Oil Leak?

[JayB]

This is my first cummins so before I start looking for the problem I thought I'd start here. I'm getting a small puddle of oil under the engine on the drivers side when its parked, it appears to be comming from a plastic tube of about 5/8" diameter. Does this engine have an open crankcase vent? I'm getting ready to head cross country and want to know if this is something to worry about. Thanks, Jeff

 

[Cliffman]

Jay, that would be the blow by tube but it shouldn’t be leaving a puddle of oil. You'll notice a few drops but no puddles. How many miles? What year? Could be the Power steering/vacuum pump.

 

[Bagger]

I noticed this as well, and after crawling under the rig to investigate, I found my culprit. Last week I had my oil changed by my dealer. Evidently when they spun the oil filter off, they let oil drip down the side of the engine and onto the crossmembers and steering linkage. My instructions prior to the service were to ensure ALL oil was cleaned off the engine and the oil filter flange prior to installation of a prefilled oil filter. Well, they did that... ... ... . but that is all they did. They left the oil on the crossmember under the oil pan. If you'll look at the crossmember, it has lightening holes (3) on the top and on the bottom. The ones on top are flush cut and the two outer ones on the bottom are flush cut as well. The middle one is flared inwards. Oil dripped onto the crossmember and went into the holes on top, pooled in the center of the crossmember around the flared hole, and sloshed to the outer holes when I drove the rig..... which meant it leaked out and went all over the steering linkage and front axle. I spent a good hour flushing the oil out of the crossmember and cleaning up the mess. Next oil change I'm going to put clear tape over the three lightening holes and further refine my cleaning instructions to the dealer. I can't stand for my brand new rig to be all grungy underneath and leave oil drops on my driveway.

 

[Cliffman]

Bagger, you might want to consider changing the oil yourself. I've had a few bad experiences letting others do the job for me. There are a couple of tricks to make it simple and not messy. 1: use a large plastic zip baggy under the filter when you spin it off. 2: Geno's garage sells a nice screw-on tube for draining the oil.

 

[fj40dave]

I have a quarter turn drain valve where my orriginal oil drain plug was - super easy to drain the oil. I safety wire it shut, just for an extra sence of security every time though.

The zip lock bag around the oil filter works really nice too!

 

[Bagger]

Bagger, you might want to consider changing the oil yourself. I've had a few bad experiences letting others do the job for me. There are a couple of tricks to make it simple and not messy. 1: use a large plastic zip baggy under the filter when you spin it off. 2: Geno's garage sells a nice screw-on tube for draining the oil.

Man, lemmee tell ya brother, I WISH I could squeeze the time to do it. I'm right smack in the middle of working on a master's degree, working full time, being a husband and a Daddy, and I have a house and yard to take care of. I have to scrimp just to find a few moments to go for a putt on the Harley. I fully capable, and due to my background, more than mechanically inclined. Mt problem is I'm so friggin' picky, that it would take me two hours to do a service. I suppose I should work on it. Oh yeah, I know I'm whining, but hey... ... . although I love my rig, when I have free time, there's other things I'd rather do.

 

[JayB]

Cliffman, Thanks for your reply, I believe it is the blow by, a few drops on new concrete probably looks worse than it is. Jeff (8000 miles)