Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Bubbles in engine oil

[KMott]

Is this any cause for concern. My engine has approx. 500,000 km on it. The oil i have been using is shell Rotella 15-40, and the engine is pushing a little over 30 psi. My egt's will go over 1250, but i always let off as soon as it gets to 1250. Oil pressure is good, and i have only seen it drop once, when the truck was working real hard, and it was only at idle. It went a bit lower than normal. Once the oil cooled off the pressure went back up within a couple minutes.



I first noticed the bubbles about a month ago, and it seems like if i pull the dipstick shortly after or while the engine is running there are many tiny bubbles in the oil. Someone told me this was a sign of the oil getting hot or worked too hard. If i let the truck sit long enough after running and re-check it, there is no bubbles. I change the oil every 5000km, and am about due for another change. Time to try another kind of oil, or is something else going on?

Thanks in advance, kevin mott

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hard to say what's happening Kevin, but I'd take a sample and have it analyzed when you change the oil.

 

[Fordiesel69]

I am using this same oil and will check it out and see if mine does it. To me this does not sound right. I will take mine for a hard ride in a few minutes and let you know my conclusion.

 

[Skydiver]

This is a sing of foaming. As long as the oil is not milky white looking it should be fine.



I add a pint of Marvel Mystery oil to my vehicles after level goes down to loosen up the crud before I change the oil.



Be sure to have an oil analysis run. That will give you the knowledge about whats happeninig.



Also look inside the radiator, for signs of oil deposits.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Went for a drive and when I got back, mine did not exibit this symptom. Rather, the oil was much more transparent and thinner of course as it was hot.



Foaming sound like there is somthing not right, possibly the oil is bad, or somthing mechanical is stirring it up. A sample will tell. $20 from blackstone is cheaper than 6k for an engine.

 

[dseabaugh]

make sure the cap on your dipstick hasn't moved. I've seen this happen causing people to over fill the crankcase, then the crankshaft whips up the oil like an egg beater thus the bubbles. don't add more oil than it is supposed to hold.

 

[MMcCallie]

I had bubbles on my dipstick this summer. Changed the oil, figuring the only possible cause was that i had my water injection coming on too strong, too soon. After fresh oil and injecting at higher boost levels, i have seen no more bubbles.

Have you pressure washed your engine lately? Perhaps water entered through the dipstick tube. Strange, though, if it is only bubbling after driving as mine showed it at any time.

When i had bubbles, the water was creating extra oil pressure. I usually idle warm between 25-35 psi. Oil pressure was staying at 75 psi all the time with the water in there. If your oil pressure is steady, as you said 30 psi, that seems low, it should change at least with RPMs going to near 60 psi during acceleration. Only an analysis will provide answers.

 

[KMott]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to change the oil tomorrow and try to find somewhere to get an oil analysis done. I might also try a different kind of oil.

Thanks again,

kevin mott

 

[KMott]

Ok, so i have an update now. I ordered an oil analysis kit from blackstone, and changed my oil earlier this week. I drained off a few litres of oil first and then funnelled about 1 litre of the oil into a 2 litre pop bottle to use for the oil analysis. After the oil sat for a couple days inside i looked at it and noticed that at the very bottom of the bottle there was a very small amount of milky foam (tiny bubbles in it), just enough to leave a small layer in the bottom crevices of the bottle (maybe 0. 5ml total?) So to me this seems like a small coolant leak into the engine oil? I have noticed that my coolant does sometimes go down in the overflow, but not much. Maybe a few inches over the course of a season. What do you guys think? I have no problem doing a headgasket, since it is still stock, and i want to upgrade it and other things before i put the 887 pump on and turbo upgrades. (I did take a couple pics if it might help, but would have to find a site to host them first)

thanks again for any input

kevin m.

 

[KMott]

I also forgot to mention, that when i changed the oil i added exactly 9. 5l as the manual calls for, and the level was just above the top of the safe line, so i assume there is no problem with overfilling.

later, kevin

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hmmm I would drive the truck as little as possible until you get to the bottom of it.

If you simply have some water in it, it should evaporate off once the engine is at operating temp. . . one long drive oughta do it.

If it's coolant, it won't evaporate off, and it doesn't take very much coolant in the oil to do major harm to your main and rod bearings. Don't ask me how I know. . . had a Ford V6 die that way.

Vaughn

 

[KMott]

Well i dont like the sound of that! This is my only vehicle and i put almost 1000km on it a week. Blackstone kit will take 3 weeks to get here and im sure once i get it, another month before i hear anything back... . Any way to test the oil myself to see how much coolant (if any) is in it. Ill mark the coolant overflow bottle for now, to see if it moves at all, and drive it easy.

talk later

kevin

 

[MMcCallie]

When you said your engine is pushing 30 psi were you talking about oil pressure or boost pressure. If your oil pressure never exceeds 30 psi you should be concerned. It should be near that around idle but triple while driving.

If you put fresh oil in it, drive and check it. Could have just been dirty or might have had something in it. If it is still looking bubbly, then take further measures.