High oil level question

[PKitzman]

I noticed my oil level was above the cross-hatch area a couple weeks ago. I thought I may have put too much in at the last oil change so I ended up draining out about one quart to get it back into the normal area.



I just got back from a 1800 mile trip and noticed that it is again high. Is this likely a bad injector putting fuel into my oil? I just pulled an oil sample for analysis and am planning on changing the oil tomorrow as a precaution since I am planning on taking the trailer out for the weekend camping.



The truck only has 13,000 miles. Of course I just put the edge chip in a few months ago so warrantee work may be questionable. Any ideas?

 

[FATCAT]

... Is this likely a bad injector putting fuel into my oil? ... I just put the edge chip in a few months ago ...

I think you know the answer to your question and also the reason for the "magic" oil gain.



Get it into the shop ASAP and get rid of the power box.

 

[WoodT]

sounds like an injector to me. If they dont warranty you casue of the juice... check into a full set of aftermarket injectors. You can get a set for $1200 instead of payin for a single mopar one.

 

[PKitzman]

fuel injector cleaner

Will fuel injector cleaner help the situation or once an injector is bad it is bad for good? If cleaner is an option what's my best bet?

 

[WoodT]

I doubt it... it sounds like its leaking, not stopped up or anything. Im guessin a cracked casing or something of that nature.

 

[WCounts]

Once a injector is cracked there is no fixing it. You may have a leaking cp3 instead of a injector leak.

 

[PKitzman]

OK, I just changed the oil, and it appeared normal, no diesel smell to speak of and wasn't really thin. The truck still gets good milage (19+ on the highway if I take it easy). It doesn't smoke much at all unless I'm towing and really get on it or if I turn the Edge up to level three and floor it. Is there any chance that I am being parinoid? What other symptoms would there be? I have done a COUPLE runs with the Edge turned up to level 3. It has never seen 4 or 5 even once. I usually run it on level 1.



I know the oil analysis will be the best indicator, but I am a little nervous pulling my little camper for 500 miles over the weekend even with fresh oil.

 

[PKitzman]

I am certainly no mechanic, so can any explain how a cracked injector or leaking CP3 gets diesel into the oil... what is the path?

 

[magothy1]

Oil gain

In my boat engines, fuel will run right down the cylinder walls, it's NOT a good thing, your oil is diluted in a bad way. You should be noticing oil pressure dropping if it's putting fuel into the oil. I'm sure folks with Dodge truck experience will tell you more. I'd be pretty nervous.

 

[McLaughlin]

Has your coolant level changed? I just had my truck dump the contents of the radiator into the oil pan.

 

[PKitzman]

Coolant level hasn't changed and I didn't see any in the oil when I changed it today. Will have the oil analysis bake late next week.

 

[klenger]

How long are you letting the engine set before checking the level? My experience is that the oil level will rise quite a bit over a 20 minute period. I wonder if it was overfilled during the last change.

 

[PKitzman]

That's what I'm hoping for. I had the mechanic where I work change my oil the first time and if I recall correctly he said he put in an extra quart to get it to the full line.



When I checked it the next time it was high and we drained out about a quart to get it in the cross-hatch area on the dip stick.



Now it is again above the cross-hatch area. If I check it immediately after shutting it down it reads in the cross-hatch area, but if I wait more than a couple minutes it goes above.



It's also annoying that the dipstick always has oil smeared all over it further up making it difficult to tell where the actual level is. (any tricks to prevent this?)



When I refilled the oil today I put in about 11 1/2 quarts and it filled it to dead center of the cross-hatch area.



Do you guys think I'm crazy pulling my camper with it this weekend (about 500 miles round trip)? Should I pull the plug on the camping trip and park it till I get my oil analysis or am I just being paranoid?

 

[WCounts]

My dealer puts 3 gals in when I get the oil changed. I let my truck sit on level ground for about 10 mins before checking oil level. It will be a little above the cross hatched indicator. If your truck is not on level ground you will get a different reading. Check your oil with the truck level every time.

 

[jwilliams3]

What you describe in your first post is normal. The oil level always looks "high" after the engine has been run a while.



I doubt there is anything wrong with your injection system.

My 99 ALWAYS looked high and so does my 2004. 5



Just put your 12 quarts in it and dont worry as long as its not leaking.

 

[cerberusiam]

Now it is again above the cross-hatch area. If I check it immediately after shutting it down it reads in the cross-hatch area, but if I wait more than a couple minutes it goes above.

Thats when you want to check it and where the level should be. The oil is draining back from the oiling galleries and making it read high. Put in 3 gallons and note the position right after shutting it off and sitting over night. The cross hatch area is the safe zone and if the oil is in it right after shutting it off you should be good. If it changes then start to worry. The dip sticks are not all measured correctly and can vary from truck to truck. If you have much raw diesel in the oil you will notice a definite odor. Keep an eye on it but it doesn't sound like you have a problem.

 

[nickleinonen]

I am certainly no mechanic, so can any explain how a cracked injector or leaking CP3 gets diesel into the oil... what is the path?

o-rings on the injectors bad can dump fuel into the head [top side from low pressure return/leakback], broken nozzle or stuck control cartridge [coil/solenoid] can spray fuel in the cylinder always and will wash down fuel down the cylinder wall. the rear [gear side] seal of the cp3 pump if gone can dump fuel into the timing case...

 

[PKitzman]

Thanks for all the replies and info. After changing the oil yesterday I ran it for about 30 miles and checked the oil and it was high again. I checked it this morning and it was still high (cooling down didn't change the level).



The local Dodge service rep said to drain out enough to get it to read in the cross-hatch are and run it for another 30 miles and see what happens. I did this (about 50 miles actually checking it twice in between) and it doesn't appear to be much higher, but it does seem a little higher (1/8" - 1/4") although now it is still pretty hot and when I drained the oil it was cool. I had to drain out about 1 - 1 1/2 quarts to get it back down in the crosshatch area.



I guess the best thing to do is just hold off driving it until I get the oil analysis back.



If it is fuel in the oil, how do you determine which injector is leaking or if it is the CP3 leaking?

 

[WCounts]

Thanks for all the replies and info. After changing the oil yesterday I ran it for about 30 miles and checked the oil and it was high again. I checked it this morning and it was still high (cooling down didn't change the level).



The local Dodge service rep said to drain out enough to get it to read in the cross-hatch are and run it for another 30 miles and see what happens. I did this (about 50 miles actually checking it twice in between) and it doesn't appear to be much higher, but it does seem a little higher (1/8" - 1/4") although now it is still pretty hot and when I drained the oil it was cool. I had to drain out about 1 - 1 1/2 quarts to get it back down in the crosshatch area.



I guess the best thing to do is just hold off driving it until I get the oil analysis back.



If it is fuel in the oil, how do you determine which injector is leaking or if it is the CP3 leaking?

If the cp3 is leaking there should be fuel dripping from the mounting flange. You can add dye to your fuel to help you find a leaking injector.

 

[cerberusiam]

If it is fuel in the oil, how do you determine which injector is leaking or if it is the CP3 leaking?

The CP3 has a weep hole to vent the shaft area so it doesn't leak into the engine. If there is a leak it is almost certain it is an injector.