C15 On-Highway Engines Caterpillar


Lubrication System

Usage:

C15 BXS

Engine Without BrakeSaver



Illustration 1g00291430
Typical example
(1) Oil supply line
(2) Oil return line
(3) Oil cooler
(4) Oil manifold
(5) Oil filter
(6) Oil pan

The lubrication system has the following components:

  • oil pan

  • oil pump

  • oil cooler

  • oil filter

  • turbocharger oil lines

  • oil passages for the cylinder block

Oil Flow Through The Oil Filter And Oil Cooler



Illustration 2g00291431
Oil flow when the engine is warm.
(1) Oil manifold
(2) Oil supply line
(3) Oil return line
(4) Oil filter
(5) Bypass valve for the oil filter
(6) Oil pan
(7) Oil pump
(8) Bypass valve for the oil cooler
(9) Suction lines
(10) Oil cooler

When the engine is warm, oil comes from oil pan (6) through suction lines (9) to oil pump (7). The oil pump sends hot oil to oil cooler (10). The oil is then sent to oil filter (4). Oil from the oil filter is sent to oil manifold (1) in the cylinder block and to oil supply line (2) for the turbocharger. Oil from the turbocharger goes back through oil return line (3) to the oil pan.



Illustration 3g00291433
Oil flow when the engine is cold.
(1) Oil manifold
(2) Oil supply line
(3) Oil return line
(4) Oil filter
(5) Bypass valve
(6) Oil pan
(7) Oil pump
(8) Bypass valve
(9) Suction lines
(10) Oil cooler

When the engine is cold, oil comes from oil pan (6) through suction lines (9) to oil pump (7). When the oil is cold, an oil pressure difference in the bypass valves also causes the bypass valves to open. These bypass valves then provide immediate lubrication to all of the engine components when cold oil with high viscosity causes a restriction to the oil flow through oil cooler (10) and oil filter (4). The oil pump then sends the cold oil through bypass valve (8) for the oil cooler and through bypass valve (5) for the oil filter. The oil then goes to oil manifold (1) in the cylinder block and to supply line (2) for the turbocharger. Oil from the turbocharger goes back through oil return line (3) to the oil pan.

When the oil is hot, an oil pressure difference in the bypass valves also causes the bypass valves to close. There is normal oil flow through the oil cooler and the oil filter.

The bypass valves will also open when there is a restriction in the oil cooler or the oil filter. This prevents a restricted oil filter or a restricted oil cooler from stopping the lubrication of the engine.

Engines With BrakeSaver

The lubrication system has the following components:

  • oil pan

  • two-section oil pump

  • oil cooler

  • oil filter

  • turbocharger oil lines

  • oil passages for the cylinder block

The front section of the oil pump supplies oil for lubrication of the engine. The rear section of the oil pump supplies oil for the operation of the BrakeSaver. The front section of the oil pump sends oil through the oil filter. The rear section of the oil pump sends oil through the oil cooler.

Oil Flow through The Oil Filter



Illustration 4g00291435
Oil flow when the engine is warm.
(1) Oil manifold
(2) Oil supply line
(3) Oil return line
(4) Oil filter
(5) Bypass
(6) Oil pan
(7) Front section of the oil pump
(8) Suction lines

When the engine is warm, oil comes from oil pan (6) through suction lines (8) to the front section of oil pump (7). The front section of the oil pump sends oil to the oil filter. The oil from the oil filter is sent to oil manifold (1) in the cylinder block and to oil supply line (2) for the turbocharger. Oil from the turbocharger goes back through oil return line (3) to the oil pan.



Illustration 5g00291438
oil flow when the engine is cold.
(1) Oil manifold
(2) Oil supply line
(3) Oil return line
(4) Oil filter
(5) Bypass valve
(6) Oil pan
(7) Front section of the oil pump
(8) Suction lines

When the engine is cold, oil comes from oil pan (6) through suction lines (8). The oil is drawn into the front section of the oil pump (7) from the suction bell. When the oil is cold, an oil pressure difference in bypass valve (5) causes the valve to open. The bypass valve provides immediate lubrication to all components when cold oil with high viscosity causes a restriction to the oil flow through oil filter (4). The front section of the oil pump sends the cold oil through bypass valve (5) for the oil filter. The oil from the oil filter is sent to oil manifold (1) in the cylinder block and to oil supply line (2) for the turbocharger. Oil from the turbocharger goes back through oil return line (3) to the oil pan.

