2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Engine Blow By - Need Your Help

[CCCRAM]

Sorry, I posted this on 911 Thread also.

Hello Fellow TDR Members... I need your help!!

Recently my Dodge began blowing some excessive oil through the blow by cup. Normally I ignore the cup because it accumulates very little oil. I've been seeing a good six inch puddle of oil the last few weeks. I thought it was some other leak, and had the fuel pump replaced.

Today I had the dealership check it out. They said there was excessive oil coming from the cup. They cleaned it up, test drove it up a good hill in our area, about 30 minutes on the road. Came back to dealership and said there was oil in the cup, but not yet overflowing.

Dealership is telling me I need a new engine.

I need your help!! Is this an accurate diagnosis? Are there any other reasons for this excessive oil? Obviously don't want to shell out for replacement engine or even replacement truck, if the cost is too much.

Need your help and advice, as you have save me many times. BTW, signature is off, truck has 165K miles.

Please respond ASAP!!

 

[fest3er]

Causes could include bad or broken rings, holed piston, failed head gasket.

Mine sarted using excessive oil years ago due to high crankcase pressure. That pressure kept oil from flowing down from the top of the engine; it then sought other ways to escape. I 'solved' it by removing the oil filler cap and putting some PVC elbows and tubing in its place. Went from a quart in 400 miles to a quart in 2500 miles. You may want to use a borescope to look in each cylinder. A holed piston or broken rings ought to leave physical evidence and must be repaired, as must a failed head gasket. If the rings are just worn (or never seated properly), you could probably vent the crankcase better via the 710 cap.

 

[CCCRAM]

It doesn't use oil. It is always in the safe range. I have been losing what appears to be few ounces of oil dripping down onto a drip pan I have in the driveway. Previously I've dealt with the power steering pump and the oil leakage from that, fixed with Geno's kit. Then recently the fuel filter assembly leaked and replaced that. Thought I had all the leaks fixed. Then this issue with the blow by cup.

Dealership told me today that they can replace the engine complete for $8,500. They recommend replacement since the truck is in very good shape otherwise. But the somewhat frugal side of me thinks that why would I invest $8,500 in a 16 year old truck, when if I'm forced to I could buy a new truck, and maybe sell the current one. I really like my truck, and with my limited knowledge can work on it. The new ones I'm told you really can't work on.

Thoughts?

 

[BigPapa]

Get a second opinion from someone besides a dealership. Surely there's a TDR member around El Paso that could help you out.

 

[Bromiley99]

I've read a little about this on here no personal experience but supposedly a vaccum leak can cause excessive blow by. The vaccum pump exhausts into the crankcase, if you have a bad enough leak it will cause the pump to exhaust more then normal resulting in excessive blow by. Hopefully I explained that right!!

 

[JR]

Ask the dealership to see the results of the manometer (blow by) test and compression test. They should have also scoped the cylinders while doing the compression test. If they did neither then I would find someone else to look at your truck. The results of those two tests are not definitive by themselves but should be used to support their theory of why you should be giving them over $8k of your money. The few times I have had trouble with my truck that were above my pay grade I took it to an independent diesel repair shop. Unless your dealership sells high volumes of diesel trucks and keeps a diesel tech on full time you would probably be better off doing the same.

 

[moparguy]

Yep, dealership is giving bad advise. You need to source a good Honest diesel shop.

 

[GAmes]

I've read a little about this on here no personal experience but supposedly a vaccum leak can cause excessive blow by. The vaccum pump exhausts into the crankcase, if you have a bad enough leak it will cause the pump to exhaust more then normal resulting in excessive blow by. Hopefully I explained that right!!

Supposedly being the key word. I posted in the 911 thread, so might as well say it again. It is a myth that a vacuum leak can cause excessive blowby. I suppose if the engine is worn to a point that is just shy of having "excessive" blowby that a vacuum leak could possibly push it over the edge. It is impossible for a tiny 1/8 inch tube to suck more in than a 7/8 tube can expel. Even if the large inlet fitting was removed from the vacuum pump of a healthy engine, that 5/16 hole still couldn't suck enough air in to produce excessive blowby. The easy way to check for that would be to see if all the vacuum operated accessories are still working.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I would 2nd the get it to a reputable diesel shop. See if there is an official Cummins shop in your area - they'll mostly work on medium and heavy duty trucks.

