Bulletin No. 15.
2
®
FLUID ANALYSIS GUIDE
Machine Profiles
988B Wheel Loaders
Description
These are articulated steer loaders with planetary
power shift transmission and oil cooled multi-disc
brakes.
Serial Number Range: 50W, 62Y*
*Military version
Lubrication Recommendations
For complete information concerning lubrication
recommendations, refer to Caterpillar Machine
Lubricant Recommendations. Form SEBU6250.
Oil Sampling Procedures
These machines are equipped with oil sampling
valves for the components with pressurized oil
systems. Refer to Special Information SEHS9043
for the location of valves.
Filter Inspection
Recommend that filters be saved for inspection.
Plastic bags are convenient for retaining the filters
until they can be cut open for inspection. The
4C5084 Filter Cutting Tool is available for this
purpose. Be alert for visible pieces of synthetic
friction material or metal which may indicate a
problem.
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File Under Wheel Loaders
CONFIDENTIAL
This document contains unpublished confidential
proprietary, and trade secret information of Caterpillar Inc.,
and is intended for distribution only to parties specifically
authorized by Caterpillar. Unauthorized copying, distri-
bution, or use is specifically prohibited.
© 1997 CATERPILLAR INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
NOTICE
Specific information supplied by this document
concerning the machine/compartment and wear limits
contained in this document are intended to be used
only as general guidelines for interpretation.
Model-specific information supplied by this document
is subject to change and may vary on a machine-by-
machine basis. Most often, changes to major
components changes are delineated by specific serial
number breaks and/or prefix changes. Equipment
changes and updates are frequent; therefore, you
may need to consult current Operations and
Maintenance Manuals, Parts Manuals, Service
Manuals or other reference materials for details for a
specific serial number machine.
Wear tables, provided elsewhere by Caterpillar, were
developed for average conditions and are intended to
reflect expected values at normal oil change periods.
They may be too high or too low for some specific
machine applications. Interpretations should be
based on the trend of wear values in each
compartment whenever possible.
Blank wear tables are provided for entry of either
Caterpillar or dealer established guidelines. Note that
Sodium and Molybdenum are not included in these
blank wear tables because these elements are often
present in oil additives and, therefore, must be
trended for meaningful analysis.
Printed in U.S.A. (12/95)
 ENGINE Iron
Crankshaft
Serial No. Range: 988B Camshaft
Engine Model: 3408 T Valves
Horsepower Rating: 280kW, 375 FWHP Valve seats, guides, liners and cylinder walls
Oil pump
Oil Change Interval: 250 Hrs.
Cam follower
Filter Change Interval: 250 Hrs.)
Sump Capacity: 42 Liters (11 Gal.) Chromium
Piston rings
Aftercooler Type: Water to air
Engine Oil Cooler: Water Lead
Cooling System: 106 Liters (28 Gal.) Main and rod bearings
Oil Transfer Possibilities: Camshaft bearings
1. Oil may transfer between the engine and Tin
transmission through the rear crankshaft seal. Main and rod bearings
2. Hydraulic oil could transfer to the engine through Camshaft bearings
a damaged steering pump seal. Water pump bearings

Notes: Aluminum
1. Recommend Caterpillar Diesel Engine Oil (DEO). Main bearing
2. Fuel injectors are under valve covers. Leakage Rod bearing
could show as fuel dilution in the oil sample. Timing gear bushing
Timing gear cover
Crankshaft thrust bearing
WEAR ELEMENT SOURCES Rocker arm
Fuel pump lifter
Copper
Pistons
Front and rear idler gear thrust bearing Timing gear bearings
Jacket water pump thrust bearing Oil pump bushings
Turbocharger sleeve bearing Turbocharger thrust bearing
Oil cooler core tubes (no failure) Dirt entry (clay soils)
Wrist pin bushing Anti-seize compounds (no failure)
Oil pump drive thrust washer
Governor bushings Silicon
Service meter drive gear Condensation
Cooling system leaks Dirt entry
Cam follower roller shaft Silicon grease (no failure)
Turbocharger thrust bearing Silicon additives (no failure)
Oil additives (no failure)
Molybdenum
Plasma coated rings
Oil additives (no failure)

