Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) blowing oil out dipstick

[runningbird]

our 12v has been blowing oil out the dipstick since we put an exhaust brake on it. Even if we disconnect the exhaust brake vacuum lines it still does it... . this never happened until we put the brake on. it does not happen at an idle only if your driving down the road. . the truck does have 340k on it but it just seems strange that it never happened before. any idea's?

Mark

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hi Runningbird, I've read of at least 2-3 other instances in the past of people putting exhaust brakes on their 12-valves with over 300,000 miles. They all had problems with lots of blowby and oil usage. Not sure why but I guess e-brakes will make any engine wear apparent even if the engine seems to be tight & doesn't use oil before the fact. I'll see if I can dig up the threads. I thought about putting one on mine but not sure if it's a good idea at 384k.



Vaughn

 

[runningbird]

thanks for the help. . I'm just confused because the problem has persisted even though we have taken the brake off?????

 

[K5IP]

The 12V has a vented crankcase. There should be no pressure build up. Is the vent hose (plastic tube) thaat hangs down from the engine clear? I ask because I keep a small juce can hanging on the end of my hose to collect oil from the vent tube and if The can is pushed all the way up on the hose so it blocks the vent, I get blowby everywhere.

Rog

 

[runningbird]

I have taken the hose off and checked, it is fine but it is dry. never has had oil dripping out of it in the past 100k.

 

[RustyJC]

So it's blowing oil out the dipstick but the vent tube is bone dry? The crankcase vent system has to be plugged somewhere.



Rusty

 

[WDaniels]

Generally when you have oil blowing out your dipsitck tube means that you have blowby in the piston rings. Get a monometer(think that is what it is called) or go to a cat dealer(don't know if dodge even knows what one is) and get them to check your engine. They can tell you if you've got blowby and how bad.

WD

 

[LEnglish]

When I 1st did my cummis swap. I left the vac port on the pump open since I did not need Vacume for anything. My dipstick keep blowing out and geting oil all over the place. My Vent had a nice flow of air also.



Point is you may have a unhooked vacume line. I might try just undoing the vac port and pluging it off while Idling and see if the air stops coming out the dip stick.



Like others said check the breather. If the truck is not smoking and you have air rushing out the breather and dip stick I would think it is a vac leak.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Valve springs. They have to be 60 lb springs to keep the backpressure in the manifold. My engine has 333K without that problem.



. . Preston. .

 

[RJPotts]

I've got 60# valve springs on my 12 valve too. Never had this problem before either. I only have 125K though.

(A little aside... Preston, do you know if there is anything going on at Jeff's shop this weekend?)

-R. J.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Like what? Being the time of year it is, I don't think he'll be here. I'll ask him though.

 

[RJPotts]

Sounds good, I just need to ask him about getting a Suncoast, and we all know how his phone skills are. I was just wondering how busy he is.

-R. J.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Bottom line, Jeff is not to much into conversation, on the phone or in the shop. Yu want it, tell him, he'll get it and install it. Know what you want to do with the truck, and the rest is money in the bank.



You know Jeff. That's just the way it is.



. . PT. .

 

[runningbird]

sorry for the late reply, I was out of town for the holiday... anyway I do have the 60lb springs in, at first I did not so I put them in to see if this would stop the oil from blowing out, no difference though... It does not smoke like it has bad rings. the truck runs like new except for the oil blowing out. . I will check out all the vacuum lines and pump next week( I'm at work till mon. night). thanks for the idea's though.

mark

 

[2broke2smoke]

So it's blowing oil out the dipstick but the vent tube is bone dry? The crankcase vent system has to be plugged somewhere.



Rusty

absolutely ...



i've been around dozens of cummins since '89 and they all puff a little smoke out the breather and have oil in the tubes ...



i ran the wifes '03 tube down into the frame at 10k and even at that point it had oil in it

 

[runningbird]

any Idea where to look for a plug... I've taken the tube off and it's not plugged.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Possibly in the tappet cover where the tube was attached. You might put a clean tube on and blow through it with your mouth. . . you should be able to blow through it easily.



I would run a blowby test with a manometer, even if it seems not much is coming out the tube (assuming there is no blockage). If you have a Cummins shop nearby you might have them do it for you (charge should me 1-hour shop time max).



Here is another possibility. . . one guy had his start blowing out the dipstick tube when he had a seal go bad on his turbo. Read the last post in this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89132&highlight=manometer



You might do like suggested in this one and take the oil fill cap off and see if it stops blowing out the dipstick tube.



Vaughn

 

[Dodgentwo]

I have to agree with WDaniels, it sounds kinda like blowby. This is what happens when your rings are worn , it allows oil past the compression ring and starts allowing oil on top of the piston and then the oil exits to the path with the least resistance, such as dipstick tube, crankcase filter or sometime even :{ air filter. Adding the brake and creating more back pressure may have been what has caused the rings to finally give. ?? Just my opinion tho. Find a good shop and I am sure they can tell you better .

Good luck and I hope I am wrong.

 

[Dieseldemon]

Sounds like the grid in the tappet cover is plugged that is your vent for the engine I don't think you will be able to blow it out from the outside you have to remove the cover and take the small cover off the inside to expose the grid then use silicone to replace the small cover inside Do not use silicone to replace the tappet cover install the new seal dry

 

[runningbird]

thanks for the help. so the tube is attatched to the tappet cover? I just want to make sure I'm checking the right thing. my tube is on the drivers side of the engine kind of between the block and lift pump. does that sound correct or am I looking at the wrong thing. I do see a cover up there it looks like it runs the lenth of the engine. . this seems like it would be quit a job to get off... I was also thinking of looking for a breather that would fit in the oil fill tube. . as a temporary fix. any way thanks again for the help. and again my truck runs great and the exhaust sure doesn't look like its burning oil.

mark