How long does she have doc

[panzerjunky]

Hello Fellas

Been reading a couple posts on another thread about the the multi fuel engine being a very " crappy " engine with a very short lifespan my question is what is the expected lifespan of a Multi fuel engine. Mine has 29,700 miles 1088 hours engine is an LDT-465
Redone at Toledo in 88. When I say redone I am not sure what they did it just has a tag that says teads or something like that 1988.
In my opinion 29,700 would be just breaking in on a typical diesel
Opinions please.
Thanks Jerry

 

[cranetruck]

You will get to love it, starts easy, runs quiet and burns anything you care to put in the fuel tank! It's a military engine and expected to perform at a moment's notice under the most severe conditions, not made to run coast to coast day in and day out.

 

[dabtl]

I think it got a bad rap after the governors and such were removed in Vietnam.

I also think it can be made better by the addition of modern fuel and oil filters with some regular care.

Maintenance is the problem in my opinion. In the service, they were treated rough, very rough.

I regularly change the oil and filters, avoid over revving and generally take care of them.

I have not been disappointed yet.

 

[dittle]

Just keep in mind that you can take a brand new pickup off the car lot and blow the engine in it up and this is a "good" designed engine. The deuce engine IMHO is a very well built engine and if you don't abuse it and you perform maintenance it should not disappoint you. Its all how the user treats the equipment that effects how long it last more than the design of this engine. My 2 cents

 

[Divemaster920]

I have had many of retired military say "You can't kill those things." or "Those things are indestructible." You can break them many times and keep putting them back together again.

 

[clinto]

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/28192-multifuel-engine-life-facts-uncle-sam.html

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/12029-multifuel-engine-life.html

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/6439-multifuel-lifespan.html

 

[cranetruck]

The high compression ratio makes the engine easy to start in cold weather without starting aids...the hypecycle (slow combustion) rate makes it burn heavier fuel more completely....maybe David Doyle can dig up some info on the "newer" multifuels, which would be more apropo, since few of us have the 427 model.

The engines do have features for extreme conditions, so compromises had to be made, like the self draining oil filters for preheating in arctic temps. This "feature" adds to the wear and tear at startup and if you run your engine often, perhaps non draining filters will improve the life expectancy...but then again, many of us like the original stuff.
Remember we are talking about an engine designed and built almost 50 years ago.

Links are good, but it's also good to see fresh ideas from new members IMHO.

Edit: Oh, also think clean fuel, the multifuel engine relies on many precision lapped-to-fit components and a rusty fuel tank is a killer. All fuel filter canisters have drains, so maintain the purity of the fuel and let no water through!

 

[emr]

WOW! I have never I mean never heard a bad thing about these engines, Aways heard from the unit here, just like said above, cant kil those multis, Bullet prof motors. When I was looking for a motor i found 2 laying in the weeds and dirt behind a Cranford Twp. road dept, i got a call there may be a motor there. there was 2, The Old guy there said, they have been laying there since 1975 that one ran with no turbo and the one with the turbo has a blown head gasket, I gave Him 200 bucks and he loaded em, I put the one that he said rand in 1975 and changed the fliuds and put it in the truck, It fired right up , It did not miss a beat since 1975, And has been running strong and hard since, i did swap the turbo eventually, The Motor I pulled out had a head gasket problem also, So now I have 2 blocks that need gaskets, may just do em and sell em, as for that, It is true the oldest models had head gasket problems, But that was fixed long ago....

 

[Barrman]

Toole was where the rebuild was done. It is outside of Salt Lake City. There is probably a sticker on one of the oil filters claiming that as well.

Service it with clean fuel, oil and air. Don't try to make it run more than 2600 rpm for days on end and it will probably out last you.

 

[JasonS]

The engines do have features for extreme conditions, so compromises had to be made, like the self draining oil filters for preheating in arctic temps. This "feature" adds to the wear and tear at startup and if you run your engine often, perhaps non draining filters will improve the life expectancy.

Do you have any factual data to support that "self draining oil filters" were intended in the design and are thus a design feature and not a design shortcoming?

 

[clinto]

Do you have any factual data to support that "self draining oil filters" were intended in the design and are thus a design feature and not a design shortcoming?

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/62756-post15.html

 

[gimpyrobb]

Well, there is that and the fact that the arctic heater kit that heats the coolant also comes with a shroud to go on the oilpan. The exhaust from the coolant heater is used to heat the crankcase oil. Basicly with that system, a cold start isn't that "cold" ay ANY sub-zero temp.

(till diesel freezes)

 

[JasonS]

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/62756-post15.html

A fine read but nothing about whether the self draining filters were a design intent or an oversight/ shortcoming. Unless someone can show historical data, it seems like pure speculation.

 

[clinto]

A fine read but nothing about whether the self draining filters were a design intent or an oversight/ shortcoming. Unless someone can show historical data, it seems like pure speculation.

D-man actually talked to a Continental engineer about it. I looked for the thread but couldn't find it (because there are 8 million oil system threads).

The engineer basically said they begged the military not to use the system but the military was set on it so that all the oil could drain back into the pan to be heated in artic (read: Siberian) conditions.

Maybe someone else can find it, I spent 30+ minutes looking.

 

[cranetruck]

I believe I first mentioned it in passing some years ago, because it made sense to me (not necessarily in an "oil thread")....

 

[Srjeeper]

A couple things need to be considered regarding when these engines were designed.

Cartridge filters were pretty much all there was at the time, plus the engine/powerplant system was to be a one piece removable unit type configuration. These were also designed to be serviced and worked on in the field mostly as opposed to in a shop.

I doudt very much any part of the mulitfuel engine was a shortcoming in it's design.

The majority of multi's today are being driven and cared for by their owners, not some 17 yr.old just drafted out of Mayberry who's getting his 'sit muffins' shot at.

You take care of it, it will take care of you.

That's my

 

[dabtl]

I recall reading the post Clinto referred to also. And I think his recollection of it is on the money.

cranetruck has suggested that in order to avoid cold sluggish oil in northern climes that heating the oil before starting is a useful process.

In Texas, I doubt it would be much of a consideration, however. So, I opt for the anti-drain feature. I probably does not make a huge amount of difference either way, but time will tell.

 

[poppop]

I agree that if you service regularly and treat them well they will last forever. I had one of my farm tractors seize and engine couple years ago. It was not used much each year. When it seized I started checking and guess what, I had not changed the oil in 600 hours. The recomended time is 100 hours. Then add the fact that the radiator needed cleaning out and we did not since we did not use it much, ran it hot several times which degrades the oil even more and it finally said I give up. No ones fault but mine. I lost a good tractor from neglect and it is so old it is not worth the $10,000.00 Deere wants for a reman long block.

 

[dabtl]

If you do with yours what I do, parades and such, then you probably baby it as much as I.

I was out over the weekend just checking.

I need a life.

 

[emr]

The 465 was the replacement for the 427, so one would figure, its an upgrade, but one needs to say the 427 in the hands as so well put above, will out last the owner.maybe said it about the 465 but it holds true, There have never been any info on failed motors due to lack of oil at start up, i suspect there never will be, And as for these motors being So awesome and the whole trucks to boot , The life of them sitting for 30 years being started by us and driven all over the place in all climates AGAIN< is the biggest testament to the trucks yet. they are still going strong, they sit , they run good, u use em they run good, Any motors and vehicles for that matter i have had need to be used for them not to be worthless pieces of rust and scrap, It is obvious to me they are more than we wil ever use, Good thread, But silly too....