Please see pictures. I need some help

[CRutledge]

Yesterday I was inspecting underneath my truck and noticed a few things that concern me and I am hoping you guys can help me out.

One picture is some type of sensor i am guessing and the support arm, both of which had a fair amount of oil residue all over each. I should have taken a before and after picture sorry. No signs of oil in the driveway and the dipstick reading isnt changing. Could this be blow-by or do i have a hidden oil leak? If it is a leak what are the possibities as to where its coming based on oil being on these areas? I have noticed lately that my rpms will bounce a little. Last night i came to a stop and looked down and the rpm was at 500, i kept driving and it never did it again and stayed at about 700-750 when idling. I have not had any codes come up but i have not tried to switch the key on and off either. I guess i should do that.

The next picture is on the oposite side just behind the fan. I am trying to figure out where this oil residue is coming from.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Looks like the crank pos. sensor. How about a couple pics from further away to get our bearings? What year truck?

 

[foolkiller]

i don't know if the picture is not doing this leak justice or what... . but this doesn't look all that bad.



the sensor is your crank position sensor. pretty simple to clean or replace. it's held on with an allen screw to that tab that it pokes through. i suppose some of the residue could be in the connection there. a problem with that sensor causing an idle change makes a little sense.



the oil could be from the block OR possibly power steering fluid although it doesn't look like power steering fluid. it all looks the same once it's mixed with dirt though. if there's not enough fluid to make a drip or two in the drive way, it's likely not a big problem.



that set up looks like a newer truck, i think that eliminates the blowby tube exit as it's located aft of this spot. possibly a leak where the blowby tube leaves the block??



i'll look at my truck tonight to see if i can come up with an idea.



j

 

[CRutledge]

Its an 06 5. 9. I will try and get some better pictures zoomed out.

funny you mentioned the power sterring fluid because i checked the fluid level the other day and the level was ok but maybe i didnt get the cap back on good enough?? i notice some oil residue on the steering box? have no idea if that's the correct name but its a large cast iron unit at the end of the steering linkage below the radiater. oil residue as on top and sides.

 

[BDuffy]

could be a leak from the cp3 [high pressure fuel pump] not to unusual there would be a small drip on the bottom mount bolt of the pump mine stops in the summer bin changed once,crank sensor which you show can get wet.

 

[CRutledge]

What is the best source so i can identify all these parts? I have not been able to find a 2006 service manual.

So BDuffy, not much to worry about with this oil residue

 

[BDuffy]

you are at the best source to ID parts and problems, I do not have a camera but if you do a search for leaking cp3 pump you will get some good views of the pump, if it smells like oil it may not be the pump. Mine has dripped during cooled weather for 3 years and not got any worse. Had a new pump put on in 06 which did the same.

 

[foolkiller]

just got out from under my truck trying to come up with some idea... .



i was way off with the blowby tube. i'd always assumed it came off the block at the same location as my 99 with a long tube to carry it aft. looks like it leaves the block much further aft..... then the longer tube.



good news is mine is nice and dry... . there was a tiny bit of seepage from my cp3 and that is consistent with bduffy's posts. i had to look pretty hard for it.



bad news is i don't have much to add for you otherwise. if there's nothing leaking bad enough to make a drip and all fluid levels look good, don't sweat it. ofcourse with that said... . if it were my truck, i'd probably sweat it, wipe everything down real nice and track the source down. not that i'd be able to do anything about it once i found it.



try geno's for manuals.



good luck, j

 

[Wingate]

is all the oil on the drivers side?. . Or is there some on the front of the engine on the passenger side. This assuming that the balancer is the centerline. Could be a slight crankshaft seal leak.

Another thought is if you have recently had an oil change that either some was spilled, or the filter is quite tight enough... . Look at the bottom of the oil filter and see if there is a drop of oil hanging on the bottom of it.

Hope its nothing serious...

 

[rbattelle]

As has already been pointed out, that's your crank position sensor. Mine also has some oil on it (never enough to actually drip), and has been that way for probably 4 years and 70000 miles. It's nothing to be concerned about unless a larger leak develops.



I don't believe your RPM issue has anything to do with the CPS, although it's certainly possible. The thing is, there's also a cam position sensor which acts as something of a redundant system with the crank sensor. If your crank sensor were acting up enough to cause RPM to drop to 500, the check engine light would come on.



Your real problem probably lies with the fuel system. Here are some threads where your symptoms have been discussed:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/5-9l-engine-transmissions-2003-2007/208141-new-injectors-same-problem.html?highlight=RPM+drop+500

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/5-9l-engine-transmissions-2003-2007/201559-truck-shutter-rpm-drop.html

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/5-9l-engine-transmissions-2003-2007/79598-truck-dies.html



Ryan

 

[CRutledge]

Most of the oil residue is on the drivers side. I have noticed that my rpm's will drop to 500 then back to normal. I wonder if the stock gauge is bad? The engine seems to sound the same. Its smooth and quite. No warning lights come on. How do you check for codes? Do you cycle the ignition on/off 3 times? I did clean or degrease all around the areas shown in the pictures and will keep an eye on things,with hopes to find the problem. Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. I appreciate it.

Chad

 

[Bartlett]

Chad if it makes you feel any better my 04. 5 with 73k has the same oil residue on it. Looks just like the pic you posted. It looks worse when road grime sticks to it. Also think some my be from my cp3 as you get a whiff of diesel and sometimes it looks like it has a film of diesel on it but no visible drips. At first I got a little concerned but now it is in the same file as the oil spot under my Harley. Sorry that I couldnt add anything more constructive but I will be following this thread.
Mike

 

[CRutledge]

Well last night when i got home i removed the crankshaft position sensor and cleaned it really well. I also checked the wire that is underneath the oil filter that some have posted saying the wire can rub exposing the copper wire causing a miss or rpm jump, i went ahead and secured the wire better with a plastic cover but the rpm gauge is still jumping up and down.



Also i noticed this morning as the temp was in the mid 40's and the grid heater cycled as normal and the engine sounded good even when the rpm's were still dropping to 500, but after I got to work and my truck was completely warmed up by then the grid heater still cycled. Is this based on the oustide temp more so than the temp of the engine?



I think i will order a new crankshaft sensor and see if that fixes the problem.