Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Blue smoke

[CRegal]

Hi guys, noticed today I am blowing blue smoke at idle, not sure about down the road, but more then likely. I noticed it today at fuel up with the truck idling. Its really cold out (around 25°) & figured it was the truck not warmed up, since I onley drove it 5 miles. So I then drive to work, the truck is defintely warmed up by now, & I pull it & yup u guessed it, still blowing blue smoke at idle.



Any ideas?

 

[Motorhead]

I would keep an eye on oil consumption. Did You do anything different before you noticed it? Different fuel station, I don't know anything about #1 diesel, but could that affect you. Is the first winter that you have driven it with the big injectors? Do you notice your grid heaters cycling at idle?... . Just some questions to throw at you. Chris

 

[CRegal]

Thanx for the reply

Yes this is the 1st winter with the bigger injectors. I filled up at the same station as always. I just recently changed the oil about 3 weeks ago. I have noticed a slight oil smell since then, but havent noticed any blue smoke till now. My 99 smelled like burning oil after each change, but I thought it was from adding a lil to much oil to it. I never did notice any blue smoke from the 99.



This is the 2nd winter for the 01 & last winter all i had was the comp box. I am currently running with the box off & just the dd3's due to the cold climate. I will have to ck for the grid heaters cycling when I leave tonite. I have noticed them recently buy didnt notice today.



Cole

 

[work2muchplay2little]

First thing I'd check is the intake horn for oil that is coming from your turbo bearings. If you see oil, check the play in the turbo shaft - it may be on its way out.

 

[TBOB]

I AGREE WITH GRID HEATER CHECK. MAKE SURE YOUR CRANK CASE BREATHER IS OPEN, HIGH PRESSURE CAN CAUSE OIL TO BLOW OUT THE TURBO FRONT OR BACK. JUST HEARD OF A 2001 FORD THAT BLEW THE TURBO OIL SEAL, IT WAS A BIG MESS. DROF, DRIVER RETURNED ON FOOT. TBOB

 

[CRegal]

Grid heaters are working... ... .

hmmm could it be the turbo? It is stock..... how long do u suppose it can last?

Where is the crank case breather exactly at? Is that the catch bottle at the front of the engine near the bottom under the main pully?

 

[CRegal]

Ok, I checkd the intake horn, dryas a bell. I pulled off the intake to the turbo, & moved the input shaft on the turbo. It moves slightly, my question is how much is too much? Should it not move at all up & down, left to right?



When I 1st fire up the truck & it is at idle, it doesnt smoke, but I ran it down the road about 10 miles & when u stop it is bellowing blue smoke. (not a huge amount but enough)



I noticed on the drive my oil pressure would go from 40psi to 75 psi for no apparent reason, whether I was going up a hill or down the oil pressure seemed to go where ever it liked. It didnt jump around, but went up and down at a reasonable pace. At idle it would stay around 75 psi. Normally it would be below 40psi at idle.



Now I dont know if the oil pressure has to due with the recent freezing temps we are having or not. I would think once the engine is hot the oil pressure shouldnt be affected by the cold outside.



Anyone else have any ideas? I am at a loss right now. I dont want to drive the truck while it is doing this, so I need to get this sorted asap.



Thanks in advance,



Cole

 

[Motorhead]

Does the exaust smell like oil? How many miles on the engine? It doesn't look like you have any trouble with the turbo.

The best tip I could give you is to ck the oil now either cold or hot on a level surface. Make a mark on the stick... unless it is exactly on the top of the full mark and check the oil level EXACTLY the same way for the next 500 to 1,000 miles. This should tell you if you're using oil.

Someone speak up if I am wrong... Did you ck the exaust side of the turbo for oil?

Can an injector leak oil or let it be sucked in if it is loose or not sealing right in the cyl head?

Also wipe your finger inside of the exaust pipe and see if it is oily or dry soot. Chris

 

[CRegal]

Its defintely oil, u can smell it. I was thinking about putting the stock injectors back in to see if that helps. to answer ur question about oil getting past the injector, yes it could happen, but it would be real tuff. U would have to have a bad seal on the injector to do so. I dont think they could pop out, being that they have a plate bolted overtop of them, if I remeber correctly.



The other concern I am having, is the possibility of a bad oil filter coming apart & cloggin up a oil pilot for a cylinder, scoring the cylinder wall allowing oil to pass the ring. But there is no oil burn when you first fire it up. The engine needs to get up to temp to really notice the blue smoke.



Good ideas..... keep them coming...

 

[Diesel Gunner]

I was just reading through the thread and when you said that you had changed the oil I thought "Hmmm, what kind of oil filter are we using?"



Given the low temps, erratic oil pressure, and blue smoke, could we have a disintegrating oil filter plugging PCN's? I am no expert, but the cost of pulling the filter and cutting it open is far less than an engine. The no smoke condition at startup could make sense if it were scuffed cylinder walls. Interesting condition.



Hope that it is something incredibly simple that we are missing, though. Good Luck!

 

[CRegal]

Yeah i know, I was in a hurry & used a fram, but I am pulling it as soon as I get the new one from Geno's. I am also not running the truck till then. That is a good plan to cut the filter open to verify, that is alot eaiser than tearing down the engine just for a looksie. If this turns out the case, I am going to be purdy upset... ... but I guess all the warnings were there... only after I went back & re-read issue 36.

 

[Motorhead]

CRegal, If you take the filter apart, I would separate it at the seam as not to tear it up real bad in the event that you discover that it was at fault. I would also video tape the removal of the filter from the engine and disassembly for documentation. A good witness would be good also.

I hope that you don't end up like whiteknights parents... in a fight with DC over an engine failure and what caused it. Chris

 

[CRegal]

I think it screws apart at the top from the disection pics from another thread. If that is the case then i should be able to put it back together again. It might be worth picking up a new one and trying to dissect it before I attempt it on the unit in question.



I havent had an engine failure yet, chances are it may just need an overhaul. (which would be about as much work & cost as much).

 

[CRegal]

update...

I posted this in a new thread as well, to try & recruit some other help.



I am burning a lot of oil when I tested it today. I opened up the oil fill to check out whatever, only to find to my dismay... u guessed it... . antifreeze with my oil. Now my question to u is, what could of happened? On my dipstick there is no dillution at all, so is it possible that the head gasket went & it is only leaking up top? I am not sure how these engines seperate both uptop, but on all other engines I've lost head gaskets on, my dipstick shown the dillution rite away.



I know there are a few out there that blow the head gaskets on these things, but that is usally with high intake pressures or the like. I am still running the stock turbo, & since its been real cold I have been leaving the comp off & just running on the dd3's.



Now my next question is, what should i do? Would it be wise to take it in to the dealer & have them replace the headgasket to check & see if it got into the bottom end? I would do it myself, but if my bearings are on there way out, I dont want to have to go through that mess. The truck only has 35k on it rite now.



Sorry so long, but I need some good advise.



Cole





_________

 

[Motorhead]

If you go to the dealer, you need to pull all "goodies" off. On your comp, Did you punch the wire on the inj pump? If they find that, then all bets are off sad to say and you are on your own. I have had ahead gasket leak on a VW diesel and It sucked coolant but didn't contaminate the eng oil.

If your bearings were bad, you would be hearing them rattle. Chris