-
Hi Time Generator Engine UOA
When we bought our bus 4+ yrs ago, the gen had 12600 hrs on it. At that time I called PowerTech and asked them how long the engine should last. They said at least 20-30k hrs before needing a complete overhaul. We’ve put another 400+ trouble free hours on it. It doesn’t burn any oil or have any blow-by.
Recently I did a USED OIL ANALYSIS (UOA) on the now 13k hr 1995 Kubota V2203 engine that powers my 17.5kw PowerTech – Marathon Electric generator and it indicated Hi Lead(Pb). I believe it’s coming from the rod bearings. I installed new rod bearings, Kubota pt# 17311-22312. The oil pan gasket pt# is 1G780-01620. NOTE: Kubota calls rod bearings “Metal, Crank Pin”. I guess this is the Japanese to English translation? Manuals can be found online. The Kubota sn# is metal stamped into a flat horizontal area just below the injector bybass valve.The cap half of the old bearings looked like new, but the rod half were showing some wear. Everything else about the oil sample analysis was healthy. In fact, this oil, Mobil Delvac Super 1300 15-40w, could go a least 200 hrs before needing to be changed. I’ll do another oil analysis in about 100 hrs.
-
10 Replies
-
Good job Don! are going to check the mains?
-
These look like the main bearings.
-
The bearing “tang” is in the right place for rod bearings.
-
Art, no I’m not doing the mains. The engine would need to be completely taken out and torn down to get to them.
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
Recently, I sent in an oil sample to JG Services Lab for analysis of our genny engine used oil. The oil is 1 yr old, w/100 hr. It has been 1 yr and 100 hrs since I replaced the rod bearings, oil, and filter in the Kubota V-2203 the powers our PowerTech 17.5 genny. It has 12,974 hrs on the Hobbs. It hasn’t given us any problems in the 5+ yrs were owned it.
Got the results today and they are excellent as I hoped they would be. The Labs comments: DATA INDICATES NO ABNORMAL FINDINGS. RESAMPLE AT NORMAL INTERVAL. CONTINUE TO USE FLUID FOR 300 HRS AND RESAMPLE AT THAT TIME.
The oil is Mobil Delvac 1300 Super 15-40w. The filter is a Fram XG3593A.
As I suspected, it’s normal for rod bearings to need replacing when a diesel engine reaches half life. -
This is about the oil in the Kubota V2203 diesel engine that powers the gen in our 96 Liberty. It has 13,096 hrs on the hobbs. 2 yrs ago when it had 12,868 hrs, I sent an oil sample to a lab for analysis. The results indicated severe bearing wear, high amounts of lead and copper. So I changed the rod bearings, and 1 yr and 100 hrs later the results were excellent. Wear was normal.
Recently, I sent in an oil sample from the Kubota to Blackstone Lab for analysis. The oil, Mobil Delvac 1300 Super 15w40, is 2 yrs old, w/222 hrs. The oil filter is a 2 yr old Fram XG3593A. It has been 2 yrs and 222 hrs since I replaced the rod bearings, and put this oil, and oil filter in place.
Got the results today and they are excellent again. Blackstone Lab comments: DON: An impressive first report for this Kubota. This oil was in place far longer than the ~85-hour run universal averages for the V2203 are based on, yet metals are within just a ppm or two of universal averages. That means this engine doesn’t produce much metal during each hour of operation, a sign that internal parts are getting along very well together. The viscosity tested a hair below the 15W/40 range, but a marginally thin viscosity won’t bother anything and clearly this engine didn’t mind. The TBN of 7.4 is strong, since 1 or less is low. Feel free to run 275 hours.
Rumor in diesel engine circles has it that it’s normal for rod bearings to need replacing when a diesel engine reaches half life, which was at about 13,000 hrs.The genny hasn’t given us any problem(s) in the 6+ yrs that we’ve owned it.
-
Good post Don and a actual generator that’s being used!
-
The Kubota doesn’t consume any oil so no makeup oil was added. I did change the oil and filter(needlessly) when I took the sample this time.
In the future I plan to do an oil and filter change and send in a sample for analysis every 3 yrs or 300 hrs, whichever comes first.
I use 3 different labs for analysis of my vehicles lubricants and coolants: OAI-Oil Analyzers Inc, JG Lubricant Services, & Blackstone Labs.
Below are pics of my reports from May of 2018, which shows the high lead and copper, and the excellent June of 2019 report 100+ hrs later. -
Here’s the latest excellent used oil analysis (UOA) report for our 17.5 kw PowerTech genny Kubota V2203 engine with 13,300 hrs on it now. It’s been trouble free in the 7+ yrs that we’ve owned it.
This UOA report is about Shell Rotella T3 15w40 w/200 hrs on it. The filter was a Fram Ultra XG3593A.Back in May 2018 and 440 hrs ago I sent in a sample of oil for analysis. The results indicated high lead and copper. This indicated to me it was time for rod bearings, not uncommon when a diesel engine reaches half life. I changed them and this is the 3rd excellent UOA report since I changed the rod bearings.We replenished the oil w/Shell Rotella T4 15w40 and filter a Fram Ultra XG3593A.1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
That is great! Hope all is well your way.
Log in to reply.