Selecting the Viscosity
Ambient temperature is the temperature of the air in the immediate vicinity of the machine. Temperature may differ due to the machine application and from the generic ambient temperature for a geographic region. In order to select the proper oil viscosity, review the regional ambient temperature and the potential ambient temperature for a given machine application. Use the higher temperature of the two ambient temperatures in order to select the oil viscosity. Use the highest oil viscosity that is allowed for the ambient temperature when you start the machine. For arctic applications, the preferred method is the use of heaters for machine compartments and a high viscosity oil.
The proper oil viscosity grade is determined by the minimum outside ambient temperature. In order to determine the proper oil viscosity grade, refer to the "Min" column in the table. This information reflects the coldest ambient temperature condition for starting a cold machine and for operating a cold machine. Refer to the "Max" column in the table in order to select the oil viscosity grade for operating the machine at the highest temperature that is anticipated.
Machines that are operated continuously should use oils that have the higher oil viscosity in the final drives and in the differentials. The oils that have the higher oil viscosity will maintain the highest possible oil film thickness. Consult your dealer if additional information is needed.
Note: SAE 0W oil and SAE 5W oil are not recommended for heavily loaded machines or machines that are operated continuously. These viscosity grades are not recommended for use in hydraulic hammers. The oils that have the higher oil viscosity will maintain the highest possible oil film thickness. Consult your dealer if additional information is needed.
Note: Some machine models and/or machine compartments do not allow the use of all available viscosity grades.
Lubricant Viscosities for Ambient Temperatures
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Do NOT use only the "Oil Viscosities" column when determining the recommended oil for a machine compartment. The "Oil Type and Classification" column MUST also be used. |
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The footnotes are a key part of the "Lubricant Viscosities for Ambient Temperatures" tables. Read ALL footnotes that pertain to the machine compartment in question. |
Note: Use the oil type and the classification that is recommended for the various machine compartments.
Note: Some machine compartments allow the use of more than one oil type. For the best results, do not mix oil types.
Note: Different brands of oils may use different additive packages. For the best results, do not mix oil brands.
Note: Cat oil is the preferred oil. All other listed oils are acceptable oils.
Caterpillar has determined that H Series Medium Wheel Loaders equipped with the High Ambient Cooling Attachment can operate with Cat HYDO Advanced 10 Hydraulic System Oil in ambient temperatures from -20° C (-4° F) to 50° C (122° F).
| Lubricant Viscosities for Ambient Temperatures (1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compartment or System | Oil Type and Classification | Oil Viscosities | °C | °F | ||
| Min | Max | Min | Max | |||
| Engine Crankcase (2) (3) | Cat DEO-ULS Cat DEO Multigrade Cat DEO Cold Weather Cat ECF-1-a, Cat ECF-2, Cat ECF-3 (6) |
SAE 0W20 | -40 | 10 | -40 | 50 |
| SAE 0W30 | -40 | 30 | -40 | 86 | ||
| SAE 0W40 | -40 | 40 | -40 | 104 | ||
| SAE 5W30 | -30 | 30 | -22 | 86 | ||
| SAE 5W40 | -30 | 50 | -22 | 122 | ||
| SAE 10W30 (7) | -18 | 40 | 0 | 104 | ||
| SAE 10W40 | -18 | 50 | 0 | 122 | ||
| SAE 15W40 | -9.5 | 50 | 15 | 122 | ||
| Power Shift Transmission | Cat TDTO Cat TDTO-TMS Cat Arctic TDTO commercial TO-4 |
SAE 0W20 (8) | -40 | 10 | -40 | 50 |
| SAE 0W30 (9) | -40 | 20 | -40 | 68 | ||
| SAE 5W30 (9) | -30 | 20 | -22 | 68 | ||
| SAE 10W | -20 | 10 | -4 | 50 | ||
| SAE 30 (10) | 0 | 35 | 32 | 95 | ||
| SAE 50 (10) (11) | 10 | 50 | 50 | 122 | ||
| TDTO-TMS (10) (12) | -20 | 43 | 4 | -110 | ||
| Hydraulic Systems | Cat HYDO Advanced 10 (13) (14) Cat MTO (13) (14) Cat DEO (13) (14) Cat DEO-ULS (13) (14) Cat TDTO (13) (14) Cat Arctic TDTO (13) (14) Cat TDTO-TMS (13) (14) Cat ECF-1-a, Cat ECF-2, Cat ECF-3, Cat TO-4, Cat TO-4M, Cat BF-1 (13) (14) |
SAE 0W20 | -40 | 40 | -40 | 104 |
| SAE 0W30 | -40 | 40 | -40 | 104 | ||
| SAE 5W30 | -30 | 40 | -22 | 104 | ||
| SAE 5W40 | -30 | 40 | -22 | 104 | ||
| SAE 10W (15) | -20 | 40 | -4 | 104 | ||
| SAE 30 | 10 | 50 | 50 | 122 | ||
| SAE 10W30 | -20 | 40 | -4 | 104 | ||
| SAE 15W40 | -15 | 50 | 5 | 122 | ||
| Cat MTO | -20 | 40 | -4 | 104 | ||
| Cat TDTO-TMS (16) | -15 | 50 | 5 | 122 | ||
| Drive Axles and Drive Box |
Cat TDTO Cat TDTO-TMS commercial TO-4 |
SAE 0W20 (8) | -40 | 0 | -40 | 32 |
| SAE 0W30 (9) | -40 | 10 | -40 | 50 | ||
| SAE 5W30 (9) | -35 | 10 | -31 | 50 | ||