 

[CCCRAM]

Well folks, mystery solved. It was a overfilled crankcase. How that happened is a MYSTERY! I had just done an oil change a few hundred miles ago. I always lay out my filter and oil in advance to make sure I get the right amount in.

The dealership had it though, so maybe they had something to do with it...

Anyway on Friday I drained the crankcase, it had 16 quarts in it. Of course it supposed to only have 11, so easy to understand why it was blowing it out the cup.

Talked to Genos guys and suggested I re-route the cup. So I took a bicycle bottle mounting bracket and attached to the axle with tie wraps, extended the hose to the bottle, drilled a few holes in the bottle.

Ran it for three days and nary a single drop of oil.

Feel stupid of course, because I can't figure out how that extra oil got in there. But its saved me $8,500 the dealership would have charged me.

So thanks everyone for helpful comments. I always depend on the TDR group to help me out. This post is DONE!

 

[JR]

Please do continue to watch the oil level carefully. It is unlikely the dealership added oil if you took it to them in the first place for an issue. Point being it could be something like a stuck injector adding fuel to the crank case over a period of time. Not likely that 5 extra quarts of oil are all fuel, as you would likely smell it when draining, but it is something to keep an eye on going forward.

 

[CCCRAM]

Thanks JR, I appreciate the advice. I do have some oil left over from draining. Is it worth sending for analysis? And if so, where to go, I've never done it before.

 

[GAmes]

https://www.genosgarage.com/product/cc2525/oil-filters

 

[JR]

Does it smell like fuel? If there was 16 quarts and you didn't overfill it that would put roughly 5 quarts of fuel in the crank case. Should definitely be noticeable. I would probably just monitor the oil in your engine to be sure the level doesn't come up with miles driven.

http://stores.buyschaefferoil.com/p...-2KWuafJeqM_gpL0G8KWtHcoR75kldThFfBoCGTnw_wcB

I use Schaeffers if I need a sample but I have a local place I buy from.

 

[wildbill]

If it was from a holed piston, or broken rings, you would notice it. Engine would run and sound like it has a very bad miss.

 

[CCCRAM]

Please do continue to watch the oil level carefully. It is unlikely the dealership added oil if you took it to them in the first place for an issue. Point being it could be something like a stuck injector adding fuel to the crank case over a period of time. Not likely that 5 extra quarts of oil are all fuel, as you would likely smell it when draining, but it is something to keep an eye on going forward.

My problem continues. I went to fuel up after half tank empty, checked the oil, and discovered the oil line creeping up again. It appears to be at least one quart over now.

Any suggestions on what to do now?

 

[CCCRAM]

Excessive oil in crankcase continues

So went to refuel after driving half a tank, about 150 miles or so. Oil showing on dipstick about 1 quart over.

Researched on TDR causes and came across post on stuck injector. Need to troubleshoot. Here's some photos:


Here's a towel with dipstick oil. Was told if diesel oil appears dark in middle, fuel is present. Appears so.

And here is dipstick showing oil over max. At least a quart.

 

[JR]

Probably either injector o rings or a sticky injector. What brand injectors and how many miles?

 

[CCCRAM]

can't remember which brand. Looks like 80k since RV275's installed

 

[JR]

What year is your truck? Early years of the VP trucks are recommended to replace the crossover tubes when the injectors are replaced. That is one possible source of the leak regardless of wether they were replaced (crossover tube to injector connection) , a leaky injector o ring, or a stuck injector. If you got genuine Bosch RV injectors it is possible but unlikely you have one sticking at such low mileage. I would start by popping the valve cover and looking for any fuel pooled up in the oil around each injector immediately after the truck is shut off. If you don't see anything you'll need to start pulling the injectors out one by one and inspecting the crossover tube sealing surface for any nicks or damage. Same for the injector o ring. If you still don't see anything that stands out the injectors will need pop tested. The quickest route would be to find a local shop that could do them for you but if you don't have anything close you may have to send them out.
Before you start I would get a seal kit like this

http://www.xtremediesel.com/bd-power-1075800-injector-seal-kit.aspx

that way if you find something suspect you can put it right back together without waiting for parts. You'll need them anyhow.