Oil mist diagnose today

[mtnram]

First let me say, It's been awile since I've been here. Enjoying years of relatively trouble free medium/heavy use of our 'o3 ram. I continue to subscribe to tdr (and once was pictured in the calendar) and do all maintenance regularly following the 3-2-1 model. Power Services Treatment used in fuel since new.
Today I embark on a project to figure out the appearance of oil mist on the top side of engine and batteries. This just appeared. The truck starts and runs fine, didn't intentionally check, yet pulls grades fine. Engine and trans are stock with a 2* crank position sensor installed by original owner (said he bought it from someone on this site that was making them). I've owned since '08 with 70k miles and now with 200k miles I realize there are some things to check to tack down.
Things I plan to do are listed below and I'll appreciate suggestions.
Check oil level (was full last week). I have no oil drippage under truck.
First will be the oil cap dance test.
Look for white smoke pulse.
Check injector resistance on wire harness (0.4 to 0.5 ohms).
I don't know if this a true test, but worth a try? Rev to redline hold for a second or two and release throttle. Immediate drok is o.k. stay at high rpm then drop bad injector(s).
I plan to do these tests and then report back this afternoon (pst). I've been up since 2 thinking about this, then remembered about the resource here.
Wish me luck and I'll take any other hints or suggestions.

 

[mtnram]

It appears things may be in order, I plan to check the ohm reading yet. The oil cap only moved very slightly more like engine vibration and no smoke or vapor present. Oil is full, overflow and radiator look normal as does the air box.
I'd like verification as to if there should be a rubber, or other gasket between the oil cap and the aluminum rocker box cover.
I awoke at 2a.m. needlessly it appears.
With 200k I know things can change. For now I'll keep doing what I'm doing and watch things closely for awhile.

 

[Killer223]

have any pictures?

 

[B.G. Smith]

Check the breather tube where it exits the timing cover and at the lower end of hose? bg

 

[Tuesdak]

Diesel fuel leak; like cracked #4 line? Careful with possible leaks from the high pressure side.

 

[mtnram]

The "mist" looks to be a 6" circle and there is little or none on the tops of batteries. It appeared that way from the flashlight light I used last night.
Looking now the meeting line of the rocker box to head is damp all around, and behind the rail on plate the inj line supports are bolted is damp to near the point of wet. No drippage of any kind under truck, likely just started and something is going on in there. I did change the rocker-box filter at about 150k and everything looked clear then. The breather tube also has a bit of damp, nothing dripping. Whatever it is happened in the past few days, yet whatever it is (diesel likely) sure is a dirt magnet. I think I'll do a little cleaning and more exploring tomorrow and will post pics of what I find.
This is my first issue (other than lift pump) with the truck, hoping it's not major.
I will appreciate help in dx's and if not beyond my ability in reparing it.
I had to correct my post, very tired been up since 2 decided to not dig in too deep today. Looking around is o.k. Also the dampness has no fuel smell and the inj lines look intact. a few have dampness and dirt, really thiking rocker box gasket and oil fill cap is the weak link pressure vent. I'll check breather tube for clear too. Just noticed a several of dead yellow jackets under hood maybe a nest appeared this fall (in the breather?)?

 

[mtnram]

Did just a little more work today.
Removed plastic trim.
Simple green and wash. Opened air filter box. Opened and looked in breather vent tubes.
Seems to me there is seepage around breather base, oil cap, and near #1 injector, and a circle of dirt/oil directly under the turbo tube on the dirty side of the air filter. Filter is basically clean. Something is misting (?) oil or fuel under hood, yet I don't smell diesel. Sourced gaskets and o rings (felpro) locally and will open her up tomorrow. Seems like it's the rocker cover gasket leaking a little and dribbling down to the head and running along that joint.
Is there a test or process I can do at home (rev and then shut down?) prior to removing the rocker cover to see if there is fuel leakage in the box?
It does not seel like the oil is washed out, BUT I want to be sure.

