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This is a weird one: got my Toys For Tots (T4T) truck (1972 M35A2 WO/W) all set up for the big kickoff on the 5th (Oct) (picture below). I wanted to show the T4T committee what I had done and make sure the truck was set up as they envisioned. Got halfway there and my wife pulled up beside me and told (yelled a the top of her lungs) me the truck was dumping oil. Bleep. Turned the truck around and drove home at about 15 MPH with one eye on the road and one on the oil pressure gauge. It was low but the pressure stayed above zero so better to get myself home than pay a tow truck driver.
It took me a while to get everything together and replaced/repaired as needed. After getting the grill and radiator out of the way, it was pretty clear the oil was coming from the RPM adapter. I took it apart and it was time for a replacement....not to mention the cable was only hand tight. Anyway, as I said, new parts went in. Everything oil soaked got replaced: the belts, which needed replacement anyway; the radiator hoses, top and bottom. The generator was slinging oil out of the vent holes from the overspray. When I ran up the truck today it ran fine so hopefully it'll be OK.
Here's the weird part. I've had this truck for 2-3 years. never added oil. Checked it once in a while. Since there were no leaks, I didn't check it very often. When I bought it I checked the level and it was good. The correct capacity is 22 quarts if you change the filters. I drained 30 +/- quarts today. If my math is correct, that's two gallons more than required. Add in the unknown amount I dumped...probably had around 34 to 38 quarts in total...where did all that oil come from
? Is here an oil fairy
running around dumping extra oil in random M35's? There was no water in the oil. There wasn't any diesel in the oil. I'm pretty sure there wasn't any 80-90 weight gear oil in it...that stuff stinks and is easy to tell when it's mixed in with other oil.
Is there a common practice amongst the Army (this truck is former Army) transportation companies to overfill the crankcase? I can see why they might but extra oil isn't a good thing...it blows up oil seals and violates tech data. Last thing...I replaced the oil with Rotella. My 1970 already had it in it when I bought that truck and it runs really smooth plus I get pressure quicker than the regular oil from the TM. I quit wearing my tin foil hat but if this becomes a trend, I might have to make a new one (sat on the old one..non-repairable
.
It took me a while to get everything together and replaced/repaired as needed. After getting the grill and radiator out of the way, it was pretty clear the oil was coming from the RPM adapter. I took it apart and it was time for a replacement....not to mention the cable was only hand tight. Anyway, as I said, new parts went in. Everything oil soaked got replaced: the belts, which needed replacement anyway; the radiator hoses, top and bottom. The generator was slinging oil out of the vent holes from the overspray. When I ran up the truck today it ran fine so hopefully it'll be OK.
Here's the weird part. I've had this truck for 2-3 years. never added oil. Checked it once in a while. Since there were no leaks, I didn't check it very often. When I bought it I checked the level and it was good. The correct capacity is 22 quarts if you change the filters. I drained 30 +/- quarts today. If my math is correct, that's two gallons more than required. Add in the unknown amount I dumped...probably had around 34 to 38 quarts in total...where did all that oil come from
![Shocked :shock: :shock:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Is there a common practice amongst the Army (this truck is former Army) transportation companies to overfill the crankcase? I can see why they might but extra oil isn't a good thing...it blows up oil seals and violates tech data. Last thing...I replaced the oil with Rotella. My 1970 already had it in it when I bought that truck and it runs really smooth plus I get pressure quicker than the regular oil from the TM. I quit wearing my tin foil hat but if this becomes a trend, I might have to make a new one (sat on the old one..non-repairable
![Tin Hat :tin hat: :tin hat:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/tinfoilhatsmile.gif)
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