Question? "Oil Field" or "Industrial"

[David M. Hammer]

What is the difference between an "Oil Field engine" and an "Industrial engine"?

I have 2 Buda engines (one is a JL-1335 and the other is a PC-1879). Literature from Buda describes them as "Oil Field engines".
The 2 Buda engines I have are both 6 cylinder, the JL-1335 is about 6,000 pounds and 133 HP and the PC-1879 is about 9,000 pounds and 175 Hp. These engines were used as the power source to operate 2 different Cable Tool Drilling rigs. These Cable Tool Drilling rigs and the engines that powered them were used in the drilling of oil wells in the Texas panhandle. After the oil zone was struck then the well would be completed - set the casing, tubing, rods and the pump jack - then a much smaller engine (perhaps a 5, 10 or 15 HP) would be used to operate the pump jack. These smaller engines would also be known as, or called, "Oil Field engines". But what I don't understand is why Buda would designate these 2 large engines as "Oil Field engines" instead of "Industrial engines". Presumably, there must be a difference. Does anybody know?
Thanks,
David

[Doug Waggonner]

The differance between "oilfield" and "industrial" engines are simply where the engines spent thier working life. And also, some companys marketed thier engines in both, the oil patch guys would see the advertisement for the "oilfield" engines and factory owners would see the "industrial" advertisement. The Superior Gas Engine Co. and the Joeseph Reid Gas Engine Co apparently marketed in BOTH. Superior offered a "Mill" engine which had gear covers, counter ballenced crank shaft and seems to look a little beefier than its oilfield counterpart. Reid offered some really amazing looking industrial type engines as well. It seems to me what us engine collectors call "oilfield" engines are the the ones you normally did not see working anywhere else becides in the oil patch. As for your Buda engines, I'm not very familiar with them. But, I have seen them in both the oilfield and in industrial applications.