 

[Killgore]

I'm with JDoremire. Open the hood while she's running and use a sheet of cardboard to carefully use as a backdrop in the vicinity of the injectors to check for the mist. No. 4 feed tube is infamous for developing a leak because it lacks sufficient support.

- Ed

 

[mtnram]

Thank you! Do I do this at idle or with some added rpm? I did not see any accumulation of wet or dirt on #4 line, 1 and two had quite a bit.
Tomorrow will tell.

 

[Killgore]

Idle is sufficient, but be careful because you may have a high pressure situation.

- Ed

 

[mtnram]

I will! I think I'll gear up and use a piece of cardboard on a stick.
I'm curious about this and wonder why I did not notice anything amiss when I did the oil cap test.
I'm hoping there is a easy anwser.
When you mention high pressure situation, are you mentioning it's on the high pressure side, or high pressure leak, or pump is creating excessive pressure. I'm being safe rather than sorry here. If it's to avoid high pressure injury to me, I will be very cautious, seen pics of what high pressure fluids can do.
I don't want to be "that" guy, makes me a little queasy thinking about it.

 

[Killgore]

If you've got a feed tube that has a small pin hole, there will be a slight mist caused by the IP pressure atomizing the fuel. Sometimes it can be seen in the direct sunlight or with a well-directed light, but the cardboard is a surefire way to locate it. I'm speaking not as a tech, but rather someone that had this problem recently. Just be careful as you approach it.

 

[mtnram]

Got it! I'm going in...
cautiously.

 

[mtnram]

Ran truck and ran every injector line with a piece of cardboard in a pck-up tool (6 was a pain) and no wetness from rail to fitting on head.
I decided to change out the rocker box gasket and change oil. Which seemed a little thin, but did not create much oa a halo unless I let it sit for an hour. I plan to monitor for leaks and oil level.
With just below 200k it may be injector time? I plan to co over the injector lines with cardboard again, and especially if I start seeing traces of mist or leakage.

 

[Killgore]

Sorry, but good luck! It sounds like before this is over you'll have a PhD in Cummins.

 

[mtnram]

I've ben getting a lot of excercise and stretching in the past several days. At this point I believe oil mist can be attributed to a small leak on the power steering pump and no o ring on oil fill cap. I installed the large o ring included in the rocker cover gasket kit, and have been reading up on options for the power steering leak.
While there is not a bunch of oil (no drips on ground) I noticed red oil on the bottom of the st pump housing and a half drip hanging on.
I realize at 200k mi I am facing several pending chores.
Worth mentioning is my magnetic oil drain plug shows no magnetic "flour or shards". I keep up on fluid and filter changes, yet wonder about injectors and the potential for leaking inj lines.
Thanks go out to the help from the board!

 

[mtnram]

Update.
I've had little problem other than on two occasions after pulling to a stop light I noticed a faint smell of burnt oil.

I looked and looked and there is some dampness about the power steering steering pump. Along with this, the alternator started squalking so I picked one up and pulled down to the shop to do the r&r. Well as I crawled under the truck there is a puddle (5 tablespoons or so) of power steering fluid reservoir is nearly to the full make. I'm thinking wth.
After completing the alt,. I looked closely at the pump and at my regular parking spot in the front of house (I found no fluid there). THe pump was damp, can't tell where the fluid came from and why it would burp out fluid.
I suppose there is a leak I need to investigate to see if air is entering system (reservoir was clear red). I think I have a gremlin testing me.
THere is no leak around the new rocker box gasket and my alternator squeel is gone.

 

[mtnram]

As this appeared to be an engine oil issue, now in the wong section, If my fluid change process fails I'll start a new thread in the driveline section.
THank you again for assistance.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Some times when the hydraboost begins to leak the escaping nitrogen will force fluid out of the reservoir. bg

 

[mtnram]

Dang, right now this seems intermittent. Slight odor occasionally at stop, no other issues of puddle, YET fluid level dropping, and darkened up quickly.
Starting new thread in non-engine section after more reading and dx.