Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) leaking water into crankcase

[WilliamSchoolman]

I have developed a problem on my 1996 3500 Cummins dually with loosing coolant. It started while we were traveling in Montana pulling our 38' fifth wheel RV on a extended trip for about 8 weeks.

It lost about 3 quarts of coolant one day while we were towing approximately 300 miles and again 2 days later while we not towing about 450 miles. It then stopped loosing coolant for about 4 weeks and 3000 miles.

After we returned home I had the oil changed and sent in a sample for analyzing. I drove locally (not towing) for about 400 miles with no lost coolant. We drove about 250 miles ( 1/2 towing- 1/2 empty) over 4 days this past weekend and lost about 3 quarts coolant.

This morning I received the results of the oil sample and it showed contamination with coolant.

Has anyone had a problem such as this. Please Email me with any comments.

Bill at

-- email address removed --

 

[hsmith]

If you are losing that much coolant into the crankcase the oil would look like chocolate and you would not need an analysis. Look for external leaks, right front of head at t-stat area, hoses, etc.

 

[JMcCoy]

Maybe a head gasket. Hopefully not a cracked head or block. Diesels are harder to tell than gas motors. White smoke gets deluted by the black smoke we love so much. Since it is only happening when you are working the engine, I would lean towards a head gasket. A compression / leak down tester my tell the tail. Good luck.

 

[NIsaacs]

Might be your oil cooler. Like hsmith said, if 3 quarts of water were in your crankcase it would be a mess. Maybe you have both external and internal leaks.



Nick

 

[Missouri Mule]

Have you ever run it hot? Sounds like a heat crack in head or block.

 

[JMcCoy]

Is your block a 24 valve 53 casting? They are known to have problems with cracking.

 

[1995Dodge...]

Hi Bill, I read U'r problem with h2o in oil. The following is my problem with no affirmative replies... I attached a drip bottle 2 the vent hose & it catches tablespoon amount of GOOP & tablespoon of clear h2o (condensation, not green?) in 100 mi's... Oil sample 12-14- shows critical !!! 3 samples (oil chg'd @ 5,000's Mi's) show major fluctuation in results. . Example iron & lead:

#1-------- 61 -- 37



#2---------- 5 -- 4



#3-----------18 -- 42

Have U uncovered U'r problem's cause ??? Thnx, Bob Puyallup, WA







"Vent tube goop" 11-01-201 in forums

97 (106, mi's) with 195 thermo (185-210* flux) @ 70 mph... Has a gray goop discharge (like choc pudding) when parked. Did not have it with 180* thermo that fluc'd 145-180*. . This nonsticky/slippery material drops from tube when parked... No odor. . Very slight coolant loss = evaporation ?? What is preferred operating temp ?? Odd that the temp stays steady @ 185* @ 55 mph... thnx, Bob

P. S. Doesn't use oil...

"Has a gray goop discharge (like choc pudding) when parked. nonsticky/slippery material drops from tube" It drops from the crankcase vent tube & is not a puddle...

Thnx, Bob

 

[MBSmith]

i have a 97 . out of no where the other day temp dropped and radiator half full. i put coolant in been keeping eye on. not sure what happened. nothing on ground,no odd smoke, oil did not seem to have different consistantcy. I guess all i can do is keep an eye on it. Bought it used with 214,000 on it. hopefully it is not an expense anytime soon. Could it be anything to do with heater core?