855 Liner problems

[Vintage iron]

How did you know they were broken then?

 

[Cinman37]

Massive amount of water in the oil, and chunks of metal in the oil pan.

 

[rangereter]

Sounds like you made out ok on the deal Cinman. The failure sounds odd...the piston skirts drop more than an inch below the liners when at BDC (bottom dead center). I am still wondering what caused the failure?
Regards, Bob

 

[Cinman37]

No one seems to know, I have heard theories only ranging from casting defect to someone must have dropped or distressed that liner before or when it was installed in the engine. The repairs seem to be working the truck maintained temperature while hauling 6 tons of gravel yesterday. Just have to change the oil and filter again as oil cleans the gray goo that is stuck inside the block. Anyone know where to find the best price on rotella?

 

[Vintage iron]

I hate to say it but Walmart has the best prices on Rotella and Dexron III. I am a diesel mechanic and my commercial accounts are charging me more ! !

 

[jonesal]

I hate to say it too, but you're right. I can get Rotella cheaper at Wallmart than my wholesale accounts in town. That hurts.

Al Jones

 

[rangereter]

Cinman, I would not use a brand name oil if you just want to clean the inside of the block.
Regards, Bob

 

[GHall]

Cinman, I would not use a brand name oil if you just want to clean the inside of the block.
Regards, Bob

You're saying to use really cheap stuff? I would flush any system with the fluid I plan to use in the future...

 

[GHall]

Heck, I've used royal purple assy lube to build motors..

 

[rangereter]

These 30 year old motors aren't too particular on the brand, just grade. A lot of people don't take into account that there are only so many refineries in this country (and the oil companies would just as soon keep it that way), the big brand companies have proprietary rights on certain ingredients they choose to advertise "Our parafins have the best molecular structure!"...another company may pick three or four different ingredients, etc. Even aroma and color are hard to differentiate from brand to brand, but pretty much all the same stuff when talking about conventional lubes...of course synthetic lubes are on the other side of of the coin.
Regards, Bob

 

[jonesal]

You're assuming its from the USA. Stores (farm, Wally World) near me carry "very" generic brands. Some are imported - propriety and standards go out the window. Pemex (Mexico) is a good example. Some of their stuff follows API standards, some don't. Read the label carefully and be an informed consumer.

Al Jones
'84 M923 with only API rated lubricants

 

[rangereter]

That is a very good point. However, given the choice to wash the motor out with $10/gallon oil versus $14/gallon, my money goes to the cheaper of the two every time. Of all the engines that I have done teardown analysis on to determine failure (many that have burned a quarter of a million gallons of fuel or more), I have not once been able to pin the failure down to a substandard lubricant. Many trucks get oil changes all over North America over their million mile plus lifetimes, and I would be willing to bet that most engine failures from this segment can be attributed to loose base plugs or loose oil filters rather than poor oil quality.
Regards, Bob