2nd Gen Oil leak.

[Tarheel Cummins 428]

To all my 5.9 Cummins Friends and all my Cummins Expert brothers!
I have a 2nd Gen, 2001 dodge Ram 2500 with the High Output Cummins 5.9 engine and a manual 6 speed transmission.
It has 589,000 miles on the Original motor & transmission! It was rebuilt at 410,000 miles. Head, block sleeved, all new bearings and gaskets top to bottom. My problem is all this time I have owned this Dream truck it has never had a single oil leak, not a single drip! I took a 1100 mile round trip and evidently an oil leak started some where near the bottom of the engine. Unfortunately during this long trip by the time I noticed the leak it had been sprayed everywhere on the entire bottom of the engine and everywhere else. So it was so covered in oil I can’t tell where the leak is coming from!
I ask y’all if you could tell me the most common, likely leaks you’ve experienced on your trucks so I at least have a starting place to look at. I live in Ohio now so it’s too cold to power wash right now, although I will do it as soon as it gets warm for a few days in a row. I am grateful for any help/ideas you have.
Thanks so much,
ArtBailey
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[BarryG]

Well options would be many but to list a few
front crank seal/timing cover, tappet cover, vacuum pump, valve cover and oil pan. Obviously you looked at least to some degree. If it is leaking from the vacuum pump there probably would not be oil on the front of engine as it is on the drivers side. Pretty much same with tappet cover. On my 01 I did have the vacuum pump leak and later I also had to do the front seal and cant remember if it was just the cover or the actual seal thinking it was the actual crank seal though. Could also have to do with the blow by tube which comes out of the front of the engine near the top of it (in oem form the hose goes down to a catch bottle) It could be blocked, the catch bottle could be full or if yours has done away with the catch bottle like many have done the hose could have deteriorated like mine did and instead of running out the end of the lengthened hose it is escaping somewhere else farther up the line. If the oil is way up high on the engine perhaps the valve cover.
I would start by trying to find the highest point on the engine I see oil and note if it is on the front, sides or rear of engine which could narrow down the suspect areas quite a bit. Now the leak may be below that level but probably not too much below as leaks don't generally travel up or at least not much

 

[bcbender]

JM2C,.. When I am trying to ascertain where a leak is coming from after this type of development, I would take some engine cleaner / degreaser of choice and clean as much off as possible, then drive a short distance and re-examine. alot easier to find the fresh path of wet black oil on a clean surface than a blanketed wet oily surface.

 

[BigPapa]

Get you a bottle of dye, a black light, and some yellow glasses. O'Reilly's or similar parts store may have a black light in their loaner tool section. You'll find it.

 

[Tarheel Cummins 428]

Get you a bottle of dye, a black light, and some yellow glasses. O'Reilly's or similar parts store may have a black light in their loaner tool section. You'll find it.

Great idea, Big Papa! And thank you all for your help and comments. I tried the Engine Degreaser idea, it worked and yes it was the vacuum pump. I also replaced the Tappet cover gasket too while I was at it. Thanks for saving me a bunch of labor & time trying to guess what it coulda been! I was not going back down to Georgia without finding where my leak! Thanks again guys!
Art. Tarheel Cummins 428