under it for leaks and found none. Also looked around the engine, and do not see and leak run down (except where I missed the fill tube and it ran down on the cradle). The engine runs good and has good power. Is this a reasonable amount of oil to be using on a break in situation? Our mechanic doesn't seem to be alarmed about it. His comment was that if the DD wasn't using any, he would worry. I may be overly concerned, but with the amount of money we just invested, I wanted to get some thoughts from those who own these money pits. Also, is it good or even economically worth it to use Lucas or some other type treatment. | ||
| Gary LaBombard (Garylee)
Registered Member Username: Garylee Post Number: 140 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.203 Rating: N/A |
Money Pit, Money Pit, who said that??? Who else has got a money pit?? Just trying to be funny here. You know me and my money pit. Gary | ||
| Gary LaBombard (Garylee)
Registered Member Username: Garylee Post Number: 141 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.203 Rating: N/A |
Money pit, MOney pit, who else has got a money pit other than me?? Just being funny. I have no idea about the oil consumption on your engine, wish I did. Been 5 years now just waiting. I am sure the real converters here will let you know if this is excessive or not, just hang on. Sonny Gray, where are you on this and how about you also Jim Shepard, all you professional busnuts out there jump in here when you can. Gary | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Registered Member Username: Drdave Post Number: 779 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 97.101.2.69 Rating: N/A |
My 6V92TA used a little over a gallon in 950 miles. and I do get a few spots. You may want to find someone with the same engine that you have and measure the dipstick. Yours may be too short and you may be overfilling the oil. A detroit will make excess oil vanish sometimes until it hits it's happy place on the stick. Also, The engine should be OFF for a while before you check the oil. A Lot of it will be up in the engine and places like the alternator if you have an oil cooled one. Let things settle for a while and then check. If you add oil immediately after shutdown you may be overfilling.... Just a few thoughts..... | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 23 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.223.242 Rating: N/A |
I drove 1650 miles last year with my old DD 8v71, used about 1 gallon. Not sure if that's normal or not. Newer motor until breakin might be differant. If your mechanic is an ole timer he might be right. Good Luck | ||
| Jim & Linda Callaghan (Jimc)
Registered Member Username: Jimc Post Number: 36 Registered: 2-2004 Posted From: 66.175.206.159 Rating: N/A |
My 4106 was using what I felt was a lot of oil also, about a gal. for every 700 to 1,000 miles. Then I read about not re-filling all the way to the full mark on the dip stick, I tried it once and lo and behold, it quit using oil. My mark is about 5/8 inch down from full, yours may vary but I would try that before I worried too much. Jim | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Registered Member Username: Prevost82 Post Number: 310 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 208.181.210.47 Rating: N/A |
I've used around 2 gallons in 6000 miles, but that was after I found the sweet spot on the dipstick, as dave said. If I try and keep it at the full mark it will use oil up pretty fast then when it gets to the sweet spot it will just sit there. My engine has around 60K miles on it thou. Ron | ||
| Dan West (Utahclaimjumper)
Registered Member Username: Utahclaimjumper Post Number: 48 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 208.66.39.51 Rating: N/A |
This is a common problem in aviation, most flyers dont have a mechanical back ground so do not have a clue how to treat an engine. I would not check the oil in your 8V71 unless it was before the first start up of the day, no other time does it matter. Leave the level at least two qts. low and you will find your use go down, most people dont realize they are chasing the top qt. or two.>>>Dan | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 566 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 75.201.16.48 Rating: N/A |
My dad being an old time truck driver especially with the 318 8v71 DD has always said that if a 318 DD isn't leaking or using oil like crazy then there is something wrong with it. A GOOD 318 will always need oil almost every time you check it! In my Eagle with the same motor, it needed oil all the time and it ran almost as good as my 8v92 I have now except on take offs! I would say your mechanic knows best as it sounds like he has been around those motors before! Ace | ||
| Bill Keller (Busnut104)
Registered Member Username: Busnut104 Post Number: 12 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 71.31.78.115 Rating: N/A |
Do not over fill, I always run mine half way on the stick, if I fill it will be to the half way point in just a little, start with the half way point very little usage, Have been running DD like this for over 30 years, and when the 318 whas the main eng, in big trucks most of my friends run on the half way point. Give it a try and ck often to make sure. | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 103 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 209.50.74.6 Rating: N/A |
Buddy Your rebuilder is right. It will take quite awhile for the engine to seatin. The 8V71 I rebuilt took 8000 miles to seat so have patience. The guys are right on the mark when they say run it a little low and you might find it slow down on oil consumtion. You are useing the finest oil available (that should start a conversation) in Shell Rotella 40 wt. I've used it for years in everything. Bill | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1252 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.189.94 Rating: N/A |
Buddy (and others) - Check your dipstick's calibration. The correct full mark should be one inch (1") below the interface between the bottom of the block and the oil pan, per DA BOOK. FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Don Evans (Doninwa)
Registered Member Username: Doninwa Post Number: 37 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 65.61.96.82 Rating: N/A |
If you have the Detroit manual with the section on dyno break in after rebuild, it is very interesting reading. Gives info on oil consumption and how much hard running it takes to properly break one in. A fair amount of time at full rated power. Find a long steep hill and let her scream. | ||
| Justin Griffith (Justin25taylor)
Registered Member Username: Justin25taylor Post Number: 17 Registered: 4-2007 Posted From: 70.135.89.28 Rating: N/A |
I have had them take as long as 20K before they settled down. As everyone has said, run it at the add mark and it will not sling as much. And as Don said it really needs to be ran at or very near WOT for several hours each day you drive it. Do make sure the governed WOT speed is correct. Best, Justin |