Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Massive blow by, do I need a engine?

[paulsmith]

2001 HO 6 speed with 180,000 miles. Strong runner, plenty of power! I have had it for 50,000 miles (9 months). Always used oil. At first I thought it was the front seal leaking on the engine, but not sure, because the blow by tube just dumped out right about in the same spot.



I dont mind adding a little oil, between changes so drove it like that for a while. Finally added a extension hose to the factory short blow by hose, and ran it down under the truck.



Now, I see the smoke. I mean at idle, you can see it in the headlights. It is coming up in the cab with the windows down. Looks like it is blowing out lots of oil too (cant be sure, but the oil is coming from somewhere). The bottom 12" of the rear dually fender on the truck, and the drivers door are covered in oil after a 300 mile hard pull. (and underneath)



Also, when you remove the oil fill cap, you can feel a "pulse of air" out the cap when it is idleing in time with the engine.



I add about 1 quart every 500 miles under load (pulling 11K to 17K)



All this tells me I have one cylinder leaking. But, it has been doing this for thousands of miles, it runs strong, no smoke out the tail pipe, and it does not seem to be getting any worse, (or at least not that I can tell)



What would you do? I tried to get a compression check when I had my injectors replaced, but shop had loaned out the adapter for the ISB engine that day. I am pretty sure I have one bad cyl. $250 for a compression check is just going to tell me which one.



Do we pull the head and have a look see? Do I get a short block? Do I get a long Block? Talking to Cummins, replacment engines are costly. (understatement) But, I cant afford to be without this truck for very long.

 

[moparguy]

Paul, sounds like you've got one or more weak cylinders. Could be lots of things but a high precentage guess would be bad rings (or piston) in number 6. Cause could be a bad stock air filter sometimes in the trucks past, or a oiled aftermarket filter allowing dust to cause ring wear. Could also be high temps caused the rings in the end cylinders to close up, end gap goes away and a groove is worn into the cylinder when the ends of the compression ring butt together and then expand a bit more.



You can do what this member did, https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155215



Or start saving money, pull the engine (head first prehaps to take a look) and do a out of vehicle rebuild. It's just a 6 cylinder engine, no black majic involved.



Good luck, RR