DD 6-71 TIBs and Delo 100 vs Delo 400 lube oil.

[Will]

Do any of you have thoughts on using Delo 400 vs Delo 100 lube oil in Detroit 6-71 TIBs? I've always used Delo 400 and hadn't heard of Delo 100 until recently.

 

[Nonchalant1]

Stop using Delo 400. Delo 100 is the older version and it's definately the one you should use. You should not use Delo 400 because it has too high a content of sulfated ash. See the official note from Sam's Marinie tips & tricks. I always use Detroit Diesel brand straight 40 wt., but it's basically Delo 100.

http://www.samsmarine.com/Manuals/Chevron/Chevron/Delo 400.htm

Doug Shuman

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Exxon XD 40 has the lowest sulfated ash content of any straight 40wt on the market. Thats what I use and I wouldn't use anything else in a 2 cycle detroit.

 

[Capt K]

Been using Shell Rotella Heavy Duty 40w on 1965 871n's for eleven seasons.

K

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Look at the specs. Rotella has a higher amount of sulfated ash than the XD 40.

 

[Pascal]

i used to get the DD branded oil from the local DD dealer but last time they only had Rotella and said it was fine for the old 8V71s

 

[Capt K]

Yep, these old naturals seem to like it. I also saw a few sets of 671's of various configurations that used only Rotella over their 1200 hours or so, and they were surprisingly clean.

The Delo is also supposed to be very good. You just have to watch the designation (100 is really 40....400 is not). It must be some chemist's idea of a confusing joke.

K

 

[Genesis]

Actually Delo 400 is available in a number of grades, including straight 40 and 15W40.

The problem is that about two years ago they changed the formulation. It used to be CF-II rated, and perfectly ok for DD 2-strokes. Post-change, its NOT - the CF-II rating disappeared.

Allegedly they did this becuase of higher-TBN requirements on some newer engines which they wanted to support, and they still had the Delo 100 which is ok for the 2-strokes.

A LOT of people got caught off-guard by this. I just barely caught it before buying several pails of it right after it happened - fortunately before I plunked down the money, as I don't own anything else in which I could have used that oil!

 

[Traveler 45C]

People are still being caught “Off guard”. Last weekend a guy with a 42’ Bert (6-92’s) had just finished changing his oil when I noticed the Delo 400 buckets he was carrying off of his boat. He wasn’t too happy with the news I gave him…

 

[Ross Macdonald]

I think we have a bit of a problem here in California. Delo 100 40# is not sold here. At least I can't find it anywhere. All of the fuel docks and mechanics still use the Delo 400 40# for oil changes for 2 stroke Detroits. While in Puerto Vallarta last year, I had to purchase oil for an oil change and found they stocked Delo 100. I asked the owner of the shop where he got the 100 and he said he had it all shipped in from Texas. So maybe there's some restriction against the 100 here. Having said that, I guess I've screwed up, because I've changed oil and filters 5 times in the last 3 years and refilled the old 12V71s with the Delo 400 40#. I'm almost afraid to switch now to anything else. They are 3300 hr. engines and seem to run well.

 

[rmaher]

California may very well have issues with Delo 100 given how restrictive they are regarding other environmental issues. I had a difficult time finding Delo 100 on the Chesapeake and eventually ordered it in bulk through our fuel dock. Docg and I split a number of buckets and the fuel dock sells the smaller pails. If you can't find it elsewhere and don't mind traveling to the West River in Maryland (or Alexandria where I live), I'll gladly add you to our next order or, if enough demand, place a special order.

Rob

 

[Genesis]

I can get it here but only in gallons, which is a royal PITA.

I switched to Exxon XD-40, which is CF-II rated, easily available here, and I can have it in either pails or BULK (even better price-wise!)

 

[Will]

Gentlemen,
Thanks to you, I don’t feel so bad. I thought I was the only one who didn’t know of the change.
DELO 100 – 40 can be obtained through West Marine. I think that West Marine bought the Boat U.S. marine stores a while back so, Delo 100 – 40 may be available there as well.
Will

 

[spartonboat1]

Out of necessity, I switched to Texaco Ursa 40, straight 40 wgt, which the local Hatteras shop uses for its 2 cycle DD's. This was because the Mobil Delvac 1240 was dropped, after Mobil was bought by Exxon, and only the Exxon XD-40 continued on. However, the marketing types emptied the supply chain during the cut-over, so had to find a substitute.