Sodium
Water or coolant entry
Oil additives (no failure)
Condensation

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Printed in U.S.A. (12/95)
 TRANSMISSION WEAR ELEMENT SOURCES
Serial No. Range: 988B Copper
Type: Planetary Power Shift Cooler core leaching (no failure)
Speeds: 4F, 4R Oil additives (no failure)
Torque converter bushings
Oil Change Interval: 1000 Hrs. Anti-seize compounds (no failure)
Filter Change Interval: 500 Hrs.
Iron
Sump Capacity:
Tank: 63 Liters (17.5 Gal.) Pump housing
System: 91 Liters (24 Gal.) Gears
Bearings
Transmission Pump Type: Gear
Clutch plates
Oil Cooler Type: Water Splines
Disc Friction Material: Shafts
Transmission Discs: F37 and Rayflex Pump wear
VCTC: Gylon Housing
Common Sump: Transmission variable capacity Chromium
torque converter, transmission input planetary and
Piston Rings
output transfer gears share a common sump
Oil Transfer Possibilities: Tin
1. Oil may transfer between the engine and Bearings
transmission through the rear crankshaft seal.
Aluminum
2. Hydraulic oil could transfer to the transmission
Torque converter impeller
through a damaged supplemental steering pump
Torque converter turbine
seal.
Dirt entry (clay soils)
Notes: Anti-seize compounds (no failure)
1. Recommend Caterpillar Transmission / Drive Silicon
Train Oil (TDTO).
Dirt entry
2. Pump drive is part of converter housing. Silicon grease (no failure)
3. Transfer gear box attaches to transmission and Silicon additives (no failure)
provides power to front and rear axles through
U-joints. Sodium
Coolant leak
4. Magnetic strainer in gear case sump. Drain oil in
Condensation
sump before removing if failure is suspected.
Water entry
5. Machine is equipped with Variable Capacity Oil additives (no failure)
Torque Converter (VCTC) which has a split
impeller with a lock-up piston.

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Printed in U.S.A. (12/95)
 HYDRAULICS WEAR ELEMENT SOURCES
Serial No. Range: 988B Copper
Oil Change Interval: 2000 Hrs. Cooler core leaching (no failure)
Filter Change Interval: 500 Hrs. Oil additives (no failure)
Pressure plate wear (gear pump)
Sump Capacity: Anti-seize compounds (no failure)
Tank: 295 Liters (78 Gal.)
System: 380 Liters (131 Gal.) Iron
Oil Cooler Type: Air Gears
Pump Type(s): Cylinder wear
Pump wear
Tyrone Gear Pump controls flow to: Implements
Tyrone Gear Pump controls flow to: Supplemental Chromium
Steering Cylinder rods
One Section Tyrone Gear Pump controls flow to:
Tin
Steering and Pilot Controls
Bearings
Common Sump: Separate Sump
Oil Transfer Possibilities: Aluminum
1. Oil could transfer between the engine and Dirt entry (clay soils)
hydraulic compartments through a damaged Pump body wear (gear pump)
steering pump seal. Isolation plate (gear pump)
Anti-seize compounds (no failure)
2. Hydraulic and transmission oil could transfer
through a damaged supplemental steering pump Silicon
seal. Dirt entry
Notes: Silicon grease (no failure)
Silicon additives (no failure)
Recommend Caterpillar Hydraulic Oil (HYDO).
Sodium
Condensation
Water entry
Oil additives (no failure)

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Printed in U.S.A. (12/95)
 DIFFERENTIAL, BEVEL GEAR, WEAR ELEMENT SOURCES
BRAKES AND FINAL DRIVES Copper
Serial No. Range: 988B Oil additives (no failure)
Oil Change Interval: 2000 Hrs. Anti-seize compounds (no failure)
Differential thrust washers
Sump Capacity: Final drive thrust washer
Front: 102 Liters (27 Gal.) Sleeve bearing - differential
Rear: 102 Liters (27 Gal.) Sleeve bearing - final drive gears
Final Drive Type: Outboard single reduction
Planetary Iron
Common Sump: Differential, bevel gear, final Gears
drives and brakes share a common sump. Bearings
Axle thrust button
Brakes: Wet multi-disc
Splines
Brake Disc Friction Material: Cellulose Fiber Final drive housing
Oil Transfer Possibilities: Shafts
1.Brake actuating oil (hydraulic oil) could leak past Brake plates
the piston seals in the wheels and transfer to the Chromium
final drive compartment.
Bearings
2. Wear metals, silicon or water within either final
drive or the differential will be transferred to the Tin
oil within the other compartments. Bearings
Notes: Aluminum
1. Recommend Caterpillar Transmission / Drive Dirt entry (clay soils)
Train Oil (TDTO). Anti-seize compounds (no failure)
2. When operating in water, check for water and or
Silicon
silicon.
Dirt entry
3. Recommend that oil samples be taken at the
Silicon grease (no failure)
differential and both final drives. Although there is
Silicon additives (no failure)
oil transfer within the axle housing individual
samples can pinpoint which component may be Sodium
experiencing abnormal wear. Condensation
4. Tire spinning causes differential wear. Iron and Water entry
copper will show highest in axle with tire spin, Oil additives (no failure)
usually rear axle.
5. Inspect magnetic plug in final drive covers for
chips or flakes which may indicate abnormal
wear.

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Printed in U.S.A. (12/95)