Posted by: Carls_jeep
« on: May 01, 2011, 08:40:05 PM »In the 1970 to 80's when I worked at a Cummins Distributor we used white lubriplate grease on the main and rod bearings. It would provide lube for way longer than it took for the new engine to fire up.
During the middle 70's some of the distributors and dealers were using a 50/50 mix of STP and oil and if the engine was stored without starting they were having spun bearings. Cummins did a test and found that the 50/50 mix of oil and STP would harden over a short storage time and lock the bearings to the crank. When you put the engine into service you would have a bearing failure.
Cummins sent letters to all distributors and dealers to discontinue using STP and only use white lubriplate grease.
If your going to start a rebuilt engine pull the plugs and turn the engine over with the starter until the oil pressure comes up. If you start the engine and the oil pressure does not come up you have most likely damaged all the bearings by the time you realize the oil pressure is NOT coming up.
During the middle 70's some of the distributors and dealers were using a 50/50 mix of STP and oil and if the engine was stored without starting they were having spun bearings. Cummins did a test and found that the 50/50 mix of oil and STP would harden over a short storage time and lock the bearings to the crank. When you put the engine into service you would have a bearing failure.
Cummins sent letters to all distributors and dealers to discontinue using STP and only use white lubriplate grease.
If your going to start a rebuilt engine pull the plugs and turn the engine over with the starter until the oil pressure comes up. If you start the engine and the oil pressure does not come up you have most likely damaged all the bearings by the time you realize the oil pressure is NOT coming up.

