Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Breather or Blow By Hose

[rmrc]

Not sure of the proper name, (breather or blow by hose).



Does anyone know the inside diameter of the breather hose that's connected to that bottle in the front of the engine???



I'd like to get a short piece of pipe to use as an insert to joint another length of hose so I can extend it towards the rear of the truck.



I've recently noticed that I'm getting much more discharge of oil from this hose. Anyone know why this oil discharge is increasing?????? I now have to watch my engine oil level a bit closer.

 

[KBalzuweit]

Have you dumped the bottle lately?

 

[Rman]

I used 3/4" heater hose with a 3/4" barb fitting to link them together. Becareful when tying it down to something, mine got too tight and caused excessive oil pressure and blew it through the turbo seals and out the exhaust.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"I used 3/4" heater hose with a 3/4" barb fitting to link them together. Becareful when tying it down to something, mine got too tight and caused excessive oil pressure and blew it through the turbo seals and out the exhaust. "



UMMmmm - highly unlikely - you might have lost the turbo seals, but a restriction in the downpipe isn't likely to cause it - other seals and gaskets would fail LONG before the turbo seals would...

 

[tgee]

"I used 3/4" heater hose with a 3/4" barb fitting to link them together. Becareful when tying it down to something, mine got too tight and caused excessive oil pressure and blew it through the turbo seals and out the exhaust. "



UMMmmm - highly unlikely - you might have lost the turbo seals, but a restriction in the downpipe isn't likely to cause it - other seals and gaskets would fail LONG before the turbo seals would...

I have seen plugged crankcase hoses blow out turbo seals. Be careful what type hose you use for breather, some types swell when soaked with oil.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Just outta curiosity, what is the oil pressure at the turbo oil seals - and about how much MORE could a restricted or plugged breather tube increase that pressure? AND, about how much PSI will a pan or intake gasket take before IT blows?

 

[tgee]

Pressure at the turbo typically is the same as your guage shows. It is somewhat restricted when it goes through the turbo bearing. Then it drains under no pressure into the crankcase. With too much pressure in the crankcase with a blocked breather, the pressure will find the easiest path, which is not necessarily the oil pan or valve cover gaskets.

 

[Walt-L]

Read my pitch on this kit, It could give you some ideas on what to do. Oh, and I happen to have 1 more kit left. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...&item=7953528844&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESO:IT

Be Well

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

ANYWAY... .



Here's what I did with my breather hose - relocated the bottle, after drilling LOTS more vent holes in it, and covered it with an old sock for absorbancy of oily vapors, and secured it to the front swaybar. Normally I "change socks" at regular oil changes when I'm under the truck anyway - underside of the truck and my garage floor are all dry and clean...



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And so far, my turbo oil seals are just fine!

 

[Rman]

Gary, trust me it was the blowby hose plugged up... I had oil all over the rear end of my truck, the dealer eplaced the turbo under warranty and it still did it. After more investigation they found the blowby hose was pinched, after realsing this the smoke went away. My truck would smoke incredibly coming off the highway. I don't mean black smoke either, it was thick white smoke.



Go experiment and give it a try, the turbo seals are not as strong as you might think. BTW MY trubo sees about 100 psi of pressure when the engine is cold, after warming up on the highway going about 75 I see 65 psi. I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge that reads directly from the turbo feed line.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Gary, trust me it was the blowby hose plugged up... "



I'll believe ya, no problem - just seems other stuff would give way before the turbo seals... Live and learn!



OH, and for the REAL cold climate guys, be aware that my sock setup MIGHT freeze up and cause the vent problems we just discussed...

 

[Rman]

After thinking about why the oil was getting passed the turbo seals, it didn't truly "blow" them, I just had GOBS of oil in my exhaust, my muffler was holding a ton. It smoked the worst after exiting the freeway, white smoke would billow from my tail pipe. Once I'd start driving again it ~almost went away. I figured the pressure needed to be released, and the difference in exhaust pressure from the engine braking allowed the oil to escape past the seals during this time.



