Preventive Maintenance Final Project: Part 2

I chose four topics to describe about my 1897 Toyota 4Runner. The lube oils, grease, gear lubes and service intervals. Lube oils (engine lubrication) I believe is my best defense to have engine longevity. It is the central spot where I can learn everything about how the engine is running. Are there metal flakes in it? Is the engine consuming oil? Is it a leak or is it burning it? Has the oil not changed color since its last oil change? Why is the oil so thick or runny? These are the questions I am always thinking about in a new vehicle and whenever it is time for a service. I learned that the importance of lube oils can not be underestimated. Without engine oil while running, an engine could have a matter of seconds to minutes left in its life. Engine oil helps cool, absorb contaminants, transport contaminants, become a shock absorber for vital engine bearings and more. I learned that my toyota takes API grade: SF or SF/CC oil and for my area 10w-30 will work great as a viscosity. I learned that this vehicle needs at least its minimum API grade, but you can also use higher standard oil that meets the specifications of vehicles that are being made today. It uses 4.5 U.S. quarts when changing the oil and oil filter. Grease is only used in my drive train. I quickly identified that I have greased for life ball joints and steering linkage. My toyota requires molybdenum disulphide lithium base NLGI No. 2 grease. This is used for the 7 grease fittings that follow both driveshafts because it is a 4 wheel drive 4Runner. Greasing is also very important because it is also there as a cushion to extend the life of wear points that can't be lubed by a oil bath or oil system i.e.( engine oil). Gear lubes I have probably learned the most about because I had the most questions. One of those questions was what is hypoid mean? I looked it up and hypoid has to do with how the gears in a rear differential are made up. They don't mesh together in parallel, but more like at a 90 degree angle to each other so there is more tooth to tooth surface area. This is done so the amount of horsepower and torque can be increased, but use a smaller differential. My rear axle specification is 80w-90. However in a two wheel drive model it requires SAE 90 weight that is hypoid. Hypoid oil has additives in it that don't let it degrade as fast as regular gear oil when subject to higher gear teeth pressure. Gear lube is very important because without it my differential, transmission and transfer case would get to hot and the gears would wear out. The service intervals for this vehicle are very important. Service intervals are in place so I the consumer can know when specific things need to be done. If I neglect to change the lube oils for 30,000 miles my engine wouldn't last as long due to the worn out oil that would most likely be very contaminated and its additives would be worn out.

I did a count of how many grease fittings are on the new peterbuilt truck and I counted 51.

I have learned many specific things about preventive maintenance while doing this project. I learned about why it is so important to all of a machines parts. If done correctly it can extend the life of new and old machines. I believe without a solid preventive maintenance program machines will be constantly down and will grow old very quick.

Here are the links to the MSDS for all of my fluids:

http://www.technologylubricants.com/MSDS/CITGO/MSDS/EP%20Moly%20D%20Grease.pdf

http://www.canyonstateoil.com/msds-sheets/Valvoline/VAL_HP_GEAR_OIL_80W90_PL_5_GA.PDF

http://facilities.fit.edu/documents/forms/MSDS/NAPA%2010W30%20High%20Mileage%20oil%2075-130.pdf