• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

I blew up my Detroit

kshansen

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
11,128
Location
Central New York, USA
Occupation
Retired Mechanic in Stone Quarry
A guy i used to know tore down a 6-71 and slapped the head back on and found out when he went to set the valves and injectors that he had the head on backwards. There may have been a little bit too much whiskey imbibed during reassembly between him and his helper:rolleyes:
You mean having the cam followers riding on the balance shaft would cause a problem?:D
 

mountainguyed67

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2017
Messages
594
Location
Fresno, California, USA

Thats what mine is. The replacement engine was also RC, but it was “dressed up” very different. The guy I bought it from thought I had to use it like it was, and would adapt around it. I told him I’d have to make it the same or it wouldn’t work. None of the new type components would have worked, there wasn’t room for them. There was a spin on filter, but the brake air and master cylinder go there. Plus mine has an automatic transmission, and the original parts connect to the transmission cooler. I quickly went to making everything like it was on the old engine.
 

Rustyfender

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2021
Messages
141
Location
Ontario, Canada
Occupation
Equipment operator
Yes I have all the parts I will be transferring over but , I want to make it run first as it sits on a frame should be fairly simple.
 

mountainguyed67

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2017
Messages
594
Location
Fresno, California, USA
You got a stationary power engine like I did? For me that meant swapping a lot of parts. Is the bell housing the same? I had to swap the bell housing.

We’d love it if you posted pictures.
 

willie59

Administrator
Joined
Dec 21, 2008
Messages
13,361
Location
Knoxville TN
Occupation
Service Manager
Sounds like you're on the road to getting it going again, hope the replacement engine works out well. If you get it going, whatever you do, don't use 15W-40 in that engine, that oil will murder a 2 stroke Detroit.
 

Bluox

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2010
Messages
1,960
Location
WA state
Sounds like you're on the road to getting it going again, hope the replacement engine works out well. If you get it going, whatever you do, don't use 15W-40 in that engine, that oil will murder a 2 stroke Detroit.
You post this almost every time some one post a DD quiz so exactly how many engines have you seen that were defiantly "murdered" by using 15W-40 oil?
Bob
 

willie59

Administrator
Joined
Dec 21, 2008
Messages
13,361
Location
Knoxville TN
Occupation
Service Manager
You post this almost every time some one post a DD quiz so exactly how many engines have you seen that were defiantly "murdered" by using 15W-40 oil?
Bob
There is plenty of documented info out there Bluox, including from Detroit Diesel themselves recommending to not use multi viscosity oil in those engines, although this info is becoming a bit antiquated as these engines haven't been a part of the mainstream for many years now. Yes, I know, I post this every time I see a 2 stroke Detroit post, trust me, I take no pleasure in this repetition, but I'm not the message, just the messenger, the documentation is out there. Myself, yes, I've seen plenty of 2 strokes back in my day that had serious piston, ring, and liner failures, although I could in no way prove that it was caused by those engines were using 15W/40, which they were. But one I have seen that perked my spidey senses, an 8V-71 in an Ingersoll compressor, smoked like the woods was on fire when we got it. I dumped the oil, added straight SAE40 Delo 100, the more we ran that thing the smoke problem from the exhaust cleared up. Anecdotal? For sure it is, but it sure gave credence in my mind to what Detroit Diesel recommenced in those engines, SAE40W, not 15W/40.
 

Bluox

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2010
Messages
1,960
Location
WA state
I don't believe DD ever recommend a synthetic 40 motor oil.
But they have always said 15W-40 was acceptable cold weather oil .
In fact not to long ago someone on here posted a DD bulletin from a few years back that said ok to 15W-40 .
Any DD will smoke if the oil is not change often enough.
Bob
 

Vetech63

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Messages
6,362
Location
Oklahoma
Thanks for that memo, I personally did not know that and I would have dumped in 15w40
You are going to get differing opinions on oil type. I know early in the Detroit years the recommendation was a straight 30/40 weight. All I know is in the last 20+ years I have always used Shell Rotella T 15W40 in all the Detroits I have rebuilt or maintained and have never had an oil related issue. Take that for what its worth;)
 

Bluox

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2010
Messages
1,960
Location
WA state
You are going to get differing opinions on oil type. I know early in the Detroit years the recommendation was a straight 30/40 weight. All I know is in the last 20+ years I have always used Shell Rotella T 15W40 in all the Detroits I have rebuilt or maintained and have never had an oil related issue. Take that for what its worth;)
In the early 80s DD gave blessing to 15W-40.
I worked jobs where the only motor oil the greasers carried was 15W-40 for the Cats and DD .
What most people miss is the oil change interval on DD is 100+/- hours.
Bob
 
Top