JD 440 (GM 2-53)

JD440ICD2006 · Post by **JD440ICD2006** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:46 pm

I am getting close to having my 2-53 ready to install on my crawler.
I hear different answers about the brand and type of engine oil to use. Some say use high detergent, some say do NOT use high detergent.
The service manual clearly states to use a high detergent oil.
Any help on the correct oil will be appreciated.

Post by **Lavoy** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:03 pm

Double check on the high detergent, everything I have ever heard on the two stroke Detroits is NEVER use a high detergent oil. Local guy did this in his gravel truck, ended up costing him a rebuild way earlier than it should have. I know in the old Terex crawler we had with an 8-71N, we always ran a lower series Amoco than we ran in all of the Deere's.
I believe the one common oil I hear about for the Detroit's is DELO, I think Amoco makes it, probably only in a straight weight.
For the use you are going to have, maybe not really a bid deal, but in OTR trucks and industrial applications, I have read and heard that it is critical.
Lavoy

JD440ICD2006 · Post by **JD440ICD2006** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:46 pm

I found a Delo 30 WT, would that be correct?

I looked in the book and it does state to use "highly detergent" straight wgt oil. What it does warn against is using multi wgt oils such as a 10W 30.

Post by **Lavoy** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:20 pm

Keep in mind, "highly detergent" for 1959-60 would be quite different than highly detergent nowadays, that would be the only thing I could think of.
Delo 30 is one of the ones I hear the most about.
Lavoy

OneWelder · Post by **OneWelder** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:06 pm

Delo is chevron, it is made for diesels and a very good oil
the old Detroit's do not want multi-grade oils

as far as I know diesels have used a higher detergent oil from the fifty's until present and probably before that

As far as i know any engine with an oil filter should have detergent oil
Any engine without oil filter should run NON detergent oil-
the reason is detergent oil suspends the dirt , non detergent lets it fall out - so filter will clean suspended dirt in detergent oil

The big problem with detergent non detergent was when multi-weight oils came out people tried using it old engines that were full of crud - the detergent would release all this into the circulating oil and the filter could not keep = engine destruct
I have rebuilt many older engines and used multi- weight detergent oils in them from start and there never was a problem

As far as I know compressor oil is the only truly non detergent sold know I am not going say this very well but the reason Detroit's do not like multiweght is all the gearing in motor crushes what ever it is they put oil to make it multi-weight( I remember it as being described as little balls in the oil )
This is about all the oil education I remember

JD440ICD2006 · Post by **JD440ICD2006** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:11 pm

I appreciate you and Lavoy posting information on this. What you say about detergent/non detergent makes sense.
Looks like the Delo 100 - 30 wgt fits the specs. The service manual from 1959 is clear about never using multi weight oils.

OneWelder · Post by **OneWelder** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:14 pm

Lavoy sometimes those old engines would use so much oil people would start to putting cheap oil in them
Also back in the day oil for diesels were known by a different cat/name bit i can not remember what that is right now

OneWelder · Post by **OneWelder** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:32 pm

I have had one more thought on this and that is the latest oil for the new smog engines may not have all the necessary wear additives for older engines - but oil company's are suppose to have addressed this and snake oil additives are available

Post by **Lavoy** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:45 pm

Delo is not non-detergent, is it possibly "lower" detergent than other oils. We ran 200 series Amoco in the Terex, 300 series in the other diesels, especially the turboed ones. The 200 series was supposed to be a lower detergent than the 300. Later on, I think we got a barrel of another number that was more recommended for the Detroit.
Running the wrong oil in a Detroit two stroke causes varnish to form, can't remember where, been too long, seem to me it was around the intake ports at the bottom of the sleeves. The other thing is that detergent is not the only additive in oils for specific applications. Delo is designed for the old Detroits, and so likley has an additive package specific to that engine. I would use air plane engine oil as an example. I have no idea what the detergent level is, and some have filters, some do not. But years ago I remember when my brother was buying oil for his plane, the AV oil he was buying was called "ashless dispersant". No clue what that means, but it had something designed for airplane engines, and you were not to run automotive oil in them.
Non-detergent oil is readily available if you want it, our local Fleet Farm probably has a couple hundred gallons on hand at all time. I wouldn't use it in anything other than an oil can, but it isn't going to hurt anything in an engine spec'd for it.
Lavoy

shinnery · Post by **shinnery** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:46 pm

Down here in Texas I used Delo 40W in my 4401CD. Do not be surprized when that little engine takes about 9 quarts to get up to the full mark.
Bryce

JD440ICD2006 · Post by **JD440ICD2006** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:44 am

Bryce,

I believe Delo 100 is the oil used by many in these 2-53's.
The service manual calls for 30 wgt in normal temps, and 10 W or 20 W in extreme cold.
Why do you use 40 W?

shinnery · Post by **shinnery** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:30 pm

Basically I considered the apparent tiredness of the engine and the number of 100 degree days we experence in west Texas in an average summer and thought 40W was appropriate for my crawler. It was a choice between 30W and 40W and 40W won.
Bryce

JD440ICD2006 · Post by **JD440ICD2006** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:57 pm

Bryce,

Delo 100 40W is what I will be using. Ordered a case today!
Thanks much for your help.

pop pop · Post by **pop pop** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:32 pm

DELO 100 40wt is what i use also.. i found out that alot of the marina's will have it on-hand. .. seems there were alot of 2-53's used in boats.
and FYI ,delo is a Chevron product.

tuney443 · Post by **tuney443** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 7:28 pm

I used to have an old 6/53 in a GMC dump truck.It was carefully explained to me after my rebuild from my local Detroit dealer only to use a 30 or 40 wt. oil,high detergent,but with a very low ash content as the exhaust valve seats would get ruined eventually if you didn't.Like others have said here,Chevron has this oil as does Kendall which I used and since I had a full 5 gallon can left over,that's what's in my 2/53 in my 440 now.Anyway ,here is a nice old link that explains it fully. http://www.trucksaleguide.com/detroit-diesel-oil.htm

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