Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Is my engine dying?

[Nate]

Well a few things have come up that have me considering getting rid of the truck before it's too late.



98. 5 24v, Superchip programmer, straight piped, otherwise stock.



First I've noticied I'm using oil. I'd about 2 quarts every 5,000 miles. Not horrible, but not great either.



Blowby... out the vent tube, and also I noticied out the dipstick tube when the engine is warm.



White smoke/blue smoke when cold... I searched on this and most people say it's fine... . though my truck smokes for a good while after it's been fired up. I let it idle for a good 5 minutes this afternoon and it was still smoking.

I was pulling an empty trailer the other day and when I was out of O/D pulling grades, it was funnelling out white smoke. I figured it was just because the exhaust was hot and it was cold out... but now that I think about it, maybe it wasn't just that?



http://98Jeepzj.com/stuff/truck2.mpg



Am I worrying for nothing? Looking at how much for a new engine? Is there anything I could test to see if it's alright? Someone have a compression tester I could borrow... or a good source for me to buy one?

 

[RAJohnson]

Nate: Does it seam low on power??? Do you have any codes???



Not real sure but it sounds like you might be having a problem with the Turbo. This could be why your using oil, and have white smoke. Have you been letting this Idol for long periods of time? If so thats not good for them, if your going to Idol them kick the RPM up to around 1200RPM. The blow by out the vent tube would also suggest a ring or valve problem, possibly from the extended idling.



I'm not a expert on problems such as your's but I am just trying to give you some ideas. Guys correct me if I am leading him astray. Hope this gets other chiming in



Rob

 

[keimmmo]

Even a small oil leak could result in the consumption. A little vapor out the vent tube is normal. But, metal in the oil IS NOT normal!!! My first thought was engine bearing wear... not good! But, it could also be the turbo and that wouldn't be that bad.



If it is the turbo, the shaft would have to be pretty loose if it had put enough metal in the oil that you can see it! That much play would likely result in the oil consumption and blue smoke.



Good luck!



Steve Keim

 

[Nate]

The thing I was thinking was perhaps the bucket I drained the the oil into has some metal "dust" in it, so it could be that it didn't come from the motor. I didn't clean the bucket out, or pay particular attention to the bottom of it before I drained the oil.



I don't let it idle for extended periods, maybe 5-10 mins in the morning to let it warm up.



I bought the truck with 145000 miles, so I have no idea what was done to it before. It's in decent shape, but who know huh?



The turbo shaft seems fine. Though I did have some oil in the inlet side. Not a ton, but a good fogging. I cleaned it last time I changed the oil, so is was all fresh stuff.

 

[tareynolds]

I would suspect the turbo, I have never replaced an engine in a cummins for oil use, also pay close attention to all the fuel lines, from the tank to the injectors, your smoke could be from air entering the fuel system.

 

[bmoeller]

A seal in the turbo could be bad, and not have any excessive play in the turbo shaft. If it is leaking into the compressor housing, you should fix it ASAP. That could cause a runaway if the seal blew. That leak could cause the smoke.



Some of the smoke could be a timing issue with the fuel injection pump. Having a 24v with that many miles, it wouldn't suprise me.



Another possibility would be a bad air filter. That could damage the seal in the turbo and ruin the piston rings.



I'd take care of the turbo first, and replace the air filter to rule it out. If that doesn't fix it, then do a compression test and maybe even a blowby test. Some is normal.



Depending on the results of the above, will affect what needs to be done to the truck.

 

[Nate]

I was saying there is a light coating of oil in the inlet side. I should consider any oil there bad, or is a bit acceptable?

There wasn't oil dripping out of it by any means, just it had an oil film on it.



I believe the VP44 is original.



The air filter was just the stock filter and the previous owner put a K&N. I read alot of bad about them on here, so I put a Wix filter back in this summer and that's what I've been running.



I'd like to do a compression test, though I'm having a hard time to find a tester. In order to do the test, I have to pull the injectors out right???

 

[Nate]

I was saying there is a light coating of oil in the inlet side. I should consider any oil there bad, or is a bit acceptable?

There wasn't oil dripping out of it by any means, just it had an oil film on it.



I believe the VP44 is original.



The truck came with a K&N air filter. I read alot of bad about them on here, so I put a Wix filter back in this summer and that's what I've been running.



I'd like to do a compression test, though I'm having a hard time to find a tester. In order to do the test, I have to pull the injectors out right???

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Nate on another thread I read about a guy having a lot of blowby and he found out a bad seal on the turbo caused it. When boost builds on the turbo the air bleeds through the bearing into the crankcase which then carries a lot of mist/oil out the blowby tube. I would start with the turbo and see if swapping it with another helps your problem.



2 quarts in 5k miles isn't bad. Mine uses a lot more than that, but then I'm about to roll 385k.



Vaughn

 

[bmoeller]

A light film won't hurt anything. What Vaughn mentioned, could a possiblity.



I got rid of my K&N because it wouldn't seal either. I'm in a lot of fine dirt at times, so that was a problem as well.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Heh. . . I had a really bad K&N on my '01. Man that I swear all it could stop was boulders! I ripped that thing outa there!

 

[Nate]

Is there a way to check for a bad seal in the turbo? I can't really afford buying a new turbo just to see if mine is bad.

 

[RAJohnson]

OK you Turbo Heads, A little help here

 

[lumberjack98]

a light coating on the inlet side (the turbo intake i assume) have you checked the output side of the turbo to engine if the oil leak is on the compressor side it would seem it would be pushing into the tube. also if it was on the exhaust side it would cause smoke until the oil was burned.

 

[Nate]

Nah i haven't. I'll have to check.



Curious... what's the cost for a new engine, like long block??



I'm kinda thinking of trading it in. Not so much that I know for sure that the engine needs work, but I'm getting tired of the auto transmission. I dunno if I should though, I just put about $2000 worth of wheels and tires on it.





The other thing I noticied is the engine is fairly loud (bascially normal 24v loud) and then going down the road is will suddenly quiet down. At first I thought it was the road being paved with something else, but no, it's the engine.

 

[KEG-123]

Have you had the lift pump checked, I lost a VP44 (after loosing the lift pump) and it blew a little white smoke at first and shortly (500 miles) after looked like a smoke screen of white smoke. Usually you get a lag in power as your VP 44 works double time to pull the fuel from the tank, then the smoke starts and not long after you replace the VP 44 when it fails. Mine happened around 70K still under warranty so it was replaced. I would check the fuel pressure to rule that out, if it is under 10 psi I would worry. The cost of a VP44 is very expensive as compared to a lift pump. Just my two cent.

 

[Hendricks]

im not sure how far from ogden utah you are but i have a spare turbo i would be willing to let you throw on to rule that out.

 

[Cummins724]

Do a search on white smoke... . I remember a few threads that guys posted getting white smoke when their vp44 was dying.

 

[Grizly]

Cummins crate motor , about $4500. 00 roughly not dressed.....

 

[Cummins724]

Cummins crate motor , about $4500. 00 roughly not dressed.....

Really! When I cracked my 53 block..... couldn't find a long block for less than $6500.