Usage:
All Caterpillar Vehicular Products
- SUPPLEMENT: 11/05/84
SERVICE MAGAZINE, APRIL 5, 1982, PAGE 3, of the article "Lubricant Recommendations Have Been Changed For Vehicular Products".
In the bar chart in the "Power Shift Transmission" section, put a mark through the " and " and the note "For Off-Highway Trucks Use Hydraulic System Recommendations".
In the "Hydraulic Systems" section of the bar chart, add an asterisk and the note "For 768C Tractors (2X1-2X349), 772B Tractors (64W1-64W167), 776 Tractors (14H1-14H205), 769C Trucks (1X1-1X2876), 773B Trucks (63W1-63W1220), and 777 Trucks (84A1-84A1283) see the bar for SAE 30 oil in the Power Shift Transmission Section".
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Several changes have been made to the lubricant recommendations for Caterpillar's vehicular products. These changes affect the recommendation for wheel-axle lubricants, for viscosity grades and for standard oil change intervals.
This article summarizes the changes according to their specific topics. For reference purposes, a bar-type chart which provides the current viscosity grades and temperature ranges for the lubricants in their various applications also has been included.
Wheel-Axle Lubricants
The recommended axle lubricants were recently changed for all 814, 824 and 825 Wheel Tractors; all 815 and 816 Compactors; and all 910, 920, 930, 950, 966, 980, 988 and 992 Wheel Loaders, excluding those machines equipped with torque-proportioning differentials.
The recommendations for these machines have been changed to API (American Petroleum Institute) Service Class CD/TO-2 oils from API Service Class GL-5 gear oils. This change was necessary because the axle compartment on many of these machines houses a multiple-disc brake as well as the differential and the final drive. When GL-5 gear oil is used, the multiple-disc brake will emit an objectionable noise. Test data indicates that CD/TO-2 oil will prevent the noise.
The API Service Class CD/TO-2 oils of the viscosity grades shown in the chart will adequately protect the gears in the differential and the final drive. The SAE30 and SAE50 oils are the preferred viscosity grades for the temperature ranges shown in the chart.
Machines equipped with torque-proportioning differentials will continue to use API Service Class GL-5 gear oils of the viscosity grades shown in the chart for skidders, wheel tractor-scrapers and off-highway trucks.
Viscosity Grades
The viscosity grade recommendations for all vehicle compartments have been revised. The chart shows the current viscosity grade recommendations for the different compartments and the hydraulic systems for all Caterpillar vehicular products.
Multigrade oils are generally preferred for engines because they provide the required viscosity over a greater range of temperatures. However, since ambient temperatures have no significant influence on engine oil-to-bearing temperatures, the lower viscosity oils required for cold weather starting do not provide the best lubrication at operating temperatures.
The prefixes "SPC" and "SPC-EO" are general abbreviations used by Caterpillar to identify special oils such as synthetic or semi-synthetic oils.
Standard Oil Change Interval
For many years, Caterpillar's recommended engine oil change intervals were based on a maximum sulfur content of 0.4% for diesel fuels. The standard change intervals are now based on a maximum sulfur content of up to 0.5% for the diesel fuels when API Service Class CD oils are used in the engines. This change was made to align the recommendations with the current ASTM fuel sulfur limits for No. 2D fuel.
Standard change intervals for engine oils are permissible with fuels having 0.5% or greater sulfur contents. This is possible through the use of CD oils which have a total base number (TBN) equal to 20 times the sulfur content of the fuel. The total base number is an oil's alkalinity reserve as measured by the ASTM procedure D-2896 or D-664. Caterpillar's recommendations are based on D-2896 ratings.
Lubricant Chart
The chart which follows pertains only to viscosities and to temperatures. It does not address the classification (quality) of oils. For additional information regarding oil classifications-CD, CD/TO-2, etc. -- refer to the machine's Maintenance Guide.
For the hydraulic systems and the different compartments in Caterpillar's vehicular products, each bar indicates the range of ambient temperatures in which that lubricant should be used.
For the engine portion of the chart, the left end of each bar indicates the lowest ambient temperature in which that particular viscosity oil should be used in an engine that is to be started without supplemental heat. When temperatures are below the range indicated by the bar, either a more suitable oil or supplemental heat should be used. The right end of each bar indicates the temperatures above which that oil should not be used. For example, an SPC 5W-20, a 5W-20 or a 10W oil is not recommended for use at temperatures above 10°C (50°F).
