Excessive oil useage.

[fred89sp]

I looked at the information you posted. As I recall the device shown
is not on my engine. Rather my engine has the equivalent of a mid
50's crankcase open vent.

No matter how it operates, whether closed or open, it will expel vapor
with oil mist and in the process oil will be consumed and not recovered.

If this reasoning is correct then this is not a variable in Bill's oil
consumption problem.


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner wrote:
> Fred I uploaded two drawings of the positive crankcase ventilation
on my
> Cat 3208 to the files section of the forum so anyone can see them.
The vent
> directs any oil vapors back into the engine intake. Notice the factory
> bulletin that states what will happen if you do not have positive
crankcase
> ventilation in the other drawing.
> I now wonder why the Cat 3208 in the SP36 does not have this positive
> ventilation after reading this warning. Does anyone have any idea???
>
> Tom
> 1982 FC35
> Vernon Center,NY
>
> MAt 04:16 PM 7/7/2005 +0000, you wrote:
> >While I would not ignore what you have observed, I would want to know
> >more and see if you have a consistent pattern before becoming alarmed.
> >
> >When I bought my 89SP from the prior owner he told me that the low
> >level on the dipstick was at 3 quarts and that I should wait until the
> >level dropped to 3 quarts down before topping up. He said that if I
> >topped up every quart that I would use a lot more oil. He may have
> >picked that information up at a RIV but I do not know for sure. He
> >was a retired airline pilot and paid careful attention to the coach so
> >I accepted his advice. With 5 gallons in the crankcase, the loss of 3
> >quarts is not significant.
> >
> >I use Rotella 15/40 oil. If you use something other than 15/40 that
> >will affect consumption.
> >
> >My experience has been 3 quarts in 1,300 to 2,500 miles but I would
> >want to have a pattern of perhaps 5,000 miles of experience.
> >
> >Obviously check for leaks. Do some Cat SOS tests on the oil after
> >3,000 or more miles (I do mine at 8,000 mile intervals when I change
> >the oil) to see what is in the oil. Again you need a pattern to see
> >what develops over time.
> >
> >As to the crankcase breather, it vents to the atmosphere and carries
> >oil vapor. Yours sounds stock. The SP had a problem with overheating
> >when the oil contaminated vapors passed through the radiator, gathered
> >dirt and made the radiator less effective.
> >
> >I have seen two fixes for this. I think one originated at Holland
> >Motor Home where they extended the vent to almost touch the ground (it
> >did touch when the suspension was dumped). I think the other came out
> >of Fort Valley where they extended the vent to exit below the rear
> >bumper. All of this has nothing to do with consumption but more FYI.
> > If yours has not been modified you need to modify it and/ or check to
> >be sure your radiator is clean
> >
> >In any event you will find that this tube will show noticeable vapor
> >coming out of the engine. If you see that vapor then it is not
> >plugged but if it does not vent then pressure may be building in the
> >crankcase and causing crankcase pressure to force oil past the rings.
> > If so then the canister on the valve cover may need to be serviced.
> > I believe it has a mesh inside.
> >
> >Even if your consumption is high, if your oil tests are OK I would not
> >mess with the rings just to cure an oil consumption problem.
> >
> > Fred Riester
> >
> >
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
> > wrote:
> > > Anyone know any reason (other than bad rings) why a Cat 3208
with 87k
> > > on it would use excessive amounts of oil (4qts in 900 miles).
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >

[fred89sp]

As a further followup on this thread, I have uploaded an excerpt from
the Cat book on engine arrangements and a page from the parts book
showing the crankcase ventilation system on Arrangement No. 7C5208
which is the 300 HP 3208.

It vents to the atmosphere. The breather is an assembly. I do not
know what if anything is inside but whatever it is, it does little or
nothing to pull oil mist out of the air that is vented. This is, of
course, one component of the oil consumption equation.

The moderators should feel free to delete this from the files as it
has little long term relevance.e.


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner wrote:
> Fred I uploaded two drawings of the positive crankcase ventilation
on my
> Cat 3208 to the files section of the forum so anyone can see them.
The vent
> directs any oil vapors back into the engine intake. Notice the factory
> bulletin that states what will happen if you do not have positive
crankcase
> ventilation in the other drawing.
> I now wonder why the Cat 3208 in the SP36 does not have this positive
> ventilation after reading this warning. Does anyone have any idea???
>
> Tom
> 1982 FC35
> Vernon Center,NY
>
> MAt 04:16 PM 7/7/2005 +0000, you wrote:
> >While I would not ignore what you have observed, I would want to know
> >more and see if you have a consistent pattern before becoming alarmed.
> >
> >When I bought my 89SP from the prior owner he told me that the low
> >level on the dipstick was at 3 quarts and that I should wait until the
> >level dropped to 3 quarts down before topping up. He said that if I
> >topped up every quart that I would use a lot more oil. He may have
> >picked that information up at a RIV but I do not know for sure. He
> >was a retired airline pilot and paid careful attention to the coach so
> >I accepted his advice. With 5 gallons in the crankcase, the loss of 3
> >quarts is not significant.
> >
> >I use Rotella 15/40 oil. If you use something other than 15/40 that
> >will affect consumption.
> >
> >My experience has been 3 quarts in 1,300 to 2,500 miles but I would
> >want to have a pattern of perhaps 5,000 miles of experience.
> >
> >Obviously check for leaks. Do some Cat SOS tests on the oil after
> >3,000 or more miles (I do mine at 8,000 mile intervals when I change
> >the oil) to see what is in the oil. Again you need a pattern to see
> >what develops over time.
> >
> >As to the crankcase breather, it vents to the atmosphere and carries
> >oil vapor. Yours sounds stock. The SP had a problem with overheating
> >when the oil contaminated vapors passed through the radiator, gathered
> >dirt and made the radiator less effective.
> >
> >I have seen two fixes for this. I think one originated at Holland
> >Motor Home where they extended the vent to almost touch the ground (it
> >did touch when the suspension was dumped). I think the other came out
> >of Fort Valley where they extended the vent to exit below the rear
> >bumper. All of this has nothing to do with consumption but more FYI.
> > If yours has not been modified you need to modify it and/ or check to
> >be sure your radiator is clean
> >
> >In any event you will find that this tube will show noticeable vapor
> >coming out of the engine. If you see that vapor then it is not
> >plugged but if it does not vent then pressure may be building in the
> >crankcase and causing crankcase pressure to force oil past the rings.
> > If so then the canister on the valve cover may need to be serviced.
> > I believe it has a mesh inside.
> >
> >Even if your consumption is high, if your oil tests are OK I would not
> >mess with the rings just to cure an oil consumption problem.
> >
> > Fred Riester
> >
> >
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
> > wrote:
> > > Anyone know any reason (other than bad rings) why a Cat 3208
with 87k
> > > on it would use excessive amounts of oil (4qts in 900 miles).
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >

