Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Rising oil level

[TRCM]

I noticed the other day (about 4 days after I changed the oil) that the oil level had gone up. I drained it back down, thinking maybe I put too much oil in it. And now, less than 100 miles later, it has risen again by about 1/2 qt.



What could be causing this ?? The oil won't burn (but I'm not sure if that trick works with diesel like it does with gas), and there are no signs of water in the oil or vice versa.



My limited oil burner smarts tells me it may be an internal pump leak, or maybe a bad injector.



Anyone care to point me in the direction I need to go to find & fix it ??

 

[NMongeau]

When you drained the oil did you let it sit for a while before draining it? I've heard that CTD cylinder heads can hold up to 2 quarts of oil. If you did you could try sending an oil sample out to be tested. My shop uses a company called oilscan all the time. They are fairly quick and accurate.

 

[TRCM]

I did notice that.



I let it drain for a long time, and then I had an extra quart of oil that came with the truck, so I poured it in thinking I could wash some more stuff out, but I never saw that quart of oil come back out. I figured maybe it came right out and I missed it, but now, I'm thinking not.



The oil doesn't really smell like diesel, or at least not very strong. It does smell like the exhaust, or soot tho.



I'm gonna make some calls tomorrow and see if there is a place local that can check the oil sample for me.



Funny thing is, tonight, the oil level is back down about 1/2 of what it was up last night.

 

[Jeff H]

Check your oil for fuel dilusion. Issue could be pump related??

Your pump is lubed with engine oil also. This could be the source?

 

[mechanic]

I did notice that.



I let it drain for a long time, and then I had an extra quart of oil that came with the truck, so I poured it in thinking I could wash some more stuff out, but I never saw that quart of oil come back out. I figured maybe it came right out and I missed it, but now, I'm thinking not.



The oil doesn't really smell like diesel, or at least not very strong. It does smell like the exhaust, or soot tho.



I'm gonna make some calls tomorrow and see if there is a place local that can check the oil sample for me.



Funny thing is, tonight, the oil level is back down about 1/2 of what it was up last night.

The owners manual in my 98 12 valve says that the P7100 pump holds about 2 qrts. of oil that drains down over a prolonged stand, ie, overnight or longer. This oil is not counted in the capacity of the crank case. Just turn the engine off and let it stand for several minutes, say 5 to 10 and check the oil. Use the same procedure every the time and see if it gains oil. If not, then it is ok. If it does then one of the pumps (lift or injector) is most likely leaking into crankcase.

Good luck.

 

[Extreme1]

Check the oil at the same time, same situation. Like mentioned above, if you check it after driving, it will be higher than if you let it sit overnight. I recall that the full and add lines are set to be checked after the truck sits for several hours and cools down. Also, there was a TSB on the early second gen dipsticks that allowed another quart capacity. Instead of buying the new stick from Dodge I just added an extra quart at the next change (back when that was a regular task) and "marked" the new full line on the dipstick.



I learned the new marking method here and it's something I've done to all my vehicles since: take a file and file a notch in the edge of the dipstick at the lines. It's a lot easier to see!

 

[Andy Redmond]

Lets clarify a couple of things here:



1. You will not get two more quarts out during a "drain down" over night (not in a b-series in one of our trucks).



2. The lift pump is not oiled (well maybe a tablespoon full from the cam splashing the plunger).



3. The injection pump (bottom half is lubed) from the fitting on the back side of the pump facing the cylinder head (braided line from the oil rifle up behind the pump).



Most of the oil resides in the pump after engine shutdown, you can pull the pump timing pin cover and drain 1/2-3/4 of a qt. Its return passage is into the gear housing.



4. Similiarly the vacuum pump is typically fed off the same tee in the oil rifle that the injection pump is fed from and is returned to the pan thru the gear housing. A couple of teaspoons remain inside the v pump after engine shutdown.



5. Turbo charger and engine oil cooler don't hold enough oil to change a dipstick reading like this.



Let it sit a few minutes to get an accurate stick reading. One qt in the filter and 10 more thru the filler neck at oil change time. If you don't wait for the entire qt. to fill the oil filter put the remainder into the engine with the other ten. You can get it close (when using gallon jugs) by filling then installing the filter, adding the rest of that jug to the engine leaving one qt in the jug, then adding two gallons of oil. Oh, granted that the drain plug was reinstalled or now your pan maybe running over! :-laf Now you have a spare of oil qt. for makeup oil if it leaks or uses a little between change intervals.



If you are certain of the checking technique and the oil level continues to rise you likely have coolant getting into the oil (headgasket or oil cooler) or fuel dillution. Usually the pungent odor and runny oil will show on the stick if its fueling into the oil pan a qt or two per day, as you described. Very long with coolant and it will get the oil milky. FYI the cooler usually leaks into the radiator, but I've changed some that were rotted out pretty bad, in conjuction with a leaky headgasket that was contributing to the milky oil too.



Good luck

Andy

 

[mechanic]

Lets clarify a couple of things here:



1. You will not get two more quarts out during a "drain down" over night (not in a b-series in one of our trucks).



2. The lift pump is not oiled (well maybe a tablespoon full from the cam splashing the plunger).



3. The injection pump (bottom half is lubed) from the fitting on the back side of the pump facing the cylinder head (braided line from the oil rifle up behind the pump).



Most of the oil resides in the pump after engine shutdown, you can pull the pump timing pin cover and drain 1/2-3/4 of a qt. Its return passage is into the gear housing.



4. Similiarly the vacuum pump is typically fed off the same tee in the oil rifle that the injection pump is fed from and is returned to the pan thru the gear housing. A couple of teaspoons remain inside the v pump after engine shutdown.



5. Turbo charger and engine oil cooler don't hold enough oil to change a dipstick reading like this.



Let it sit a few minutes to get an accurate stick reading. One qt in the filter and 10 more thru the filler neck at oil change time. If you don't wait for the entire qt. to fill the oil filter put the remainder into the engine with the other ten. You can get it close (when using gallon jugs) by filling then installing the filter, adding the rest of that jug to the engine leaving one qt in the jug, then adding two gallons of oil. Oh, granted that the drain plug was reinstalled or now your pan maybe running over! :-laf Now you have a spare of oil qt. for makeup oil if it leaks or uses a little between change intervals.



If you are certain of the checking technique and the oil level continues to rise you likely have coolant getting into the oil (headgasket or oil cooler) or fuel dillution. Usually the pungent odor and runny oil will show on the stick if its fueling into the oil pan a qt or two per day, as you described. Very long with coolant and it will get the oil milky. FYI the cooler usually leaks into the radiator, but I've changed some that were rotted out pretty bad, in conjuction with a leaky headgasket that was contributing to the milky oil too.



Good luck

Andy

I have to say that I was / am a bit skeptical about the 2 quarts being held in the injector pump, I did say that the owners manual said that, not that I had seen it. My 94 would drain about 3/4 of a quart over night. I know that the lift pump would not drain down enough to matter, what I said about it was that it may be a source of fuel getting into the oil. Hope that clears up any misunderstanding of what I posted.



One more thought, a long shot, in the dark at that, may be to be sure someone is not yanking your chain and adding oil when your not aroundjust to make you sweet. ?????