Broken down at SEMA

[jetenginedoctor]

Howdy all,



The engine in my 1996 12V seems to have developed a failed piston somewhere during my trip this weekend from Austin, TX to Las Vegas, NV for the SEMA trade show. I've got oil vapor blowing out of the vent tube, and the sound of a ringing bell and chuffs of oil vapor from the oil fill tube when the cap is removed while the engine is running.



I'm not asking for hand-outs, but if there is anyone who can help me, I'd sure appreciate it. A recent transmission rebuild pretty much cleaned out the truck fund, and I can't afford to just toss a new engine in there. If any of you are at the SEMA show and would like to help out, you can find me in the Dyno Dynamics booth #20016 in the Central Hall. I'll need some help and guidance making repairs, and need to know where I can find parts around here.



Thanks in Advance,



Brian Kennedy

 

[DRAG DIESEL]

What kind of help are you looking for? I am comming to Vegas mid week, let me know if I can help. PM me if you wish.



The ringing bell when you take the oil fill off is normal...

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Brian, give us more details about what is going on with the truck like what conditions were you in when you noticed what was going on. Jake is right the tinging sound with the oil fill off is normal..... gear lash. The smoke from the vent tube is normal also depending on how much!



Were you dragging a hill and really high EGT's when you noticed it... ..... like over 1300 and the water got hot!



Jim

 

[KLockliear]

Lemme know if you need parts here in town. We can hook you up with vendors that will have what you need for replacement stuff.

 

[jetenginedoctor]

Jim, Drag, and Kevin. . .



Thanks all for your replies. The motor starts and idles "okay. " When you open the oil fill cap, it "puffs" oil vapor in time with the engine. As the engine warms up, the vapor and strength of the puffs gets greater and greater. Oil vapor blows steadily out of the oil vent tube, and has nicely corrosion proofed the bottom of the truck and front/sides of the trailer. There's a pretty good hammering noise that seems to be in time with cam speed (1/2 engine speed. ) The severity seems to be related to engine speed, and is pretty damn loud at idle. The oil pressure has never dropped during this entire issue, the coolant has not been hot, and the EGTs to the best of my knowlege haven't been high. I drive pretty easy, cruising 70-75 MPH from Austin to Las Vegas, taking it easy in the mountains, locking out the O/D and pretty much limiting the RPM to 2000 RPM or so, as that ticking noise got louder and louder. I've got A LOT of blue oil smoke coming from the exhaust, especially accelerating off idle. The turbo doesn't have excessive radial or axial play, and doesn't seem to be crashing into either the intake volute or turbine housing. I had initially thought the turbo was fuxxored, but again, I'm not sure. . .



Kevin, I believe you know Chris Kopitske (Fast Enough Performance. ) He's another Dyno Dynamics dealer and my roommate for the week at SEMA. He has more or less convinced me that it's rather unlikely that I've broken a piston. He wanted me to call you today, but we've been racked with people eager to buy our dynos. He said if anyone around here could help me out, it'd be you! So, PM me with a number I can reach you at tomorrow, and thanks in advance!



Anyway, back to the issue. . . . another friend/customer here made a good point about the possibility of a failed rocker arm, pushrod, etc. I guess it would make sense. . . especially if an intake rocker or pushrod failed, there'd be a very strong vacuum built within the combustion chamber, which could pull oil past the rings, and give me that pretty blue cloud I've seen lately. I guess I'll be looking in the rocker boxes tomorrow, and see what I can see. If any of you guys who've been down this road before (I'm very new to the Cummins engines, as I've only owned this truck a year) are at the show tomorrow and would like to lend a hand, some guidance, etc. . . . I'd be very greatful.



Thanks again, guys!



BK

 

[DRAG DIESEL]

If you don't get a chance to look at it before Thursday or Friday, I will take a look at the valvetrain when I get down... pm me some contact info for yourself... and if we can fix it, it's PARTY TIME!!!

 

[jetenginedoctor]

My contact info is in my signature. The phone number shown is my office number, which rings my cell phone simultaneously. I'll probably have a look at things today, to see what I can figure out for myself. Your call will be greatly appreciated!



Thanks again,

BK

 

[Rd.Runnr]

Brian,



Sorry to hear you are having trouble. Hope you get it cleared up.



