Crankcase breather catch can?

[MegaJeff]

I am finding a small amount of oil (black and sooty so I know what it is) coming from the crankcase breather tube. It seems to drip and then go without dripping for a while. When the truck is hot... like when I am towing... I will notice a slight oil smell when walking around the truck. Anyway, I took the truck in to my transmission shop because I thought the rear main might be leaking (they just installed a new one for me with the transmission) and they are telling me the oil is coming from the breather. My question is... is there a canister to catch the oil that comes out of this tube or is it Cummins' idea of a chassis rust preventer? Oil seems to coat my fron diff and it coats the oil pan right where you might mistake it for a mail seal leak by the trans.

The truck seems to run great... I am hoping it's just not a ton of blowby as the engine only has 90K miles.

What do you guys think? Should I have some sort of oil catch there?

 

[Wingate]

How is the engine oil level? at or near the top of the stick? try running it slightly lower than full and see if it quits. There has been much debate about 12 qts. and forget it vs. FULL on the stick. . etc. . also, make sure you arent making oil.

I would NOT put a catch can or rag on the breather tube, it doesnt need or want any restriction.

Im thinking there is a screen in the crankcase vent as well, it may be time for a cleaning. .

 

[MegaJeff]

Wingate... the oil level remains constant. Not making it and I don't think I am losing all that much through the breather. I hate a leaky vehicle and the oil fumes stink sometimes.

 

[Prairie Dog]

All sounds pretty normal to me. About the only thing you can do is extend the draft tube down closer to the ground. It aint pretty but it works.

 

[Bill Stockard]

All sounds pretty normal to me. About the only thing you can do is extend the draft tube down closer to the ground. It aint pretty but it works.

Yep, that's what I did to mine and I keep a piece of cardboard under the truck to keep the occasional oil drips from the draft tube off my concrete shop floor.



Bill

 

[JMDancoe]

Ayone ever heard of drip pans and oil dry? Keep a pan under front of truck with a little oil dry in it.

As far as making oil goes, I believe, "Wingate" was refering to make sure you are not getting fuel in the oil, as in overfueling from any number of causes. Yes 90K on one of these engines is early to suspect anything serious, but anything is possible in a mechanical device. Bad injector, suppling to much fuel, for instance. A lot of that depends on how you drive the truck. Best of luck with it.

 

[rscurtis]

My signature truck, which leads an easy life compared to others, has never left a drop of oil from the draft tube in the 9 years I've owned it.

 

[MegaJeff]

Oh yeah... I knew what Wingate meant by "making oil" and I pray that never happens. My last 06 never had a drip either but the front diff was always oily so now I guess I know why. We extended the tube a bit. Hopefully it puts that little bit of oil on the road instead of the front of my trailer.

Thanks to you all for your great comments! You are awesome!

 

[Wingate]

to date, mine hasnt dripped anything on the concrete... (knock knock)