| SAE 10W | -25 | 15 | -13 | 59 | ||
| SAE 30 | -20 | 43 | -4 | 110 | ||
| SAE 50 | 10 | 50 | 50 | 122 | ||
| TDTO-TMS (12) | -30 | 43 | -22 | 110 | ||
| External Lubrication Points | Advanced 3Moly | NLGI Grade 2 | -20 | 40 | -4 | 104 |
| Steering Column Drive Shaft Universal Joints Drive Shaft Support Bearing |
Multipurpose Grease | NLGI Grade 2 | -30 | 40 | -22 | 104 |
| ( 1 ) | When you are operating the machine in temperatures below -20°C (-4°F), refer to Special Publication, SEBU5898, "Cold Weather Recommendations". This publication is available from your Caterpillar dealer. |
| ( 2 ) | Supplemental heat is recommended for cold-soaked starts below the minimum ambient temperature. Supplemental heat may be required for cold-soaked starts that are above the minimum temperature that is stated, depending on the parasitic load and other factors. Cold-soaked starts occur when the engine has not been operated for a period of time, allowing the oil to become more viscous due to cooler ambient temperatures. |
| ( 3 ) | Cat DEO-ULS or commercial oils meeting Cat ECF-3 specification are recommended for use in diesel engines that are equipped with Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) and other aftertreatment devices. |
| ( 6 ) | Cat Engine Crankcase Fluid specifications. Commercial alternative diesel engine oils must meet one or more of these Cat ECF specifications. |
| ( 7 ) | SAE 10W-30 is the preferred viscosity grade for the 3116, 3126, C7, C-9 and the C9 diesel engines when the ambient temperature is between -18° C (0° F) and 40° C (104° F). |
| ( 8 ) | First Choice: Cat Arctic TDTO - SAE 0W-20. Second Choice: Oils of full synthetic basestock that do not have viscosity index improvers and do meet the performance requirements of the Cat TO-4 specification for the SAE 30 viscosity grade. Typical lubricant viscosity grades are SAE 0W-20, SAE 0W-30, and SAE 5W-30. Third Choice: Oils that contain a TO-4 additive package and a lubricant viscosity grade of SAE 0W-20, SAE 0W-30, or SAE 5W-30. |
| ( 9 ) | First Choice: Oils of full synthetic basestock that do not have viscosity index improvers and do meet the performance requirements of the Cat TO-4 specification for the SAE 30 viscosity grade. Typical viscosity grades are SAE 0W-20, SAE 0W-30, and SAE 5W-30. Second Choice: Oils with a TO-4 type additive package and a lubricant viscosity grade of SAE 0W-20, SAE 0W-30, or SAE 5W-30. |
| ( 10 ) | Except for machines that are equipped with a hydraulic drive winch gear case. Use SAE 30 viscosity grade for 0°C (32°F) to 43°C (110°F) or Cat TDTO-TMS for -20°C (-4°F) to 50°C (122°F). |
| ( 11 ) | Except for machines that are equipped with ICM controlled transmissions. Do not use SAE 50 viscosity grade oil in ICM controlled transmissions. |
| ( 12 ) | Cat TDTO-TMS (Transmission Multi-Season) (synthetic blend that exceeds the Cat TO-4M multigrade specification requirements). |
| ( 13 ) | Cat HYDO Advanced 10 is the preferred oil for use in most Caterpillar machine hydraulic and hydrostatic transmission systems when ambient temperature is between -20 °C (-4 °F) and 40 °C (104 °F). Cat HYDO Advanced 10 has an SAE viscosity grade of 10W. Cat HYDO Advanced 10 has a 50% increase in the standard oil drain interval for machine hydraulic systems (3000 hours versus 2000 hours) over second and third choice oils - when following the maintenance interval schedule for oil filter changes and for oil sampling that is stated in the Operation and Maintenance Manual for your particular machine. 6000 hour oil drain intervals are possible when using S·O·S Services oil analysis. Contact your Cat dealer for details. In order to gain the most benefit from the improved performance designed into Cat HYDO Advanced 10, when switching to Cat HYDO Advanced 10, cross contamination with the previous oil should be kept to less than 10%. |
| ( 14 ) | Second choice oils are Cat MTO, Cat DEO, Cat DEO-ULS, Cat TDTO, Cat Arctic TDTO, Cat TDTO-TMS, Cat DEO SYN, Cat Arctic DEO SYN. Third choice oils are commercial oils that meet Cat ECF-1-a, Cat ECF-2, Cat ECF-3, Cat TO-4, or the Cat TO-4M specifications, and that have a minimum zinc additive level of 0.09 percent (900 ppm). Commercial biodegradable hydraulic oil must meet the Cat BF-1 specification. Refer to the machine Operation and Maintenance Manual and/or contact your local Caterpillar dealer before using commercial oils that meet Cat BF-1 in Cat Hydraulic Excavators. The minimum viscosity for commercial alternative oils used in most Cat machine hydraulic and hydrostatic transmission systems is 6.6 cSt at 100 °C (212 °F) ("ASTM D445"). |
| ( 15 ) | For machines equipped with a High Ambient Cooling Attachment the maximum ambient temperature is 50° C (122° F) |
| ( 16 ) | Cat TDTO-TMS (Transmission Multi-Season) (synthetic blend that exceeds the Cat TO-4M multigrade specification requirements) |