[pattypape]

Thank for the picture Fred,
That's the one, I cleaned the canister not much in it, little dirt
or oil sediment. Wire mesh if, I remember correctly, Like and old
lawn mower or old tractor. Metal mesh, not foam,

Bill 88 FC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fred89sp"
wrote:
> As a further followup on this thread, I have uploaded an excerpt
from
> the Cat book on engine arrangements and a page from the parts book
> showing the crankcase ventilation system on Arrangement No. 7C5208
> which is the 300 HP 3208.
>
> It vents to the atmosphere. The breather is an assembly. I do not
> know what if anything is inside but whatever it is, it does little
or
> nothing to pull oil mist out of the air that is vented. This is,
of
> course, one component of the oil consumption equation.
>
> The moderators should feel free to delete this from the files as it
> has little long term relevance.e.
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
> > Fred I uploaded two drawings of the positive crankcase
ventilation
> on my
> > Cat 3208 to the files section of the forum so anyone can see
them.
> The vent
> > directs any oil vapors back into the engine intake. Notice the
factory
> > bulletin that states what will happen if you do not have positive
> crankcase
> > ventilation in the other drawing.
> > I now wonder why the Cat 3208 in the SP36 does not have this
positive
> > ventilation after reading this warning. Does anyone have any
idea???
> >
> > Tom
> > 1982 FC35
> > Vernon Center,NY
> >
> > MAt 04:16 PM 7/7/2005 +0000, you wrote:
> > >While I would not ignore what you have observed, I would want
to know
> > >more and see if you have a consistent pattern before becoming
alarmed.
> > >
> > >When I bought my 89SP from the prior owner he told me that the
low
> > >level on the dipstick was at 3 quarts and that I should wait
until the
> > >level dropped to 3 quarts down before topping up. He said that
if I
> > >topped up every quart that I would use a lot more oil. He may
have
> > >picked that information up at a RIV but I do not know for
sure. He
> > >was a retired airline pilot and paid careful attention to the
coach so
> > >I accepted his advice. With 5 gallons in the crankcase, the
loss of 3
> > >quarts is not significant.
> > >
> > >I use Rotella 15/40 oil. If you use something other than 15/40
that
> > >will affect consumption.
> > >
> > >My experience has been 3 quarts in 1,300 to 2,500 miles but I
would
> > >want to have a pattern of perhaps 5,000 miles of experience.
> > >
> > >Obviously check for leaks. Do some Cat SOS tests on the oil
after
> > >3,000 or more miles (I do mine at 8,000 mile intervals when I
change
> > >the oil) to see what is in the oil. Again you need a pattern
to see
> > >what develops over time.
> > >
> > >As to the crankcase breather, it vents to the atmosphere and
carries
> > >oil vapor. Yours sounds stock. The SP had a problem with
overheating
> > >when the oil contaminated vapors passed through the radiator,
gathered
> > >dirt and made the radiator less effective.
> > >
> > >I have seen two fixes for this. I think one originated at
Holland
> > >Motor Home where they extended the vent to almost touch the
ground (it
> > >did touch when the suspension was dumped). I think the other
came out
> > >of Fort Valley where they extended the vent to exit below the
rear
> > >bumper. All of this has nothing to do with consumption but
more FYI.
> > > If yours has not been modified you need to modify it and/ or
check to
> > >be sure your radiator is clean
> > >
> > >In any event you will find that this tube will show noticeable
vapor
> > >coming out of the engine. If you see that vapor then it is not
> > >plugged but if it does not vent then pressure may be building
in the
> > >crankcase and causing crankcase pressure to force oil past the
rings.
> > > If so then the canister on the valve cover may need to be
serviced.
> > > I believe it has a mesh inside.
> > >
> > >Even if your consumption is high, if your oil tests are OK I
would not
> > >mess with the rings just to cure an oil consumption problem.
> > >
> > > Fred Riester
> > >
> > >
> > >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
> > > wrote:
> > > > Anyone know any reason (other than bad rings) why a Cat 3208
> with 87k
> > > > on it would use excessive amounts of oil (4qts in 900 miles).
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >