3300 Engine Oil Level Maintenance And High Oil Consumption Caterpillar

Problem:

Reference: JANUARY 27, 1999 ENGINE TIB, COMPONENT CODE 1300, "3300 GENERATOR SET OIL LEVEL MAINTENANCE AND HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION"

Improper oil level maintenance practices can lead to reports of high oil consumption on 3300 engines.

Solution:

Please use the following procedures for optimizing oil consumption and establishing the level of oil consumption for use in determining whether or not the engine may require additional investigation up to an including a piston change, as defined by Caterpillar Inc.:

1. All oil level maintenance should be performed only when the engine is stopped, and after the oil has had a chance to drain into the oil pan from the cylinder block and the front gear train, and after the air in the oil has been allowed to dissipate (after approximately 20 minutes). If the engine is still running, a significant portion of the oil added in the filler will be hung up in the block and gear train. In addition, while the engine is running, the oil level in the pan actually is tilted and inconsistent. While the engine is running the oil in the pan is being pulled up on the right side of the pan and drawn down on the left side of pan because of crankshaft windage. This can result in inaccurate oil level reading on the dipstick. Only use the "Engine Running" marks on the dipstick to ensure there is sufficient oil in the pan to prevent a loss in oil pressure. DO NOT use the "Engine Running" marks on the dipstick for oil level maintenance.

2. Ensure the engine is level before performing oil level maintenance. This is not normally a problem with commercial engines because they are typically leveled at installation. However, it is a critical consideration for mobile equipment that may be operation is on steep grades.

3. Allow the oil level to drop to the "ADD" mark on the dipstick before adding new oil. Maintain the oil level below the "FULL" mark on the dipstick. Consistently adding oil to raise the oil level to the "FULL" mark can lead to overfill. This is because adding a whole quart/liter of oil can result in as little as a 3 mm change in oil level, depending on where the oil level is at the time (above the block/pan joint versus entirely in the sump).

4. Check the "Engine Stopped" calibration of the oil level dipstick at an oil and filter change. After new filters have been installed and the proper amount of oil added to the pan, run the engine for a few minutes. Then stop the engine and allow the engine to stand for a few minutes more. BE SURE THE ENGINE IS LEVEL. Remark the "FULL" mark on the dipstick if necessary. Please consult the applicable Operation And Maintenance Manual for the correct oil fill volume for use in the dipstick calibration. The amount of oil volume between the "ADD" and "FULL" marks on the dipstick can be determined by draining the difference between the marks and measuring the amount.

NOTE: Please ensure the "ADD" mark does not change from what is stamped on the production dipstick. This will maintain the engine tilt capability without a drop in oil pressure.

5. Pick a time each day for oil level maintenance (before or after a shift for example), and record oil and fuel usage consistently.

6. Oil consumption, as defined by Caterpillar, must always be in terms of the ratio of fuel burned, in liters or gallons per quart or liter of oil used. The minimum acceptable oil consumption, per Caterpillar, for the 3300 engine is "60 gallons of fuel per quart of oil" or "240 liters of fuel per liter of oil". Oil consumption in terms of oil added per day is an unacceptable measure for oil consumption. This is because more oil will normally be consumed with higher load factor (higher fuel rate) operations.

7. On a new engine, try to allow at least 2 oil change periods (500 hours) of engine operation in the customers's typical application. During this period maintain consistent fuel and oil usage records to establish an oil consumption level (The ratio of fuel burned, in liters or gallons per quart or liter of oil used). The oil consumption level must be established before requesting a piston change.

8. At this time, only 330B Excavators and 3300 Generator Set Engines are authorized to be reworked with the new 4 mm wide oil ring pistons. These pistons help to reduce light load oil consumption. The 3306C (9TL) Truck Engine has used the wider oil ring design since first production. See the Reference TIB for 3300 generator set information. For 330B Excavators, the new 156-8263 Piston (for use with only the new 6I-0497 Oil Ring) is effective with 330B (6DR2822) Excavator and 3306 (6NC12063) Machine Engine.

COPYRIGHT 1999 CATERPILLAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED