Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Burning Oil

[JWestley]

Well i noticed about 2 or 3 weeks ago a hint of bluish white smoke coming from the stacks on acceleration thru 3rd gear and at idle. I checked the dipstick a week ago and the oil level was normal, but than i checked it again today and was down quite a bit, so i added 3 quarts of rotella and its back in the safe range. Let it idle for a bit and noticed a little bit of smoke coming from the oil fill area with the cap off. Never noticed smoke before about 3 weeks ago and now all of a sudden its burning oil, so i was wondering what could possibly be going wrong? Kinda new to the whole diesel stuff, so what are some things that i could check for. Thanks









John

 

[arthr31]

How long have you owned/operated the truck? I blow bluish to black smoke pretty much all the time. I can really see it at night, when there are headlites behind me... Good smoke show. . I use about 1qt (maybe a little more) every 6-7k miles. I've done two oil analysis reports and show now signs of any problems (e. g. rings). So, with all this being said, I think my engine's behaving normally... And yours might be too...



Have you checked for any bad drips after sitting all night? Also, make sure you check the oil on a level surface, after it has sat for at least 4 hrs...

 

[Forrest Nearing]

that thing has always used a good amount of oil...



just watch the level, and you'll be fine IMHO

 

[JWestley]

guess i never really noticed it before now. Haven't noticed any drop in performance or anything, great oil pressure and so on. I will be changing the oil this weekend and do an oil analysis just to make sure everything is on the up and up.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

were you hauling butt?



it always seemed to happen more when I was running it up over 75mph or so... why, I have no idea... freaked me out the first time I noticed it... right after I bought the truck!! always ran strong... made 436rwhp w/ only 12. 5* timing, etc. after 30k miles or so, I quit worrying and just hosed off the underside of the truck a little more often

 

[JWestley]

were you hauling butt?



it always seemed to happen more when I was running it up over 75mph or so... why, I have no idea... freaked me out the first time I noticed it... right after I bought the truck!! always ran strong... made 436rwhp w/ only 12. 5* timing, etc. after 30k miles or so, I quit worrying and just hosed off the underside of the truck a little more often

When I saw the smoke? No i usually only see the oil burning smoke from idle to about the top of 3rd gear and after that it just goes away. Higher speeds I don't see anything coming out of the stacks. It will usually drip a few drops from the vent tube. Runs just as strong as it ever has, just begging for more boost.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

hmm... I never saw oil smoke out the stacks... just on the ground and under the truck out of the breather tube :-laf



valve seals?



great thing about diesel is they're not hyper sensitive to burning a little oil like gassers are

 

[JWestley]

Not exactly sure what it is, but it has a nice little cloud of bluish tint of smoke coming out on acceleration. It will smoke a bit at idle too.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I know the truck used to haze pretty bad when the timing was low... it'd also blue/white smoke and pop in lower gears before boost came in...



are EGT's climbing the same?



I guess what I'm getting at is a possible timing-slip, but it doesn't sound like it to me

 

[JWestley]

EGT's are right at where they were before. What does the popping sound/feel like?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

sputtering combined w/ white/blue smoke (unburnt fuel) especially when cold, in lower gears at higher rpm and low boost