1999 2nd gen bad oil leak

[RobCN]

My 1999 Ram 2500 with 2nd gen diesel has developed a bad oil leak. Just under 300,000 miles I was not able to find. At shop now.
Mechanic tells me he can see oil leaking on driver side of engine very near point where head meets block.
Talking about possible blown head gasket or possibly crack in either block or head.
Could this be related to 53 block issues? Checking to see if block is 53 or not.

Has anyone seen this problem?
Struggling to decide what to do. Expensive to fix.

 

[Darkbloodmon]

My 1999 Ram 2500 with 2nd gen diesel has developed a bad oil leak. Just under 300,000 miles I was not able to find. At shop now.
Mechanic tells me he can see oil leaking on driver side of engine very near point where head meets block.
Talking about possible blown head gasket or possibly crack in either block or head.
Could this be related to 53 block issues? Checking to see if block is 53 or not.

Has anyone seen this problem?
Struggling to decide what to do. Expensive to fix.

From memory it could be the cam shaft seal at the back of the block. The transmission adapter plate retains an oring seal and it sits literally on the back of the block over the camshaft.

Degrease and hose everything down then recheck would be my advise before tearing into anything chasing an issue.

 

[petersonj]

Noted for big oil leaks on left side of engine:

* Vacuum pump seal

* Tappet cover gasket

Less notable, but could be issue is the valve cover gasket.

As recommended by @Darkbloodmon , degrease and get everything clean. That is the only way to find the source of the leak without throwing parts at it.

- John

 

[BigPapa]

Noted for big oil leaks on left side of engine:

* Tappet cover gasket

My money's on this ^^^

 

[RobCN]

Talked with mechanic some more.
Petersonj mentioned the vacuum pump seal. Vacuum pump and hydraulic pump have been replaced. Vacuum pump was leaking and replaced with enhanced unit to reduce possibility of leaking in the future.
My guy reports he can see oil coming out very near point where head meets block, right behind injection pump. This is well below valve cover, so leaking valve cover gasket doesn't seem likely.
Darkbloodmon mentioned cam shaft seal at back of block. This leak is near front of engine, so probably not that.

Still working on it.

 

[BigPapa]

The tappet cover goes here. I would most certainly look there before I pulled the head.

 

[petersonj]

There is also an oil pressure line that feeds the vacuum pump. Not likely to be the cause, but it certainly has the potential.

A head gasket can fail with age and leak some oil, but usually the quantity is very small.

Air flow turbulence from the fan and the forward motion of the truck can make leaking oil flow in any direction, including up. That is why it is important to clean the suspect area using a degreaser (or brake kleen) as best as you can to help determine the source of the leak.

- John

 

[RBeard]

My money's on Tappet cover too. Ask me how I know.

 

[GAmes]

I know that Scott provided an illustration but perhaps a picture of where the tappet cover mounts can be of help. Notice that the top of the opening is just below the head.

 

[NIsaacs]

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[RobCN]

Wow! Great information. Thanks guys. I was not understanding about the tappet cover.
That drawing and pictures really get to the heart of it.
Now I understand how that tappet cover could cause what we are seeing.

Will get back with my guy and get better look at that exact area.

 

[sag2]

After cleaning it up it also might be worth adding dye to the engine oil.

 

[RobCN]

Talked with shop yesterday. Apparently its a fairly big job to get access to that tappet cover. Several hundred dollars labor to remove injector pump to get at cover behind it.
Will talk in more detail with my guy about it today.
Thanks everyone.

 

[BigPapa]

Yes, it's a big job, but not as big a job as replacing a head gasket.

 

[RobCN]

I'm now finding quite a few articles and videos about people replacing Cummins stock sheet metal tappet covers with machined billet aluminum ones.
Do you guys think this is a good idea?
It's looking more likely that this is the source of the leak. Now getting close to spending the money to get this done, so if the stock cover is a problem would want to replace with something reliable. On the other hand, original one lasted 25 years and 300,000 miles.
Could also get a new stock type if those are good enough.
Planning to sell this truck before long, along with the 5th wheel RV that we don't use anymore. Not a long-term thing now.

 

[BigPapa]

Unless your cover is rusted out, all you need is a gasket. There’s nothing wrong with the original cover, the billet aluminum is just a way to add some bling if that’s your thing.

 

[Ozymandias]

25 years and 300k I would call very reliable.

 

[RobCN]

I was wondering if the billet aluminum was mostly for bling. I won't be needing that.
Might it be worth getting a much less expensive new OEM type after all these years???

 

[petersonj]

Might it be worth getting a much less expensive new OEM type after all these years???

Just replaced the tappet cover gasket on my truck at 380,000 miles. The cover was in excellent condition. As @BigPapa mentions, no need to replace unless it is rusted.

- John

 

[RobCN]

Thanks everyone!!!!

Going forward now with this repair.
Once tappet cover is off will check for rust damage or warping.
If condition is ok, will replace with all new gaskets and move on.