Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Suction tube rattling against oil pan?

[Dennis Garrett]

For weeks, I've been trying to pin down a new rattle. It's a quiet, low pitched, hollow rattle, or flutter, I get idling or moving. When moving it's louder. It's definately NOT affected by RPM, it always rattles at nearly the same rate. I've been over that truck from one end to the other, and finally decided it is coming from the oil pan. When I lay on my back, and press a folded shop towel agains the shallow end of the pan, it quits, or is absorbed. I thought at first it was a bad balancer, but I took it over to Cummins Mid-America in KC, and they seemed to think it had to be the suction tube contacting the pan some place. Has anyone had the pan off & seen this tube? In the Haynes manual, it has an elbow with two screws, and bolts up to the block on the right front corner. It looks like it runs to the driver's side, then must go back to a pickup in the sump. Are there any hangers or other points of attatchment? Can these loosen up and rattle? The pan doesn't come out with out taking the transmission out, but the engine can be jacked up enough to lower the pan a few inches. Might be able to tighten the bolts, but I doubt if the suction pipe can be removed. It's annoying, but I think I need to get in there & fix it. What else is in there that could rattle on the pan, or make that noise?

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by Dennis Garrett

What else is in there that could rattle on the pan, or make that noise?

An escaped KDP? If it was the pickup tube I would think your oil pump would suck air and the oil pressure would be low especially when cold. Next time before you change oil try to identify exactly where the sound is coming from with a stethoscope. After the oil has drained sweep a magnet or bent rod over the area and see if you find anything.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

Done did the KDP fix this spring. Yesterday I drained the oil,

and tried to fish around in the pan with a magnet, going up through the drainhole. Didn't have much success, wanted to stick to everything. I took a 1/4" brass rod, bent it to fit, and tried to feel around for anything loose in the pan, but everything felt tight, but I'm not sure what that end of the tube is supposed to look like or where it is exactly. The dealer here in town won't even look at it, so tomorrow, I'm headed for a 5 scar dealer south of here, that sells & works on a lot of diesels, and see if they can figure it out. One person thought there was a strap that supports the tube in there someplace, maybe that's it.

 

[CPFF]

The oil pans are a double wall with epoxy glueing the inner "panels" to the outer pan shell -- To muffle the noise.

Maybe a inner section came loose in one spot??



CPFF

 

[Dennis Garrett]

Well, that's a new one on me, hadn't heard that before, but that might be what I'm hearing. I did notice there is a pressed channel across the front of the pan bottom, must be for the tube to clear the bottom. It must lay fairly close to the pan at that point, I've thought about putting a jact against it, and making an upward "dent" maybe to support the tube, but I think I'll try to lower the pan first & take a look.