Which engine oil do you use...?

SD diesels were widely available in the US in the 1981-86 Datsun/Nissan 720 pickups, and in Canada through '87 in the D21 pickup.

Moderators: plenzen, Nissan_Ranger

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philip
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#16

Post by philip »

plenzen wrote:I will try and find some CJ4 as Phillip suggests and give that a try.
I am NOT suggesting CJ-4 for SDxx diesels. The CJ-4 is for 2007 and only for roller tappets. There just seems to be minimal requirement for flat tappets on cams. This same concerning was addressed years ago for passenger gasoline and also motorcycle engines. Most changed to roller tappets.

CI-4 or earlier oil is be used.
-Philip
Passed 08May2008
My friend, you are missed . . .

1982 Datsun 720KC SD-22

"Im slow and I'm ahead of you"
plenzen
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#17

Post by plenzen »

OK I will stick with the CI 4 that I have. So far I have had no trouble with it.
I must have read the CJ 4 recommendation wrong. ( I do that a lot, comes with age)
I found some Red Line products and there was some confusion of the GL4 and the GL5 ratings and were they were compatible with the gear box and diff. I did not have the manual with me to see what was recommended by Nissan, and actually forgot what went where, (GL4 up front or in the back), but the boys at MOPAC (speed shop) called the Red Line Hot Line and gave make and model to them and this is what they recommended. MT90 75/90 GL4 for the tranny and 75W90 GL5+ for the diff. Red Line specifically addresses the GL5 topic on their bottle, albeit advertising claims or not. They also address the sulpher topic as well in the GL5's as they relate to synchro life yada yada. $49.00!! freakin’ dollars later I was out the door with 2 liters (actually 2 US qts.) of each! I was wondering how to get all the remaining dino oil out of the tranny but Red Line says that they are compatible. Hmmm???

Paul
Last edited by plenzen 16 years ago, edited 1 time in total.
Retired Pauly
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1987 D21-J SD25 KC
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philip
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#18

Post by philip »

plenzen wrote:SNIP- Now I have to figure how to get all the dino oil out of the tranny. -SNIP-

Thanks
Paul
Transmission plugs photo
-Philip
Passed 08May2008
My friend, you are missed . . .

1982 Datsun 720KC SD-22

"Im slow and I'm ahead of you"
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philip
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#19

Post by philip »

Ok. I've got Chevron Delo 100 ... installed. :wink:

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-Philip
Passed 08May2008
My friend, you are missed . . .

1982 Datsun 720KC SD-22

"Im slow and I'm ahead of you"
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Zoltan
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#20

Post by Zoltan »

So... the reason to keep this oil around is the huge number of Catepillar excavators, Abram tanks or you just took a trip South of the border :wink:
Delo 100 CF-2
- Zoltan -
________________________________
'82 Datsun 720 SD22 California model
'86 Ford Escort 2.0L Diesel
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philip
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#21

Post by philip »

Zoltan wrote:So... the reason to keep this oil around is the huge number of Catepillar excavators, Abram tanks or you just took a trip South of the border :wink:
Ensenada. The Federali won't notice the 720. They want Suburbans. :wink:
-Philip
Passed 08May2008
My friend, you are missed . . .

1982 Datsun 720KC SD-22

"Im slow and I'm ahead of you"
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philip
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#22

Post by philip »

philip wrote:Ok. I've got Chevron Delo 100 ... installed. :wink:
LATER ...

I've run 1900 miles thus far. The engine has burned 2 quarts of Delo 100 ! Eeek :shock: Also, there -seems- to be MORE tappet noise at middle rpm. I checked the valve lashes ... still .014".

Hmmm.

PS:(Nov 6) Recently I replaced the alternator. I also had to monkey around to pull out the alternator / vac pump because I could not pull off that HARD return hose leading down to the engine block. Well ... it's been leaking, quite a bit. So ... I'm searching for the OEM return hose. It's custom curved.
-Philip
Passed 08May2008
My friend, you are missed . . .

1982 Datsun 720KC SD-22

"Im slow and I'm ahead of you"
zoomsplatt
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Location: BOW WA.

