SERVICE BULLETIN

NOTICE: The Type of Change and Recommended Compliance specified reflects Solar's best judgment regarding the
Service Bulletin. All questions should be directed to your Solar Field Service Representative. Solar, Saturn, Centaur,
Taurus, Mercury, Mars, Titan, SoLoNOx, and Turbotronic are trademarks of Solar Turbines Incorporated. Cat and
Caterpillar are trademarks of Caterpillar Inc. Specifications subject to change without notice.

NUMBER: 6.0/116D
ISSUED: July 2022
PRODUCT: All
MODEL(S): All
Specifics:
SUBJECT: LUBE OIL SYSTEM TEMPERATURE SETTINGS

Type of Change: Product Reliability

Recommended Earliest Convenience
Compliance:
-REVISION NOTE-
This Service Bulletin has been completely rewritten.
PURPOSE:
To provide lube oil temperature control and monitoring guidance.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Solar’s equipment, Mercury 50 packages excluded, is designed to operate using lube oil of one of
two ISO viscosity grades. Table 1, Lube Oil Usage, identifies the Class of Oil and the Viscosity
Grade recommended for various ambient temperatures. All other oil attribute requirements for a
turbine oil to meet Solar specification are outlined in Engineering Specification (ES) 9-224. Please
note that lube oil with a viscosity grade of C46 is mandatory if the maximum ambient temperatures
exceed 110°F (43°C).

Table 1. Lube Oil Usage

Oil Class Viscosity Grade Ambient Temperature

Class I ISO VG 32 -54 to +115°F (-48 to +46°C)

(Synthesized Hydrocarbons) ISO VG 46 -54 to +140°F (-48 to +60°C)

Class II ISO VG 32 +26 to +110°F (-3 to +43°C)

(Petroleum Oils) ISO VG 46 +26 to +135°F (-3 to +57°C)

Class III
MIL-L- 23699 -54 to +110°F (-48 to +43°C)
(Synthetic Esters)

Class IV ISO VG 32 +11 to +110°F (-12 to +43°C)

(Phosphate Esters) ISO VG 46 +11 to +110°F (-12 to +43°C)

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2. Lube Oil Operating Limits

Operating limits applicable to your specific package are listed on the front pages of the Lube Oil
Schematics or Process & Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) and the Mechanical Installation
drawings issued for every package. All values given in these documents are corrected for the type
of oil (Class) and the viscosity grade selected during initial purchase. If this information is missing,
a viscosity grade of C32 is assumed.

If a user elects to change the grade of oil in an existing package, all setpoints for the oil temperature
control and monitoring devices must be changed.

2.1 OPERATING OIL TEMPERATURES:

In most packages, Solar controls the lube oil manifold (header) temperature. Some older packages
maintain a constant oil sump temperature, which is normally about 20 to 35°F (11 to 20°C) higher
than the manifold temperature. The package lube oil temperature control valve (thermostat)
maintains the desired manifold (or oil sump) temperature at all but the highest ambient
temperatures.

NOTE 1
In some cases, the older / original lube oil control set points are higher than
the currently required setpoints for a particular engine model. The
recommended lube oil operating temperatures for various engine products
have been changed over the years, often to implement lower limits. Due to
oil cooler limitations, some packages with lowered temperature control
valve settings might exceed the recommended manifold temperatures
considerably on hot days.

In these situations, during retrofits of old controls systems to modern

controls, especially when the controls retrofit is performed in conjunction
with an engine uprate, the lube oil cooler capacity and efficiency must be
examined to ensure that it can maintain the desired lube oil temperatures
as specified for the current control system.

If the lube oil cooler cannot support the current lube oil temperature control
setpoints, then one or more of the following recommendations should be
followed:

1. Perform an upgrade of the lube oil cooler and/or lube oil control block /
valves.
2. If the unit is currently operating on ISO VG 32 viscosity oil, consider
switching to an ISO VG 46 viscosity oil which allows for operation at
higher ranges of lube oil control setpoint temperatures.
3. Contact your local Solar District Service office for a case specific
review.

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 Regardless of the control setpoints in use, the customer will continue to
perform regular monitoring of the lube oil quality via sampling and analysis
per SB 6.0/110 to ensure that the oil continues to meet Solar’s operating
lube oil quality specifications.

2.2 CONTROL SETPOINTS:

2.2.1 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based Control Systems:

The control setpoints for a particular package are defined in notes and tables in the Lube Oil
Schematic or P&ID drawings. The setpoints depend on the viscosity grade of the selected lube oil
and are set to their correct values when the control system is programmed.

The standard setpoints for control constants associated with the lube oil system for Solar products,
as well as the bearing drain differential temperature setpoints for each engine model are dependent
on the viscosity grade of the lube oil used (C32 or C46).

2.2.2 Relay-Based Control Systems:

Setpoints for relay-based control systems are noted on electrical schematics, either in notes or in
the body of the applicable schematic. The temperature control setpoints and the alarm and shut
down settings generally follow the values recommended for PLC based systems pertaining to each
engine model.

2.2.3 Lube Oil System Components:

Setpoint data for the hydro-mechanical components of the lube oil system can be found on the
system schematic drawing, either in notes or in the body of the drawing.

ACTION REQUIRED:

Check your control logic and confirm, that the set points for oil temperature alarm and shutdown,
oil cooler fan control, oil tank heater control and oil tank minimum temperature permissive start
for your particular package and oil viscosity grade are correctly set in accordance with the package
specific drawings and/or any recent retrofit documentation. Operate and load the package and
observe correct operation of control setpoints and monitoring devices. Make sure that the lube oil
temperature in the supply header stays within the limits specified in the package documentation.
If necessary, adjust the setting of the temperature-control device. Most control valves require the
exchange of non-adjustable thermostat cartridges.

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 WARNING

Do not operate a package continuously in the High-Oil-Temperature-Alarm

range. Operating a unit with improper oil temperatures can cause significant
damage to engine rotating components and/or can drastically affect the useful
life of the oil.

Do not attempt to correct the thermostat setting during a very hot day. Despite a
wide open temperature control valve, the lube oil temperature might exceed the
desirable operating range due to insufficient oil cooler capacity.

If assistance is required with adjustment of package oil temperature controlling and monitoring
equipment, contact your local Solar District Service Office.

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