Archived Oil Leak Under Pressure

[GooseHunter]

I have an engine oil leak from the front right corner of the engine. This is a new leak. The oil seems to be coming out under pressure. The exact location of the leak is at the seam where the head and the block join. The oil seems to be coming out above the head gasket and below the bottom edge of the head.



I had a head gasket replaced by a Cummins diesel mechanic six months ago and there has been no additional head bolt torqueing since the initial repair work. This is a ’98. 5 24 Valve Cummins with 188k miles.



The leak is enough that when all oil has been completely cleaned up using solvent from an air spray nozzle and blown dried, within five minutes of idle the oil runs out the bottom of the engine. This is not good!



Could this be due to the head bolts needing retorqueing? Any suggestions as to where this oil is coming from internally?



Thanks in advance for any help. I had a hunting trip planned for tomorrow morning but will await repair suggestions before attempting to any future travel.

 

[kenny61]

I would check the head bolts if it is leaking at the seam. It may be too late if the bolts were loose and it allowed the gasket to be blown out

 

[Joe Mc]

From what I've heard head bolts don't require re-torquing, now if you have head studs that's a different animal. Sure sounds like the typical head gasket leak area though - sorry to hear.

 

[Bob Cochran]

As I recall the head bolts are supposed to and do stretch when torqued and cannot be reused for that reason. Also once torqued I don't believe they are supposed to be re-torqued but I have heard people do.

 

[GooseHunter]

Oil Leak Continued:

This problem was in fact a blown head gasket. I had had the original head gasket replaced 15 months ago due to a coolant leak at the right front side. That was a new OEM gasket and it failed in several places. The fire rings were intact, however.



The shop that replaced the gasket 15 months ago had reused the original head bolts to install the new head gasket. This time that same shop replaced all 23 head bolts with new OEM bolts. They were instructed by Cummins to use new bolts and not re-torque the head.



Thanks for the comments above.



Dean

 

[Joe Mc]

Dean,



Was this a double $$$ whammy for you or did the shop recognize that a mistake was made on their part? Just wondering?

 

[GooseHunter]

Joe,

It was a double charge. I got two OEM head gaskets for the price of two.

 

[Joe Mc]

Bummer. Hope you're up and on line by now at least.

 

[monkeyman]

Does that year have the tappet cover on side of block? That is where my leak was.
Rick

 

[GooseHunter]

Joe,

I am up and running. I had a trip with my 5th wheel over the holidays and had no problems. I have to say, this truck has become a money pit though. I want to keep it running until it isn't worth anything as a trade-in then sell it. I hope it will make it until the 2010 model comes out.

Monkeyman,

This is the 24 valve cummins and the valves are on top. I don't know what you are referring to as "tappit cover on the side. "

 

[monkeyman]

Sorry for mis-spell, on 24 valves buried on drivers side under head is a tappet cover, its about 30 inches long, under ECM. You have to remove VP44, ECM, Intake etc to get to it. Common problem is that the gasket drys up and cracks. Cover is used to remove a push rod if it is bent, etc. Not even shown in service manual you buy (at least mine from Mopar)

Mine was leaking down side of engine.

Rick

 

[GooseHunter]

Monkeyman,

Nope, mine was leaking at the head gasket seam, left front corner, oil under pressure. And, it was my misspelling of tappet, not yours.