It was something both the dealer that helped me T-shoot this and myself chalked up as a learning experience. They we're very cordial about the matter as well. They let me keep the new turbo... probably cheaper for them anyway. They said mine would be stripped down and rebuilt anyway.



Live and learn is right. Good point on the cold weather, I did awy with my rig job down there and went to a straight hose because of ice clogging issues on the road. I'm sure I could have used a better place and ran more hose, but I figure I'm giving a little back to nature in my own little way. It keeps my axles good an lubed, no rust. Gets grimy but I just wipe it down when I wash the truck to keep the build up away.

 

[BDanner]

Last one is gone on ebay link! Any more in the works? I'll take one. My early 2001 does not even have a catch bottle. Checked a couple months ago at DC and all parts- bottle and new vent tube were in the $100+ range. Looks like a well thought out upgrade.



Thank You





"Still Gettin' the Dodge out of my Cummins"

 

[gtobey]

Crankcase Breather

They are right about the gauze freezing and building up crankcase pressure and also about the turbo leaking, as well as other seals (possibly). The turbo does not use seals as we think about seals. Rubber seals, right? Well, no, as a rubber seal will not seal against a shaft turning 130,000 rpm under full load/boost with heat about 1,300 degrees F. So, there are only piston ring seals on the tubine (exhaust) end of the shaft and the same at the compressor (intake) end. That's why the oil drain is usually much bigger than the oil feed lines, to prevent oil backup. Also, there should be no "swags" in the oil drain line to create backpressure. That aside, moving the hose down too low into the air flow below the vehicle or into the possibility of snow, water or ice getting up into and blocking the tube did not excite me...



I got tired of emptying the bottle, and getting totally filthy from the dirt caught on the fan from the oil vapors attracting dust, that I went on-line and got a Fleetguard Crankcase ventilator kit from Cummins. It fits the engine exactly, and does work. After 25,000 miles, I have yet to see any drips out of the hose open to the atmosphere. The part number is CV50115. Here is the link to Fleetguard Enviroguard.



This was one of the best additions I have made. My fan blade is staying clean, the front of the engine and vibration damper are no longer covered in fuzzy, oily dirt, and no bottle to fool with! It's worth the money--fix it and forget it! No maintenance! No worries!!



The vapor coming out of the hose is the pressure in the crankcase from compression leaking by the piston rings into the crankcase. As the crankshaft turns, and oil is churned up and pumped everywhere, draining, splashing, etc. , some is vaporized. These oil vapors are carried by the pressure out of the breather to the atmosphere. A lot of blow-by as it is called, is an indication of worn rings. Since a diesel has more compression than a gas engine, you will typically have more blowby than a gas engine does. But there are specs from the engine manufacturer as to how much is too much and how much is acceptable. You can get in touch with Cummins and see what their specs are.



Best wishes!

 

[Soot4Life]

My truck started heavy blowby. I took it to Cummins Cal Pacific and they found that the vaccum line came loose @ the vaccum pump. Hooked it back up... ... ... good bye blow by problem.

 

[Walt-L]

BDanner,

The crank vent kit "last one" is still up for bid for 3 more days. I'v sold 8 of these kits so far and have not recieved a single complaint. I have ordered most of what I need to make another 10 kits. Problem is, I just got a number of guns in to work on so it may take a couple of weeks before I can get the vent kits back up on E-bay. Heres the current link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...tem=7958968736&category=33600&sspagename=WDVW Check "view sellers other items" for a great deal on New Autometer fuel pressure gauge.

Be Well

Walt

 

[SnoKing]

How much does the Fleetguard Enviroguard cost? SNOKING

 

[Rman]

Has anyone thought of running this excess air into the exhaust? Could any detrimental things happen by doing that. I've been contemplating drilling my downpipe or somewhere along the exhaust to put a fitting on there and clamp some sort of hose to it. Just wondering if this would cause problems.



Gary, any opinons?

 

[SnoKing]

Do a seach, someone has done that.

SNOKING

 

[jeepit]

Checked with local truck shop for Fleetguard Enviroguard. $156 plus shipping. Checked another shop a friend of mine works at they were asking $246. So price will vary. Do your shopping and protect our enviroment