Engine Oil

[Anonymous]

How often is the oil changed in the prime mover of a diesel-electric locomotive, EMD or GE? And what is the weight rating/viscosity of the oil (e.g.15W-40)?

[Randy Stahl]

Never, unless it's contaminated by fuel, water (sodium silicate) . Locomotives use about 200 gal of lube oil. As for the type of oil we use, I have no clue.
Randy

[Modelcar]

What is the test to determine when it is contaminated....? How often are filters changed or are they a kind that mechanically can be cleaned....

[Randy Stahl]

When you perform daily inspections on locomotives you must check the lube oil level. If the oil is over full chances are something is contaminating the oil. We have little bottles used for oil samples, we sample the oil as frequently as we can, we try to keep the intervals around 7 days. The samples are sent to a lab for spectro analysis and the results make it into the RR's computer system. We can also fla***est the oil right at the shop. The flash point of our lube oil is around 425 deg F. If lube oil is contaminated by fuel the flash point will be much much lower. If the oil is contaminated with water, the water will begin to boil around 210 deg F.
The spectro analysis will tell us the condition of the prime mover, high silver and or copper can mean bearing problems. The whole deal is quite clever in my opinion
Randy

[Anonymous]

heh. We did the same thing in our tractor trailers. Samples taken at shop and sent out for lab analysis. We could go some 30,000 miles now on Rotella T.

But for the really big engines such as locomotives that would be just the ticket with the above post.

I am beginning to see the beginnings of a true real time sensors report on all aspects of the engine as it runs sent to satellite to the shop in real time as you go down the road.

Carrier already enjoys such real time communication on all operational units equipped with the tracking and data relay by satellite systems on the reefer cars.

[Modelcar]

Randy....Good clear answer...Thanks. I remember [many], years ago in servicing army tank engines...I seem to remember of oil filters with close fitting disks that half of them could be rotated and hence, clean the dirt particles out and of course drain that sediment out and then the filter was ready for another run, etc....Just wondered if similar designs may be in railroad use now....

[Randy Stahl]

Sorry I forgot to say any thing about the filters! We are using 6 mo. filters. They are changed every semi annual inspection unless they too are contaminated.
Randy

[Anonymous]

The UP service track in Roseville Ca. changes the filters every 45 days. The 4 cycle engines get their oil changed at that time. The EMD 2 cycle engines, will burn about 50 gallons of oil to about 3500 gallons of fuel. So you just keep adding.