Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Not your regular Oil Loss! HELP

[pdxkevinc]

Folks,



I'm in deep trouble. Anytime I tow across the Cascades of Oregon, I suffer severe oil loss. I've researched the heck out of this and am still stumped.



For backgrounders, I should let you know that this truck has spent a lot of time at Cummins NW to deal with a bad idle problem. At 76,000 miles, this 98 24V idles nicely... could be the new LP,VP44 , Valve addj, and on and on ...



After the VP44 install, I towed a GCV weight (as per scales) of 16,100. So I'm not killing this thing.



Crossing a 6% grade and running at precisely 2800RPM for the last 3 miles of it, I pulled over on the other side of the pass. We sat around and BSed a bit (10 minutes) . I checked the dipstick and it was barely on the stick. Took 3 quarts to put it in Safe.



You can guess where it went. This has happened 4 or 5 times over the last 30K miles... it shoots out the blowby hose and I assure you... the underside of this Ram will NEVER rust!



What on earth could be SO wrong with this truck that alludes diags and only happens under load ?

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Has Cummins done a blow by test under load yet ? I had it done at the local Cummins shop, they install a sensor in the blow by tube and monitor crank case pressure under load on a dyno. This is also a great way to see what condition a truck is in before buying it. With the bad idle, has anyone thought about a cracked ring on one cylinder ? A little blow-by is ok, but it sounds like time to kick butt before the warranty runs out.



Kyle

 

[jwilliams3]

Sounds like your having a high blow by situation.

When you are working your engine hard at boost.

The boost is pressurizing your crank case and pushing oil out of your blow by relief bottle.



Just an opinion.



--Justin

 

[SOOT]

My 12V did the same thing, I replaced the turbo and it fixed the problem. If I mashed it in 5th and built high boost I could see it leaving a trail of oil on the ground behind me apparently a seal went bad in the turbo and caused it to pressurize the crankcase at high boost.

 

[pdxkevinc]

It is out of warranty :-(



I think I'll investigate the monitor on dyno option.



What eventuality am I looking at? A rebuild?

 

[MCummings]

My truck would idle rough, and lose lots of oil ( 1 gallon every 40-70 miles). Turned out to be a blown headgasket, and a cracked head. (the head may have allready been cracked)



Just my $. 02

Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[pdxkevinc]

would a blown headgasket make it blow out the blowby ?

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

I would get the test done before worrying about a rebuild, the blown seal in the turbo sounds like a real possibility. with a cracked block or head, you would tend to find coolant in the oil and/or oil in the coolant. Check for oil on the turbo's impellers on both the exhaust and compressor sides.

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by pdxkevinc

would a blown headgasket make it blow out the blowby ?

When my HG blew, I had no oil/water swapping, and yes,, it blew out the blow-by, also it blew out the oil fill.



But, my truck idled VERY bad. (5 cylinders) and smoked out the exhaust.



Merrick Cummings Jr