The oil change interval can be affected by several factors:
- Air/fuel ratio
- Ambient air conditions
- Engine application
- Fuel type
- Oil type
- Size of the oil sump
The S·O·S oil analysis program analyzes used oil in order to determine if the oil change interval is suitable for your specific engine. In the absence of S·O·S oil analysis, change the engine oil and filters according to the interval that is listed in Table 1. Refer to this Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Refill Capacities" to determine the size of the oil pan.
| Engine Oil Change Intervals | ||
| Engine | Sump Capacity | Oil Change Interval |
| Engines With a Shallow Sump | ||
| 3512C | |
Every 250 Service Hours |
| 3516C | |
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| Engines With a Standard Sump | ||
| 3512C | |
Every 500 Service Hours |
| Engines With a Deep Sump | ||
| 3512C | |
Every 1000 Service Hours |
| 3516C | |
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Hot oil and components can cause personal injury. Do not allow hot oil or components to contact skin. |
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Care must be taken to ensure that fluids are contained during performance of inspection, maintenance, testing, adjusting, and repair of the product. Be prepared to collect the fluid with suitable containers before opening any compartment or disassembling any component containing fluids. Refer to Special Publication, NENG2500, "Cat Dealer Service Tool Catalog" or refer to Special Publication, PECJ0003, "Cat Shop Supplies and Tools Catalog" for tools and supplies suitable to collect and contain fluids on Cat products. Dispose of all fluids according to local regulations and mandates. |
Do not drain the oil when the engine is cold. As the oil cools, waste particles settle on the bottom of the oil pan. The waste particles are not removed when the cold oil is drained. Drain the crankcase when the oil is warm. This method allows proper draining of the waste particles that are suspended in the oil.
Failure to follow this recommended procedure will allow the waste particles to be recirculated through the engine lubrication system with the new oil.
- After the engine has been operated at normal operating temperature, STOP the engine.
- Drain the oil according to the equipment on the engine.
- If the engine does not have a drain valve or a pump, remove an oil drain plug. Allow the oil to drain. After the oil has drained, clean the drain plug and clean the fitting for the drain plug. Install the drain plug. Tighten the drain plug to
145 ± 15 N·m (105 ± 10 lb ft) . - If the engine has an oil drain valve, open the valve. After the oil has drained, close the valve.
- If the engine has a pump for removing dirty oil, connect a hose to the outlet of the pump. Place the hose in a suitable container. Open the valve for the drain line. Turn the two marks on the valve so that one mark points to the pump and the second mark points to the drain line. Operate the pump until the crankcase is empty. Close the valve to the drain line. Disconnect the hose.
- If the oil drain valve has a “quick connect” coupling, attach the coupling. Open the drain valve in order to drain the crankcase. After the oil has drained, close the drain valve. Disconnect the coupling.
Note: Drain the oil into a suitable container. DO NOT drain the oil into the bilge sump. Dispose of the oil according to local regulations.
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Illustration 1 g00574534 Oil drain plug Note: If a suction device is used to remove oil from the oil pan, ensure that the suction device is clean to keep dirt out of the oil pan. Be careful not to strike the engine oil suction tubes or the piston cooling jets.
- If the engine does not have a drain valve or a pump, remove an oil drain plug. Allow the oil to drain. After the oil has drained, clean the drain plug and clean the fitting for the drain plug. Install the drain plug. Tighten the drain plug to
- Replace the engine oil filter elements before filling the crankcase with new oil.
Replace the Oil Filter Elements
Replace the engine oil filters when any of the following conditions occur:
- Every oil change
- The engine oil filter differential pressure reaches
103 kPa (15 psi) . - The oil filter elements have been used for 1000 service hours.
Note: Do not attempt to clean the used oil filters. Used oil filters will retain waste particles. The used oil filters would not filter the oil properly.
Service tools are available to aid in the service of oil filters. Consult your Caterpillar dealer for the part names and the part numbers. Follow the instructions that are supplied with the service tools. If the service tools are not used, perform the following appropriate procedure.
Replacing the Engine Oil Filters With the Engine Stopped
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Hot oil and components can cause personal injury. Do not allow hot oil or components to contact skin. |
Perform the following procedure after the oil has been drained.
Note: Use this procedure if the engine oil filters do not have a control valve.
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| Illustration 2 | g00799719 |
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(1) Bolts
(2) Cover (3) Plug (4) Drain valve (5) Drain | |
- Connect a hose to drain (5). Place the other end of the hose into a suitable container in order to collect the oil.
- Open drain valve (4). Remove plug (3). Allow the oil to drain. Clean the plug and install the plug. Close the drain valve. Remove the hose from the drain.
Note: Some oil will remain in the housing after the oil has been drained. This oil will pour out of the housing when cover (2) is removed. Prepare to catch the oil in a suitable container. Clean up any spilled oil with absorbent pillows or towels. DO NOT use absorbent particles to clean up the oil.
Show/hide tablePersonal injury can result from parts and/or covers under spring pressure.
Spring force will be released when covers are removed.
Be prepared to hold spring loaded covers as the bolts are loosened.
- Be alert to the spring force. Gradually loosen but do not remove bolts (1). Before removing the bolts, pry cover (2) loose or tap the cover with a rubber mallet in order to relieve any spring pressure.
Section view of the engine oil filter
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Illustration 3 g00799721 (2) Cover
(6) O-ring seal
(7) Spring
(8) Retainer
(9) Oil filter element - Remove cover (2) and spring (7). Remove O-ring seal (6), retainer (8), and oil filter elements (9).
- Clean cover (2), spring (7), O-ring seal (6), and retainer (8). Clean the inside of the oil filter housing.