As it turns out, the engines, which are 1972 J&T 6-71N's 310hp, are running as well as ever; actually the best. They did not require adding any oil last summer for the first since I have owned the boat, but then my hours were low at 25 hours. This probably reflects replacing all the lube lines and improved sealing on inspection ports, etc. However, even then the useage was low. About 1/2 qt on the rebuilt with about 300 hours and about 1 to 1 1/2 qts on the original with 2,100 hours.

 

[Genesis]

That's not bad.

I've got about 900 hours on mine since I bought her (with fresh kits/bearings/heads/etc) and I go through about a gallon of make-up oil in 100 hours.

 

[Ross Macdonald]

Ditto on my 12V 71s. About a quart every 30 hrs. I change oil every 100 hrs. But I run them at 1450 RPM and run about 11.5 knots. This old 60 weighed 88,000 lbs. hanging in the travel lift during last haulout... So far there hasn't been a negative with the Delo 400 40#. I hope I'm not damaging these old engines. Like I said, not available in Calif. I just called Boat U.S. in San Diego and they will not or cannot sell Delo 100 in Calif.

 

[hattitude]

Ditto on my 12V 71s. About a quart every 30 hrs. I change oil every 100 hrs. But I run them at 1450 RPM and run about 11.5 knots. This old 60 weighed 88,000 lbs. hanging in the travel lift during last haulout... So far there hasn't been a negative with the Delo 400 40#. I hope I'm not damaging these old engines. Like I said, not available in Calif. I just called Boat U.S. in San Diego and they will not or cannot sell Delo 100 in Calif.

Ross,

I too am in San Diego. I got Delo 100 40wt from Admiralty Marine or San Diego Marine Exchange- but they will have to order it, takes about a week

I started going to High Seas Fuel Dock for my oil changes (they do it for $60 more than it used to cost me just for oil/filters) and they stock Rotella-T 40wt which I switched to about 1 1/2 years ago. My 8V71TI's actually burn less oil now than when I ran the Delo 100 40wt

Bernie

 

[SKYCHENEY]

If you are not running a good 2-cycle, low sulfated ash rated oil, switch now! We used to run a bunch of Detroits in our quarry operation and we always ran the oil that DD specified. Well, consequently, when DD changed specs for their new 4 cycle engines, they said it was okay to use the same oil in the old 2 cycles. This recommendation didn't last long, maybe only a year or two. Then they said to go back to the low sulfated ash content oil. They learned from experience that those 53's, 71's, and 92's didn't last too long without the proper oil. We lost a couple with low hours and I'm sure it was due to that change in oil for that year or two. If you are not running Exxon XD-40, Delo 100, Texaco Ersa, or Shell Rotella, you probably have the wrong oil. Switch it now or you will end up paying for it in the future.

 

[Walter P]

I recently bought 150 gals of 1240 Detroit Diesel 40W from our local DD dealer. It is the same oil as when Mobil made it for DD. I have always used it except for about 20 years ago when I used Rotella for a while. (A friend was a dealer). Frankly, I probably change oil too frequently (twice a year min). On those years that I do the NJ to Fla trips, I start in the Fall with new oil and change it in Fla. In the spring with sometimes only 30-40 hrs since fall, I change it again before heading north. Upon arriving in NJ oil is changed again. Naturally filters are changed with every oil change. Most diesel engines have black oil even after a few hours on new oil, but on my previous Hatteras with 6/71 TI's (many Fla/NJ trips) The oil was never really black before changing. I know it's hard to believe, but the boat is kept at the Channel Club in NJ all season and the present owner didn't believe it either until he owned it for a while....... Check it out.

Walt

PS It hardly used any oil between changes either. My present boat with a pair of 6/92 TA's unfortunately do not have the same charateristics. The oil gets black almost immeadiately.

 

[mike]

Ross,

I am in the SF bay area and have no problem getting Delo 100, I get it direct from a local chevron distributor. mike