Castrol 15W40 and greased lightning additive

#23

Post by zoomsplatt »

hello all
I'm one of the new members of this form and new to Nissan diesels. But I have had a half dozen gas Nissan 720 trucks over the years the one I sold just before I came out north from Florida was a 1986 Nissan 720 4x4 King cab TBI with five speed, I put over 530,000 miles on it and had it for 20 years. During that time, I just about rebuilt the whole truck. One way or the other, but never did anything major to the motor at all, rebuilt the transmission four times, the rear end Once, and adjusted the valves. A couple of times, and that's it, the one thing I did do though was change the oil every 3000 to 3500 miles with Castrol 20 W50(was located in Central Florida, extremely hot weather most of the time) religiously and added greased lightning oil additive Every other oil change, when I sold this truck to a friend of mine before I came out to Washington I replaced the valve cover gasket before he bought it and I could not find ANY signs of wear on the camshaft at all, the cam risers were perfect and looking at the timing chain and gears and guides(what I could see of them). Also showed no signs of wear at all, he is still driving my truck. Now, although he is young, and tends to be not the brightest light in the harbor When it comes to mechanics, and he tends to abuse his trucks(likes to go off-road and run through the mud etc.) and so far has blown up the transmission and torn up the front bumper. The engine still runs great.
I'm running Castrol 15W40 diesel oil now, and the same additive in my diesel, so far I haven't had to add any oil, and have approximately 2000 miles on my first oil change, I guess we'll see in a few months.
I was feeling depressed so I called lifeline, I got an exchange in Afghanistan, I told them I was suicidal they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck:)
redmondjp
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#24

Post by redmondjp »

zoomsplatt,

In your area, it gets cold enough in the winter that you should consider running a 5w-40 synthetic diesel oil. When I had them, I switched both my '81 Rabbit 1.6D and my '82 Datsun 720 SD22 from the 15w-40 Delo to a 5w-40 diesel synthetic, such as Shell Rotella T Synthetic which is available at Walmart for $14-15 gallon. You can also use Mobil 1 Turbodiesel Truck 5w-40 synthetic, which is a bit more ($20-25 gal) and is more widely available (Shuck's, Joe's, Walmart).

You can probably extend your oil change interval up to 5-7K also, depending upon the type of driving you do. The 5w-40 synthetic will lubricate much better and faster at lower temps and allow your engine to crank faster when cold (very helpful on the SD22!). It also is more resistant to gunking up the rings (which isn't as critical on this non-turbo'd motor) when compared to a non-synthetic oil, but this usually isn't an issue if you change your oil regularly.

My SD22 had a hard enough time starting when cold that I did everything I could to make it better--and a thinner oil definitely helps. Please note that I'm not against running a non-synthetic diesel oil, and for Phillip in his temperate-to-smoking-hot climate, he can get away with using even a single-weight diesel oil most of the year without a problem.

My $.02.
1982 Datsun 720 King Cab, SD22, 86K miles (sold)
1981 Rabbit LS 4-door, 1.6D, 130K miles (sold)
1996 Passat TDI 4-door sedan, 197K miles
zoomsplatt
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Location: BOW WA.

oils and starting etc.

#25

Post by zoomsplatt »

redmondjp
I do like synthetics, but I hesitate to get away from Castrol and the Teflon additive that I use. I've had such good luck with it over the years, as far as starting my S D 22 starts like a fuel injected gasoline truck, from what I gather this is pretty uncommon, I turn the key on, wait for the glow plugs and hit the starter, cranks on the first turn one little puff of smoke and idles with no stumbling right off the bat, is really surprising to me, it's done this, even when it's 30°,I've had several Toyota Land Cruisers with the 3b diesel plus numerous fords, and a whole slew of marine diesels, and none of them start like this one,kind of scares me, I found that in mechanical items. If they are not running true to form somethings wrong:) maybe it has something to do with this engine not having the shut off motor(forgot what that's called) hooked up. Its running on a cable, and when the cable is pushed in the spring return on the lever just centers The lever instead of pushing it to the start position. I haven't had the truck long enough yet to really study it that much. And I haven't picked up a manual for it yet either, hell until I read it on this forum I didn't even know it had a motor that controled fuel to the injection pump. I thought it was an internal solenoid(I should never assume anything I'm unusually wrong:).
I was feeling depressed so I called lifeline, I got an exchange in Afghanistan, I told them I was suicidal they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck:)
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kassim503
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#26

Post by kassim503 »

I dont like to use teflon (pfte) in the internals of engines, because DuPont states that teflon is not recommended for use in engine internals.

I tried googling and doing a breif search of DuPont's site, couldnt find the statement I read a few years ago from DuPont, but I got something from a 3rd party

Motorcylce Safety Site

Its more of an article about teflon in slick 50, instead of a unbiased report on PFTE use in engine internals. Apparently slick 50 has caught the eye of the FTC, they cited that it dont stand up to its advertising.

I personally dont like addictives, I rarely use them, and thats only as a last ditch effort on a car that I dont plan on keeping.
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
zoomsplatt
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Location: BOW WA.

