Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-11-2016, 05:49 PM   #1
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Oil questions for Cummins ISB 8.3

Hey Everyone,

I will be headed down to pick up my Bluebird shortly. It has always been my practice to carry spare belts, filters and oil when on the road. This trip will be no different.

My concern is regarding oil.

I just found out that I will not be picking the bus up at the service shop but at the State surplus center instead. If I was picking up at the service shop I would simply ask what oil they were using and get some of that.

As I will not have that information available I am concerned that I don't know if they were running dino or synthetic and what weight. If I buy Rotella 15-40 and they have been running some flavor of synthetic will I cause a problem if I add oil?


Any thoughts?

Thanks.

S.

PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2016, 06:30 PM   #2
Bus Nut
 
superdave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: hills of sw virginia
Posts: 889
Year: 1996
Chassis: thomas
Engine: 8.3 cummins
Rated Cap: 11 window
if its topped off its all good, if it needs oil get an oil change. save some of the old oil and get it tested when you get home, it will tell you what type of oil it was and what condition your motors in. good luck
Blackstone Labs
__________________
living in a bus down by the river.
my build pics
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/membe...albums942.html
superdave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2016, 06:37 PM   #3
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by superdave View Post
if its topped off its all good, if it needs oil get an oil change. save some of the old oil and get it tested when you get home, it will tell you what type of oil it was and what condition your motors in. good luck
Blackstone Labs
Thanks for the input.

My concern is if I have to add oil on the trip home. I may be adding a significantly different oil.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2016, 08:03 PM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
This question is better answered by the full Hive. If you're just topping off then it doesn't really matter:

Can I Mix Synthetic and Conventional Oil? | AMSOIL Blog
What Happens if You Mix Regular and Synthetic Oil?
Motor Oil: Synthetic vs. Non-Synthetic

Stick with 15w-40 and you'll get home fine (or at least that won't be a primary problem )
__________________
My build page: Armageddon - The Smell of Airborne Rust
jazty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2016, 10:42 AM   #5
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by jazty View Post
This question is better answered by the full Hive. If you're just topping off then it doesn't really matter:

Can I Mix Synthetic and Conventional Oil? | AMSOIL Blog
What Happens if You Mix Regular and Synthetic Oil?
Motor Oil: Synthetic vs. Non-Synthetic

Stick with 15w-40 and you'll get home fine (or at least that won't be a primary problem )
Thank you!! Good info!
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2016, 12:15 PM   #6
Bus Nut
 
Rameses's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
Rated Cap: 84
I wouldn't hesitate at all to top it off with Rotella if I didn't know what was in it.

And just to help you avoid any confusion at parts counters, etc... The engine you have is an ISC. The Cummins ISB is a 3.9, 5.9, or 6.7.
Rameses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2016, 12:55 PM   #7
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rameses View Post
I wouldn't hesitate at all to top it off with Rotella if I didn't know what was in it.

And just to help you avoid any confusion at parts counters, etc... The engine you have is an ISC. The Cummins ISB is a 3.9, 5.9, or 6.7.
Thanks for pointing out my typo

Mechanical
6C=8.3
6B=5.9
4B=3.3 & 3.9

Electronic
ISB=5.9/6.7
ISC=8.3
I have not seen an electronic 3.3 or 3.9???
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2016, 06:17 PM   #8
Bus Nut
 
Rameses's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
Rated Cap: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
Thanks for pointing out my typo

Mechanical
6C=8.3
6B=5.9
4B=3.3 & 3.9

Electronic
ISB=5.9/6.7
ISC=8.3
I have not seen an electronic 3.3 or 3.9???
Yeah, the electronic 16 valve 3.9 was only made for a couple years and is pretty damned rare.

They were used in generators, pumps, and construction equipment (mostly Case loaders).

They stopped making them and replaced them in the applications they'd been using them for with either the 3.3 or 4.5 (also both electronic) depending on how much power was needed. Reason behind that change was something to do with the new engines falling into different emissions categories than the 3.9 did.
Rameses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2016, 08:46 PM   #9
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rameses View Post
Yeah, the electronic 16 valve 3.9 was only made for a couple years and is pretty damned rare.

They were used in generators, pumps, and construction equipment (mostly Case loaders).

They stopped making them and replaced them in the applications they'd been using them for with either the 3.3 or 4.5 (also both electronic) depending on how much power was needed. Reason behind that change was something to do with the new engines falling into different emissions categories than the 3.9 did.
Interesting stuff!!

One of these days when I get the time...... I would love to build a 4BT powered rat rod. Too many hobbies....
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2016, 10:57 PM   #10
Bus Nut
 
Rameses's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
Rated Cap: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
Interesting stuff!!

One of these days when I get the time...... I would love to build a 4BT powered rat rod. Too many hobbies....
That would be AWESOME.
Rameses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2016, 10:18 AM   #11
Bus Geek
 
Tango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
There are a bunch of really nasty 4BT Rats out there...check'em out!
Tango is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2016, 11:36 AM   #12
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,751
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
I just saw what I think was one this weekend in st pete... Old dodge pickup.. maybe earky 50s, lowered.. it was either a rat oir in process.. looked more like it was in process.. was a diesel with 2 mean little stacks in the bed.. sounded like a 4 banger so likely a 4BT?
-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.