Thread: Destroying the OMD115 myths.

Originally Posted by 87County

It has been reasonably well established that a 15W-40 diesel engine oil can be used in the engine, gearbox and tc of any military or civilian Isuzu engined 110. Castrol RX Super seems to be most frequently recommended but any oil with an equivalent rating can be used.

Quite straightforward really.

You would think so, but this and the Remlr forums are filled with statements like:

(Penrite HPR Diesel 20W60) Satisfies OMD115.
OMD115 is what the Army documentation say should be used in a Perentie.

I have decided to go with Castrol deisel straight 40

...I use Penrite HPR40 25W-70.
...
The Perentie manual as published by the ADF says to use SAE40 oil.
Penrite HPR40 oil is SAE40.
I spoke to a Penrite rep, showed him the documentation and asked for his recommendation. He pointed to HPR40 oil.

As the OP (isuzurover) has rightly shown with some info, a 20W60 really isnt the oil to be using in a small light vehicle (light truck) engine. and he also rightly points out it was prolly done for commonality.

A MIL spec isnt the bee all and end all to everything, its certainly not a substitute for an AS, ISO, SAE or a manufacturers spec.

While I dont know the full in and outs of getting a MIL spec on a part or chemical, no doubt its part of their internal procedures, partly to ensure basic requirements are met such as having MSDS, tech data, etc etc for a given part or chemical. Just like with other large organisations such as mining companies, most you just cant rock up on side with all sorts of chemicals in the back of your vehicle, they need to be approved for site use etc etc.

And compared to private companies often Gov bodies such as the Military are slow to respond or change procedures, or specs so an oil may well have a MIL spec but may well be outdated for use now (or 30 years ago).

A good multi fleet semi synthetic 10W40 or 15W40 diesel engine oil would be more than perfect for the Isuzu engine.

The only time I use a 20W60 or a 40W70 is to keep running a flogged out old oil burning engine that ive changed out one or two spun big end bearings. We always have a chuckle (as would any professional) when a engine needs such thick oil.

Regards
Daz

I certainly cant understand anyone using a straight SAE weight engine oil over a multi grade engine oil for any general purpose engine in any light vehicle,

IMHO that really is a complete lack of understanding on engine oil, how an engine functions, and how multi grade engine oils work.

We arent living in the 50's, oil and the wheel have advanced well beyond the stone age.

Regards
Daz

P.S wooo now I see someone is using a 25W70 ????? thats nuts.
*If a engine oil is a 25W70 which is a multi grade oil, then it cant be a SAE40 single/mono grade oil. and vise versa.
*Ask Justin C what he runs in his Isuzu 110, I bet beer its not a 20W60 or any mono grade engine oil.

Originally Posted by ozeraser

...Penrite recomend that oil for the 4bd1 in all NPR trucks. So personally thats what I use. Its a bit thicker but shes an old engine.

Penrite are the only company that do (AFAIK). That may be because they don't have a thinner oil to offer with a sufficient rating.
Many Penrite oils seem to be thicker than ideal.

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

I certainly cant understand anyone using a straight SAE weight engine oil over a multi grade engine oil for any general purpose engine in any light vehicle,

IMHO that really is a complete lack of understanding on engine oil, how an engine functions, and how multi grade engine oils work.

We arent living in the 50's, oil and the wheel have advanced well beyond the stone age.

Regards
Daz

P.S wooo now I see someone is using a 25W70 ????? thats nuts.
*If a engine oil is a 25W70 which is a multi grade oil, then it cant be a SAE40 single/mono grade oil. and vise versa.
...

Agree 100%

As I said in the 2nd post, **if** OMD115 is really a straight SAE40 as all the mil guys suggest, it is about as far from the best choice for a 4BD1 as you can get, and likely only used because the 2-stroke diesels in the ASLAV which spec SAE40.

This quote from a Leopard tank document tends to indicate/support that OMD115 is a single weight SAE30 oil.

