***Need help*** Loosing oil from crank case tube

[Big_Horn]

Calling for some insight. Buddy is out of town and he says that he is loosing a large amount of oil from what he believes the crank case breather tube. There is oil all down the underside of the truck and over the nose of his trailer. 2006 3500 DRW. He said that he had the oil changed just prior to the trip, it appeared that the oil level on the stick seemed a bit high. he checked it just a few ago and it is at the fill line, so he's loosing a fair amount of oil. His aftermarket air cleaner is pretty dirty, checked and there seems to be no blow-by. If the oil is coming from the breather tube, what would cause the excessive oil from blowing out? I'm hoping to get under the truck here this week to see for myself, but until then he's up the creek without a paddle...

 

[Crunch]

There is oil all down the underside of the truck and over the nose of his trailer. 2006 3500 DRW. He said that he had the oil changed just prior to the trip, it appeared that the oil level on the stick seemed a bit high. he checked it just a few ago and it is at the fill line, so he's loosing a fair amount of oil.

I had a very similar problem and it turned out to be one or more O-rings on the injector solenoids. Fuel was getting past the O-ring(s) and into the crankcase. So ask your friend if he is sure it is oil on the underside of his truck. I had a pretty strong diesel smell on mine when I was sitting still with the engine running. Dipstick was reading very high, even though I had just changed the oil and replaced it with the proscribed 3 gallons. Solution was to replace the injectors. Ask your friend how many miles he has on the truck.

 

[Big_Horn]

@Crunch hes got somewhere in the ball park of 130K miles

 

[Crunch]

@Crunch hes got somewhere in the ball park of 130K miles

Seems low to me for injector life, but people here have reported numbers like that in the past. Ask him if what he thinks is oil might be diesel fuel mixed with oil. You say he "had" the oil changed before a trip. If they filled it from a big barrel they could have overfilled it, but if they used gallon jugs it pretty much can't be done unless they didn't drain it completely.

 

[Big_Horn]

I was wondering if they had overfilled it. my thought is that it if it was overfilled, then wouldn't it blow off the excess then the problem solved? He's down to the fill line now, lower than the standard level.

 

[Ozymandias]

How did he check there is no blow-by?

 

[Big_Horn]

How did he check there is no blow-by?

The oil fill cap trick at 1500 rpm

 

[GCroyle]

Just after oil change?

Mostly drivers side or pass side?

Loose filter.
Double seal on filter from old one.
Wrong filter.

 

[Big_Horn]

Great idea, unfortunately, filter is dry around it...

 

[GCroyle]

SWAG #2 Oil plug?

 

[Big_Horn]

SWAG #2 Oil plug?

Don’t know what that is... gotta look it up. He believes that it’s from the breather tube or that general area. I’m hoping to get s look at it later this week. Post pictures if I can’t figure this out. What sucks is he’s already a rig down... with another trip planned at the end of the week..

 

[GCroyle]

Oil plug, drain plug, the hole oil escapeth from during oil change. Occasionally X-threaded, left loose, torqued like an pinion nut flange.

Somehow mine (drain plug) is the OE never been messed up. That guy that I let do the oil change is at least decent with a 3/8" breaker bar. Next time, I'll tip him. I'll like that.

Sorry, typing faster than my brain can handle.

 

[Ozymandias]

There could also be the oil return line disconnected under the head plastic cover.
I found mine very brittle and dry rotting. Had to use some cable ties to get it tight again.

 

[Big_Horn]

Oil plug, drain plug, the hole oil escapeth from during oil change. Occasionally X-threaded, left loose, torqued like an pinion nut flange.

Somehow mine (drain plug) is the OE never been messed up. That guy that I let do the oil change is at least decent with a 3/8" breaker bar. Next time, I'll tip him. I'll like that.

Sorry, typing faster than my brain can handle.

HAHA... Ya I know what an oil drain plug is just had not heard the term "Swag #2" Ironically my wife's cars drain plug was cross threaded thanks to the dealership. I have done 18 oil changes on her car, the dealer 1x. and they got it crossed. Cost them a new pan and labor.

So heard back today, looks like he topped off the oil, have some more in reserve, drove for an hour or so, with no visible oil usage via the stick.

 

[Crunch]

So heard back today, looks like he topped off the oil, have some more in reserve, drove for an hour or so, with no visible oil usage via the stick.

OK, I have to ask...why would he top off the oil right after an oil change?

 

[Big_Horn]

OK, I have to ask...why would he top off the oil right after an oil change?

Cause the oil is now coating the under belly of his truck and trailer...

 

[Crunch]

Cause the oil is now coating the under belly of his truck and trailer...

That begs the question. I would never add oil to the engine before I checked the level first. Did he check it shortly after the oil change, find it low and accidentally add too much?

 

[EricViviano]

Had a local cowboy bring his dually with identical symptoms, his truck/trailer was getting coated with oil. In his case it was the packing that seals the cam on the bellhousing.

The symptoms you describe happen when you have broken piston rings, very common in the 5.9 common rail. I have rebuilt a handful.

Good luck.

 

[Big_Horn]

Through extensive research, there is a belief that a “dust out” phenomenon May have occurred. His air filter is quite dirty, this would cause dirt to be ingested causing a dust film around the piston rings. New paper filter and some sea foam on the horizon.

 

[GCroyle]

Was the "dust out" a paper or oiled filter? Just curious.