Jim

 

[Cummnzpowr]

...

Just goes to show you that even a bone stock motor can do this... Bryan, you should bring that dyno of yours to california, i know a couple guys who will "break" it in for you. :-laf

 

[MMeier]

Brian, any luck yet? Just came across this now, where are you parked, west side of Paradise I take it? Can run for parts if need be or? I'll give you a shout in the AM. Mark

 

[jetenginedoctor]

Just goes to show you that even a bone stock motor can do this... Bryan, you should bring that dyno of yours to california, i know a couple guys who will "break" it in for you. :-laf

Ha ha ha ha. . . . there's no such thing. I've had a lot of guys try to tell me the same thing, and in every case, that little red and blue dyno OWNS da Cummins (and everything else. )



Sorry, the only thing you're going to break on my dyno is your ego.



BK

 

[jetenginedoctor]

Update:



I limped the truck back to TX with the trailer in tow. There is definitely a loss of power on one cylinder, and multi-colored smoke any time the acelerator pedal moves. I haven't had time to start taking things apart, I'm going to try to find someone with a borescope I can use before I take the cylinder head off to try to look for obvious issues.



More to follow.



BK

 

[Cummnzpowr]

..

Take that Borescope and search your A-Pillar on the drivers side and see if there's any detection of guages installed on it for starters ... From what i was told you have 370's and a Hot Cam Plate in there. 1000 to 1 says since you didn't have a gauge. . you melted it down yourself Time for a new piston buddy 12 valve+Hot Power Upgrades+Hills+Trailer+no gauges=melted Cummins

 

[DRAG DIESEL]

Time for a new piston buddy 12 valve+Hot Power Upgrades+Hills+Trailer+no gauges=melted Cummins

Sub -no gauges- for -not watching gauges- and you have a mirror immage of yourself there Gregers!!! :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[Cummnzpowr]

lol

OH, believe me i was watching them ... roll right past 2000 degrees for 2 minutes. . :-laf

 

[jetenginedoctor]

Take that Borescope and search your A-Pillar on the drivers side and see if there's any detection of guages installed on it for starters ... From what i was told you have 370's and a Hot Cam Plate in there. 1000 to 1 says since you didn't have a gauge. . you melted it down yourself Time for a new piston buddy 12 valve+Hot Power Upgrades+Hills+Trailer+no gauges=melted Cummins

Ha ha ha ha, you've gotta have me confused with somebody else!



My truck most DEFINITELY doesn't have 370s in it or a hot cam plate. I very possibly DID melt it myself. I'm sick with the flu right now, and am not in any shape to go poking around on the truck just yet. . . . but I can assure you that the truck was not previously souped up. FWIW, Floor-It Diesel said the injection pump was actually retarded about one degree from where it should have been. The tamper screws and paint on the pump and AFC housing were intact, and the factory hose clamp on the wastegate hose coming off the compressor housing were all still as they were when the truck was built 10 years ago.



Like I said, I'll share when I figure out what the hell went wrong.



BK

 

[Cummnzpowr]

..

Last time i checked your signature says "3gsk, and altered cam plate" this alone on a 180hp pump can melt it down with no gauges towing from Texas to Vegas trust me but whatever you say. . if it's stock, then maybe those items came factory in your neck of the woods.

 

[Sled Puller]

Any news on what happened?

 

[jetenginedoctor]

Finally messing with the truck.....

Injectors and injection pump check good. The transfer pump is now brand new (a hail-mary, I know. . . . ) and now we're going to pull the engine apart week. Diesel tech friend thinks I've got a hammered rod bearing, but the #5 injector (the cylinder that knocks) had a bunch of carbon on the tip when we pulled it. It pop tested fine, and matched the spray pattern of another injector we compared it against.



More on this later.



BK

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Brian, you can swap injectors with a know good one (another hole that is acting right) and trouble shoot..... this is more of a (on the side of the road) thing. You could... . an opinion here, pull the head and pan vise pulling the motor... ... . I don't like pulling motors.



I would like to know what happened!



Last year I had a bud that called me on the road with a missing issue and did the same test but the truck failed trying to get back home..... final veridic was he got it too hot for too long... ... . cracked sleeve in #6.



Jim