Medium Duty Operator's Manual - Peterbilt Motors Company

Preventive Maintenance
ENGINE MAINTENANCE
Engine Lubrication
Proper engine lubrication depends on ambient temperature
and where the vehicle will be operated. Use the recommended
oil for the weather conditions outside.
NOTE: For engine oil specifications, oil change
intervals, engine filter requirements or general
engine maintenance procedures, refer to the Engine
Operation Manual included with your vehicle or the
engine manufacturer’s service manual.
Service Intervals
• Check engine oil daily.
Oil Draining:
• Refer to the engine manufacturer's Engine Operation
and Maintenance Manual supplied with your vehicle for
information about draining and refilling engine oil, engine
crankcase capacity, engine oil type, and changing oil filters,
etc.
Engine Maintenance
WARNING! Hot engine oil can be dangerous. You
could be seriously burned. Let the engine oil
cool down before changing it.
• Drain the oil into a container designed for this purpose.
• When draining the oil, remove the plug with the proper
size wrench and keep as far away as possible. Always
keep your forearm parallel to the ground to help prevent
hot oil from running down your arm.
• The oil filler cap must be secured to avoid oil spill causing
a potential fire hazard.
Oil Level Check
• To check the engine oil level, park the vehicle on level
ground and wait 5 minutes after shutting the engine OFF.
This allows time for the oil to drain to the oil pan.
• Remove the dipstick and wipe it off with a clean, lint-free
rag.
• Reinsert the dipstick all the way in and pull it out again to
check oil level. Correct oil level is between the low (L)
and high (H) marks on the dipstick.
For further information regarding oil level, see the engine
manufacturer's Engine Operation and Maintenance Manual
supplied with the vehicle.
Medium Duty (R05/09) Y53-6008A – 169 –