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NOTICE Caterpillar oil filters are built to Caterpillar specifications. Use of an oil filter not recommended by Caterpillar could result in severe engine damage to the engine bearings, crankshaft, etc., as a result of the larger waste particles from unfiltered oil entering the engine lubricating system. Only use oil filters recommended by Caterpillar.
- Ensure that the new oil filter elements are in good condition. Install the new oil filter elements.
- Inspect the O-ring seal. Ensure that the surfaces for the O-ring seal are clean. Install a new O-ring seal if the old O-ring seal is damaged or deteriorated.
- Install retainer (8), spring (7) and cover (2). Ensure that the retainer and the spring are properly seated between the oil filter elements and the cover.
- Start the engine according to this Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Starting The Engine" procedure (Operation Section). Check for oil leaks.
Note: Drain the oil into a suitable container. Dispose of the oil according to local regulations.
Replacing the Engine Oil Filters During Engine Operation
If the engine is equipped with duplex oil filters, the engine oil filter elements can be changed while the engine is in operation. This procedure is useful if the oil filter elements require more frequent replacement than the engine oil.
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This filter contains hot, pressurized oil that can cause burns and fire hazards, which may result in bodily injury or death. Follow the instructions given in this Operation and Maintenance Manual and stop the engine if rapid air movement exists to blow the oil. |
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Warning: Vapor Explosion. May cause serious injury or death. Read the Operation and Maintenance Manual before conducting any maintenance on the duplex oil filter. |
- Open the "FILL" valve for a minimum of 5 minutes in order to fill the oil filter elements that will not be serviced. The oil filters that will not be serviced must be full of engine oil. Close the FILL valve.
- Move the control valve to the "AUX RUN" position in order to change the main oil filter elements. Move the selector valve to the "MAIN RUN" position in order to change the auxiliary oil filter elements.
- Allow the oil pressure gauge for the oil filter that is being changed to reach a "ZERO" pressure reading.
- Perform Step 1 through Step 8 of "Replacing the Engine Oil Filters With the Engine Stopped".
- Open the "FILL" valve for a minimum of 5 minutes in order to fill the new oil filter elements.
- Close the "FILL" valve. Rotate the control valve to the "RUN" position for the oil filter that was serviced.
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If the engine is equipped with an auxiliary oil filter system, extra oil must be added when filling the crankcase. If equipped with an auxiliary oil filter system that is not supplied by Caterpillar, follow the recommendations of the OEM. |
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Engine damage can occur if the crankcase is filled above the "FULL" mark on the oil level gauge (dipstick). An overfull crankcase can cause the crankshaft to dip into the oil. This will reduce the power that is developed and also force air bubbles into the oil. These bubbles (foam) can cause the following problems: reduction of the oil's ability to lubricate, reduction of oil pressure, inadequate cooling, oil blowing out of the crankcase breathers and excessive oil consumption. Excessive oil consumption will cause deposits to form on the pistons and in the combustion chamber. Deposits in the combustion chamber lead to the following problems: guttering of the valves, packing of carbon under the piston rings and wear of the cylinder liner. If the oil level is above the "FULL" mark on the oil level gauge, drain some of the oil immediately. |
Use the following procedure in order to fill the crankcase if the engine oil filters were replaced during engine operation.
- If the engine oil filters were replaced during engine operation, operate the engine at low idle. Ensure that the oil level is at the "FULL" mark on the "LOW IDLE" side of the oil level gauge.
- Add oil, if necessary. Remove the oil filler cap. Fill the crankcase through the oil filler tube only.
Use the following procedure in order to fill the crankcase if the engine oil filters were replaced with the engine stopped. Refer to this Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Fluid Recommendations" for information about choosing the oil for the engine.
- Remove the oil filler cap. Fill the crankcase through the oil filler tube only. Clean the oil filler cap. Install the oil filler cap.
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NOTICE To prevent crankshaft or bearing damage, crank engine with fuel off to fill all filters before starting.
Do Not crank engine for more than 30 seconds.
- Close the fuel supply line and crank the engine until the oil pressure gauge indicates
70 kPa (10 psi) . Open the fuel supply line. Allow the starting motor to cool for 2 minutes before cranking again. - Start the engine according to this Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Starting The Engine" procedure (Operation Section). Operate the engine at low idle for 2 minutes. in order to ensure that the lubrication system has oil and that the oil filters are filled with oil. Inspect the engine for oil leaks. Ensure that the oil level is at the "FULL" mark on the "LOW IDLE" side of the oil level gauge.
- Stop the engine and allow the oil to drain back into the sump for a minimum of 10 minutes.
- Remove the oil level gauge and check the oil level. Maintain the oil level to the "FULL" mark on the "ENGINE STOPPED" side of the oil level gauge.
Inspect the Used Oil Filter Elements
Cut the used oil filter element open with a utility knife. Remove the metal wrap. Cut the filter element free from the end caps. Spread apart the pleats and inspect the element for metal debris. An excessive amount of debris in the element may indicate early wear or a pending failure.
Use a magnet to differentiate between the ferrous metals and the nonferrous metals that are found in the element. Ferrous metals may indicate wear on the steel and the cast iron parts of the engine. Nonferrous metals may indicate wear on the aluminum parts, the brass parts, or the bronze parts of the engine. Parts that may be affected include the following components: main bearings, rod bearings, turbocharger bearings and cylinder heads.
Aluminum debris may indicate problems with the bearings of the front gears. If you find aluminum debris, inspect the crankshaft vibration damper and the idler gear bearings.
, Small amounts of debris may be found in the oil filter element due to normal wear and friction. If an excessive amount of debris is found in the oil filter element, consult your Caterpillar dealer in order to arrange for further oil analysis.