oil level rising

[cycletech]

Anybody have idea why oil level would rise about extra quart after changing oil? 300 miles since oil was changed and level started half way up safe zone, and now reading at full mark. Is this injector issue, I checked and cannot smell diesel fuel in oil. no smoking out of exhaust or power level issues. .

 

[cycletech]

This is a 05 2500 with 5. 9

 

[ScottLewis]

Assuming the same conditions existed each time the oil was checked: level ground, adequate draindown time, similar temp, the only logical explanation would be fuel in the oil, or water. Water would likely show as foam on the stick so fuel pretty has to be the culprit. Injectors are a logical source.



Dan

 

[GaryOwen]

Could be a leaking injector, but since it doesn't smell like diesel and the oil was recently changed, I think it may just be a difference in time for the oil to drain. I try to always check my oil first thing in the morning so it will be drained back to the oil pan well. Can make quite a difference.



I had one injector crack and didn't notice a performance decrease or additional smoke. I did notice a slight raw diesel smell, but couldn't pinpoint the problem at first. The oil looked clearer than normal, could hardly tell where the oil level was on the dipstick. Guess that was because the diesel had thinned the oil.



I would probably just keep a very close eye on the oil level. If you don't need to drive the truck, you could sample the oil and wait for results.

 

[cycletech]

anybody know the ample time to let oil drain?

 

[GaryOwen]

Service manual says 10 minutes. As I said earlier, I prefer overnight if possible.

 

[HBarlow]

More info would be helpful. How many odometer miles? Any smoke? Any modifications now or previously? Any repairs or parts replacements done? Is there any fuel smell in the oil or excessive thinning? Or, is there any milky brown color in the oil indicating coolant leak?

 

[cycletech]

I have 79K miles, change oil regularly about every 5K. No modications to engine, change air filter and fuel filter every 10K. Oil is normal color and no thinning of oil. Cannot smell fuel in oil. I usually change oil and check dipstick about a minute after i put new oil in.

 

[JamesStevens]

I have had that happen to me as well, I would just keep a close eye on it like was said earlier. I notice for some reason 15W40 oil is harder to read on my trucks dipstick then

5W40. Don't ask why, cause I don't no, something to do with the viscosity I guess. I check oil every time I fill with fuel.

 

[HBarlow]

Based on the info you provided there is little reason to worry about a leaky injector although I suppose it is always possible. If there is no fuel contamination there's really nothing to worry about.

Could you have allowed insufficient time for the pan to drain or could the truck have been on a slight incline when you drained it? Could you have filled it, stated and checked for leaks then shut off and checked oil level. It takes as much as 1/2 hour for the oil to drain back to the pan. If you added oil to the mark that could have overfilled it.

Try checking the oil first thing in the morning after the truck sits all night on level ground. If it shows overfull you could carefully drain down to the full mark on the dipstick then check it again each morning for a week to see if the oil level was increasing.

Or, perhaps better, ignore it until the next oil change. A slight overfill won't hurt anything. I significant overfill can cause the rods to churn the oil at the bottom of each stroke and aerate the oil. That is not good.

 

[OvrPSld]

I just picked up an 06 a little over two weeks ago. Being new to the Cummins scene I didn't think anything of my knocking and shaking at idle until I checked the MPG twice, first tank was 12. 8. I chalked that up to not filling it to the vent tube on my first fill. That fill the oil was very slightly above the safe range. The second tank was 14. 7 after babying it for 430 miles. When I filled it up the second time I noticed the oil level is way higher than the safe range, it's at the W on the word 'with' that's stamped on the stick. I'm taking it in to the dealer Wednesday morning so they can take a look. After talking with the folks over at Dynomite Diesel since I live in the same town they are located in and it sounds like I may have a cracked injector/s as well. The truck has 86,000 miles on it and sat for a couple months on their lot before I bought it with only occasional test drives.



Any opinions on driving it a couple more miles with the oil this high? Or should I just call up Geico and order up a flatbed for Wednesday morning.

 

[seafish]

I believe that the problem is not so much the extra volume of oil and fuel, but the lack of lubricity that your oil now has due to being diluted by diesel. A couple miles MIGHT be OK, but with my truck, even under extended warranty, I would rather play safe then be sorry, and I would have mine towed.

Maybe someone else will chime in...

 

[Wingate]

I just picked up an 06 a little over two weeks ago. Being new to the Cummins scene I didn't think anything of my knocking and shaking at idle until I checked the MPG twice, first tank was 12. 8. I chalked that up to not filling it to the vent tube on my first fill. That fill the oil was very slightly above the safe range. The second tank was 14. 7 after babying it for 430 miles. When I filled it up the second time I noticed the oil level is way higher than the safe range, it's at the W on the word 'with' that's stamped on the stick. I'm taking it in to the dealer Wednesday morning so they can take a look. After talking with the folks over at Dynomite Diesel since I live in the same town they are located in and it sounds like I may have a cracked injector/s as well. The truck has 86,000 miles on it and sat for a couple months on their lot before I bought it with only occasional test drives.



Any opinions on driving it a couple more miles with the oil this high? Or should I just call up Geico and order up a flatbed for Wednesday morning.

Wrecker It... . I'm sure that you can get to the dealership without spinning a bearing or galling a piston... BUT, its all that seemingly insignificant wear and scoring from diluted engine oiil that will shorten the life of the engine. It won't show up now, but it will show up after your engine gets out of warranty... . Roll-back wreckers are much cheaper than a new bullet.

 

[OvrPSld]

Sent it over on a flatbed today. Started it up long enough to get it out of my driveway and then again to park at the dealer. It's starting to get a little hard to start. I should have my results in a day or two.

 

[OvrPSld]

Just got off the phone with the dealer. They have two new injectors waiting to be put in when the techs get back from lunch. I'm off to a strong start with my truck...

 

[HBarlow]

Don't forget to change the engine oil and filter asap. Apparently injector replacement means two were leaking fuel and diluting crankcase oil.

I recommend you have the service department read out the ECM and print the data for you. You might want to know if engine operating hours roughly equal truck odometer reading.

 

[OvrPSld]

Thanks for the tip! I'll see if they can do that for me. They drained it and gave me my first free oil change as part of the injector replacement. It's an 06 with 86000 miles on it. It's been driven a bit. What should the hours be around? 1400, or double that for Seattle area traffic.



I also found out it's got one new front drive axle u-joint, only 3mm left on the rear pads, and the transmission fluid is starting to look a little dirty. A new pan was next on my list anyway.