How come gas vehicle engines don't burn oil?

[5030]

With diesel locomotives, the sump oil is NEVER changed. The filters are as well as make up oil but they don't even have drain plugs. Same applies to big ships. No oil changes ever. Just make up oil and maybe an additive renewal but the base oil is never renewed.

 

[Jstpssng]

The B&S engine on my walk behind string trimmer only holds 1 pint of oil and has no drain plug. You're supposed to just add as needed. Apparently they don't want the engines to last very long.

 

[Grumpycat]

I wouldn't be surprised but I know that I'll never go that long my RAM has the monitor on it and it doesn't look like it would have gotten to the 10,000 mile mark,

Your RAM doesn't really diagnose your oil. It has a clock which runs at various speeds depending on how many cold starts, fuel consumption, and other things. It only guesses the condition of your oil. This is what Ford has to say about it: https://owner.ford.com/support/how-...nt-cluster/intelligent-oil-life-monitor.html#

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
I've often wondered how that monitor would match up with an oil test... but I've never been curious enough to pay and find out.

 

[LouNY]

Your RAM doesn't really diagnose your oil. It has a clock which runs at various speeds depending on how many cold starts, fuel consumption, and other things. It only guesses the condition of your oil. This is what Ford has to say about it: https://owner.ford.com/support/how-...nt-cluster/intelligent-oil-life-monitor.html#

Correct, it is interesting to watch as my driving changes summer to winter and the idle time changes, then throw in a few hundred mile trip.

 

[BravoXray]

With diesel locomotives, the sump oil is NEVER changed. The filters are as well as make up oil but they don't even have drain plugs. Same applies to big ships. No oil changes ever. Just make up oil and maybe an additive renewal but the base oil is never renewed.

According to my cousin, who has worked on the railroad for 30 years, they use oil sampling to determine oil change intervals. Depending on the type of service, switcher or road unit, it can vary quite a bit. A big EMD or GE prime mover holds around 250 gallons of lube oil, and there is an oil sump drain with a quick connect fitting, usually above the fuel tank, for draining the oil.

Last winter a couple of SD40-2s were left running for a weekend on a siding in town. I walked out and looked them over, one unit was dripping oil out of the sump under the engine, obviously from an oil leak, probably leaked 5 gallons over the weekend. Both were built in the mid 70's, and were getting a little long in the tooth, but were still pulling their weight, so to speak.

Locomotives have always fascinated me, as they are amazing machines.

 

[Grumpycat]

^^^^
I've often wondered how that monitor would match up with an oil test... but I've never been curious enough to pay and find out.

Automakers have spent a lot of research as to what ages oil.

 

[npalen]

We sure have. 100,000 miles used to be about all you could expect before rebuild. Used car dealers used to buy "skeeter foggers",put a heavy cross hatch on cylinder walls and install soft rings that would rapidly wear and "seat" then run real fine,,,,,,,for a few thousand miles. Pork skin and shoe leather under crankshaft bearings? I wouldn't know anything about that.

Have heard of Bonami dumped into the engine intake to "hone" the cylinder walls. Bonami was a powdered abrasive household cleanser. Don't know if it's still made.

 

[Jstpssng]

Have heard of Bonami dumped into the engine intake to "hone" the cylinder walls. Bonami was a powdered abrasive household cleanser. Don't know if it's still made.

I remember that stuff.
"Hasn't scratched yet".

 

[sixdogs]

Have heard of Bonami dumped into the engine intake to "hone" the cylinder walls. Bonami was a powdered abrasive household cleanser. Don't know if it's still made.

It's still around. Try Walmart.

We used it to polish things years ago. It's just powdered stone dust and I think that's all other cleansers are as well. I can't imagine it on cylinder walls but I used to put STP in my shocks to reduce leaking and couldn't imagine that either.

If you're a kid and have the time and desire, a little Bon Ami or other cleanser on a wet rag will polish up a smooth river pebble into a shiny gemstone.