PTFE

#27

Post by zoomsplatt »

I not use slick 50, I use greased lightning, which I understand is exactly the same thing almost. The difference being from what I've been told is that the original engineer and patent holder of the slick 50 formula was extremely unhappy with the company that started to produce his product. He had sold the patent rights and name to them. They in turn changed it around somewhat as far as the chemical composition and did not add very much PTFE to their product, if I remember correctly. There is something also to do with how it was homogenized into the oil. Anyway, the engineer turned around, reformulated it pulled another patent and is now producing grease lightning, which has a totally homogenized(if that is the correct word) PTFE additive and there is more of it per ounce, whatever the case may be or what the government says about product. It doesn't matter to me. I use it in every vehicle I have owned since it came on the market and am totally satisfied with the results, 537,000 miles, over 21 years on a Nissan 720 pickup and no major repairs whatsoever to the motor and showing no signs of breaking down anytime in the near future is enough proof for me, also my brothers truck. My father's car, several Harley-Davidson's, two Toyota 3b diesels, etc.[/img]
I was feeling depressed so I called lifeline, I got an exchange in Afghanistan, I told them I was suicidal they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck:)
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ecomike
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Location: Houston Tx

Hard to find old oils, time to revive a very old thread!

#28

Post by ecomike »

I was foraging for the old SL oil spec oil at Advance auto this week, and found their name brand oil listed SN, not SM on the API logo spec. Is this a miss print, or did an SN spec come out while I was snoozing? I am guessing it would have NO ZINC or phosphate in it?

So did I miss something?

I am also having a real hard time finding any old spec diesel oil anywhere now that does not also have the SM API MULTI spec on the label, and the Autozone SL spec, 20W-50 is getting hard to find to. I am may be getting close to the point where I need to rethink what oil and spec, and possibly additive I use. I am now out of the diesel oil I stocked up on in 2008, and the gasoline engine oil I was using on old tractor jeep engine is getting scarce as well.

What is everyone else using these days? How well is it holding up? And oil analysis data?

Philip, we still miss you!!!!
Regards,

Mike

1985 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer, 2WD, retrofitted with SD-22 & 5 spd manual trans, a 4X4 Gas Wagoneer ltd. (XJ) Jeep, 4.0 L w/ AW4 auto, and now 2 spare 2wd Jeeps, 87 & 89.
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ecomike
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Hard to find old oils, time to revive a very old thread!

#29

Post by ecomike »

I was foraging for the old SL oil spec oil at Advance auto this week, and found their name brand oil listed SN, not SM on the API logo spec. Is this a miss print, or did an SN spec come out while I was snoozing? I am guessing it would have NO ZINC or phosphate in it?

So did I miss something?

I am also having a real hard time finding any old spec diesel oil anywhere now that does not also have the SM API MULTI spec on the label, and the Autozone SL spec, 20W-50 is getting hard to find to. I am may be getting close to the point where I need to rethink what oil and spec, and possibly additive I use. I am now out of the diesel oil I stocked up on in 2008, and the gasoline engine oil I was using on the old tractor jeep engine is getting scarce as well.

What is everyone else using these days? How well is it holding up? Any oil analysis data?

Philip, we still miss you!!!!
Regards,

Mike

1985 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer, 2WD, retrofitted with SD-22 & 5 spd manual trans, a 4X4 Gas Wagoneer ltd. (XJ) Jeep, 4.0 L w/ AW4 auto, and now 2 spare 2wd Jeeps, 87 & 89.
Cmdr. Ron
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Re: oil

#30

Post by Cmdr. Ron »

ecomike wrote:(Philip and...) I switched to Redline MT-90 synthetic for the tranny as it seems to be the only safe product left on the market for brass synchromesh manual transmissions. It also shifts a whole lot better.
Well, now... Quite interesting you should mention that particular factor. Thank you very much, Mike.
Datsun got BRASS SYNCROS & stuff? My Fiat has brass, too! At the Fiat Lancia Unlimited site (FLU), we've had a big go 'round concerning the ENORMOUSLY DAMAGING EFFECTS of anything other than GL-1 rated lube. (The tranny on my floor has exactly the damage caused by them.:shock: )
One of the guys recently posted about MT-90 being good to use with brass. I thought he referred to Pennzoil Synthetic MT-90, but maybe it was Redline. When the transmission was out last year, I spilt a bunch of Royal Purple and was nearly broke, so I added a bottle of dino. Immediate down-turn in driving enjoyment! Not smooth, quiet, or as easy to shift. We be far-from-groovin'. :x
'82 DATSUN 720 SD22, '77 Fiat 124 Spider, '81 Toyota HiLux, '64 Chevy Corvair Monza
The Blessing of Abraham is mine!
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