"Extension of oil change intervals to two years for the Leopard Main Battle Tank (MBT) is under consideration by NATO countries. At the 15th International Leopard Vehicle Technical Working Group meeting [1], a final report was provided on a European trial which involved the extension of oil change intervals for Leopard vehicles to periods in excess of two years when operating with a multigrade 15W40 oil (Nato 0-236). Results for 800 oil samples from more than 200 vehicles were summarized in this report. No unacceptable deterioration of the oil or abnormal wear in the vehicles was found for oil change intervals extending up to 30 months. In Australia, a single grade SAE-30 oil, OMD-115 (Nato 0-238) is used for crankcase lubrication of AS-1 Leopard Powerpacks rather than the Nato 0-236 oil. Current Army practice is to change the lubricant in the Leopard AS-1 every 6 months or 1000 kIn. This interval was based on recommendations by the engine manufacturer (MTU), that the oil be changed after 5000 litres of fuel had been consumed, which is approximately 1200 km for Australian operation conditions. Extension of the oil change interval would not only reduce expenditure on replacement oil, but also allow greater flexibility in servicing requirements for the vehicles. This study, on the feasibility of extei|ding the oil change intervals in the Leopard AS-1 vehicles when operating with OMD-115 oil under Australian conditions, was carried out at the request of the Australian Army Maintenance Engineering Agency (MEA).

3.2 Oils The crankcase oil was OMD- 115, a monograde SAE30 diesel engine oil qualified to MIL-L-2104D. This is the standard diesel engine crankcase oil used by the Australian Army for almost all diesel powered vehicles. The transmission oil was 0X47, a monograde SAE10 hydraulic transmission fluid to Detroit Diesel Allison specification TES 122."

Originally Posted by Aussie Jeepster

This quote from a Leopard tank document tends to indicate/support that OMD115 is a single weight SAE30 oil.

"Extension of oil change intervals to two years for the Leopard Main Battle Tank (MBT) is under consideration by NATO countries. At the 15th International Leopard Vehicle Technical Working Group meeting [1], a final report was provided on a European trial which involved the extension of oil change intervals for Leopard vehicles to periods in excess of two years when operating with a multigrade 15W40 oil (Nato 0-236). Results for 800 oil samples from more than 200 vehicles were summarized in this report. No unacceptable deterioration of the oil or abnormal wear in the vehicles was found for oil change intervals extending up to 30 months. In Australia, a single grade SAE-30 oil, OMD-115 (Nato 0-238) is used for crankcase lubrication of AS-1 Leopard Powerpacks rather than the Nato 0-236 oil. Current Army practice is to change the lubricant in the Leopard AS-1 every 6 months or 1000 kIn. This interval was based on recommendations by the engine manufacturer (MTU), that the oil be changed after 5000 litres of fuel had been consumed, which is approximately 1200 km for Australian operation conditions. Extension of the oil change interval would not only reduce expenditure on replacement oil, but also allow greater flexibility in servicing requirements for the vehicles. This study, on the feasibility of extei|ding the oil change intervals in the Leopard AS-1 vehicles when operating with OMD-115 oil under Australian conditions, was carried out at the request of the Australian Army Maintenance Engineering Agency (MEA).

3.2 Oils The crankcase oil was OMD- 115, a monograde SAE30 diesel engine oil qualified to MIL-L-2104D. This is the standard diesel engine crankcase oil used by the Australian Army for almost all diesel powered vehicles. The transmission oil was 0X47, a monograde SAE10 hydraulic transmission fluid to Detroit Diesel Allison specification TES 122."

Thanks.
Link to document:
[ame]http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a267088.pdf[/ame]

Updated graph to show SAE30 and SAE40 ranges



http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment...s-oil_vis4.jpg


EDIT: There is also this document from 2014 which conflicts with the 1993 document - unless the spec for OMD115 was changed from SAE30 to SAE40

[ame]http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/coil-sprung-military-land-rovers/113234d1472530313-6x6-using-oil-veh_g203_landrover_110_6x6_all_types_light_repair-lubrication.pdf[/ame]

For those who like Penrite oils this document lists 2 15W40 diesel oils: [ame]https://www.penriteoil.com.au/tech_pdfs_new/Jan2014/Product_Catalogue_Defence.pdf[/ame]