When the oil is hot, an oil pressure difference in the bypass valves also causes the bypass valves to close. There is normal oil flow through the oil filter.

The bypass valves will also open when there is a restriction in the oil filter. This prevents a restricted oil filter from stopping the lubrication of the engine.

Oil Flow Through The Oil Cooler



Illustration 6g00291440
Oil flow when the engine is warm and the BrakeSaver is "OFF".
(1) Oil cooler
(2) Bypass valve
(3) BrakeSaver control valve
(4) BrakeSaver
(5) Rear section of the oil pump
(6) Oil pan
(7) Suction lines

When the engine is warm, oil comes from oil pan (6) through suction lines (7) to the rear section of oil pump (5). The rear section of the oil pump sends oil to BrakeSaver control valve (3). When the BrakeSaver is in the off position, oil is sent to oil cooler (1). The oil cooler cools the hot oil. The cool oil from the oil cooler goes back through the BrakeSaver control valve to the oil pan.



Illustration 7g00291441
Oil flow when the engine is warm and the BrakeSaver is "ON".
(1) Oil cooler
(2) Bypass valve
(3) BrakeSaver control valve
(4) BrakeSaver
(5) Rear section of the oil pump
(6) Engine oil pan
(7) Suction lines

When BrakeSaver control valve (3) is on, the oil from the rear section of oil pump (5) is sent to BrakeSaver (4). When the oil goes through the BrakeSaver, the oil is sent back to the BrakeSaver control valve. The control valve sends the hot oil to oil cooler (1). The oil cooler cools the hot oil. The cool oil from the oil cooler goes back through the BrakeSaver control valve to engine oil pan (6).



Illustration 8g00291442
Oil flow when the engine is cold and the BrakeSaver is "OFF".
(1) Oil cooler
(2) Bypass valve
(3) BrakeSaver control valve
(4) BrakeSaver
(5) Rear section of the oil pump
(6) Oil pan
(7) Suction lines

The oil has a high viscosity when the engine is cold. The high viscosity causes a restriction to the oil flow through oil cooler (1). When the oil is cold, an oil pressure difference in bypass valve (2) causes the valve to open. When the bypass valve is open, the oil from the rear section of oil pump (5) can go through the valve. The oil then drains back into engine oil pan (6).

Oil Flow In The Engine



Illustration 9g00988185
(1) Feed for oil rail
(2) Oil rail
(3) Variable valve actuator
(4) Diverter valve for oil rail
(5) Crankshaft main bearings

The oil from the oil manifold is sent under pressure through drilled passages to crankshaft main bearings (5). The oil flows through drilled holes in the crankshaft. This oil flows to the rod journals on the crankshaft for lubrication. A small amount of oil is sent through piston cooling jets. The piston cooling jets cool the pistons.

Oil flows through passages in the timing gear housing and the accessory drive gear. This oil flows to the air compressor through an oil passage. The rear crankshaft seal is also lubricated by an oil passage.

Oil flows into the cylinder head via a hollow locating dowel in the top deck of the cylinder block. Oil travels to camshaft bearing journals and the three center rocker arm shaft supports through drilled passages in the cylinder head. The supports supply oil to each rocker shaft. Oil flows to the bushings of the electronic unit injector rocker arm through holes in the rocker arm shaft. This same oil lubricates the valve and the rollers. Oil flows through drilled passages in the rocker arms. This oil lubricates the roller, the valve bridge and the contact surfaces of the actuator of the unit injector. Splash oil lubrication is used to lubricate other components of the valve system.

Variable valve acutators (3) use pressure from the engine oil to actuate the inlet valves. Oil is fed into oil rail (2) by oil feed (1). A valve is located in oil feed (1). This valve keeps the pressure spikes from variable valve acutators (3) from entering the main oil gallery. Diverter valve (4) is used to allow oil to travel back into the head when the engine is cold. When the engine is warm the high pressure oil is exhausted through outlets in the housings of variable valve acutators (3).


NOTICE

Do not disassemble the Variable Valve Actuator. There are no components of the Variable Valve Actuator that are serviceable. If the Variable Valve Actuator is disassembled, the warranty will be void.


When all the components are lubricated the excess oil returns to the engine oil pan.

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