Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Oil smell from heater and disappearing oil

[ndurbin]

I've noticed a slight oil smell from my heater every now and then. I don't have any oil in the anitfreeze or vice versa.



There's a slight oil leak from the front main seal but isn't bad yet. thats going to get addressed by the end of the month. I'll run about 3,000 miles on an oil change and when I drain the oil out I usually get about 3-4 qts. out of it. When I pull a trailer it looses oil faster. On one 150 mile trip w/ the trailer it used up all the oil.



Loosing this much oil I would think there'd be a massive oil leak somewhere but the only leak I can find is a small one from the front main. Since I can't find an external leak it makes me wonder if something internally is wrong.



TIA

Nathan

 

[FreeBMW]

You are saying when you drain the oil after 3k miles you only get 3-4 qts out????





Doing raw numbers that means you are down 7 qts !!!:--)





Thats scary!!! If i read right and you are burning 7 qts between changes I would be VERY worried!!!

 

[ndurbin]

Yes you read right 3-4 qts when I drain the oil.



I've been in worse stituations. Oil seals blow on the turbo in the middle of a trip pulling a trailer (that went thru a whole case in a 120 miles to get home), the engine blowing, loosing a transmission not once not twice but three times.



No offense intended but I know it isnt good I just dont know what the heck is wrong with it.

 

[CumminsPower98]

Any chance it could be going out through the turbo maybe on the exhaust side?

 

[ndurbin]

Theres alil smoke at start up but clears up pretty quick.

 

[FreeBMW]

no oil in the coolant you say... .





Have you addressed the KDP?









Try putting a pop bottle on the blow by tube under the truck near the front axle... . see if you get a bunch in there..... that can help to determine if its internal.





Best of luck... . please let us know what you find.

 

[ndurbin]

KDP hasn't been addressed yet.



I just got in from changing the oil and looking the truck over really good.



I got about 6-7 qts. out of the engine @ this oil change. Looked the drives side of the engine over and it's really oily and crudy around the vacuum/power steering pump. Also there was a light film of oil on the frame next to the blow-by tube.



Also yesterday it took the heater forever to warmup. and then it still wasn't all that warm. temps were @ about 20-30* when I started it up after it'd been plugged in.

 

[ndurbin]

The oil smell from the heater seems to be worse when the truck is idling and the defroster is on.

 

[DMC]

First of all you have a dipstick on your engine to help you know when to add oil. USE IT!!!!!!!! Keep the oil level in the safe zone on the stick. I hope you are in error when you say you have lost around 8 quarts of oil between oil changes. Your engine is supposed to hold around 12 quarts, when properly filled.



You may have a problem with the oil cooler. You should get your antifreeze analized if you cant determine if there is any oil in it. With the amount of oil you are losing I would have to imagine that the oil would be obvious in your coolant. You might check your colling system carefully for leaks also.



I see from your profile that you have somewhere around 240K on your engine. How long have you had that POS K&N air filter on there? You may have dusted your motor.



I would also take an oil sample and get it analized.



What kind and weight oil are you using?



Your oil usage needs to be determined and remedied soon.



Good luck



Don

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

The oil smell from the heater seems to be worse when the truck is idling and the defroster is on.

Sounds to me like the oil smell is coming from your blowby tube and getting sucked into the cab. I gather from the rest of the post you probably have blowby big time. You can extend the blowby tube past the cab if the smell bothers you. Now your oil consumption is another story... K+N s have taken out a few engines as DMC said.

 

[ndurbin]

I know what the dipstick is. When it dropped the eight quarts that was the first time I noticed something was wrong. Since then I've watched it more carefully. If it was caused by the K&N then their sure going to pay for a new motor or whatever needs to be done.



I use Rottela 15W-40 and always have. I use either mobil or mopar filters (usually depends on which is easier/closer to get at the time).



Alittle more history about the engine. The engine blew not long after I bought the truck from abuse from the previous owners. The block only has about 105,000 miles on it now. I've changed the oil every 3000 miles. All mods where done within the last 24,000 miles. I've cleaned the K&N four times since I've put it in. works out to about twice a year and it's about do for another cleaning.

 

[ndurbin]

since it's a blow-by problem more than likely. I should have a drop in compression right? Other than bad rings what could cause the drop? I'll have access to a compression gauge next week, what should I expect to see? I read some posts and found 440 psi +/- 15.

 

[DMC]

That sounds about right on the compression. You really should submit an oil sample and a coolant sample for analysis. I do not believe that the K&N air filter is suited to this motor unless it is operated in a sterile environment.



You need to know what is going on with your coolant/oil relationship, in order to protect the motor. If you will consult your manual you wll see what I meant by looking at a possible problem with the oil cooler.



Good Luck



Don

 

[ndurbin]

I plan on doing a coolant and oil sample at the same time I check compression and the oil cooler for any obvious signs.



If the truck had come with a manual I sure as heck would look at it but being the poor college student w/ a 1 yr old daughter that I am, I haven't had the chance to get a factory service manual that I want and need.

 

[ndurbin]

I've done the compression check and checked fuel pressure both were okay. Had a bad overflow vavle also that I replaced.



After I did all this I had to pull my trailer and it may sound a bit weird but with the new overflow valve it didn't burn near as much oil as it useto. And the oil smell at idle is barely there now.



I'm going to try to figure out where the oil drips from the front are coming from this weekend with some oil dye.