Where's the oil going?

[BSteele]

I have a 2006 Ram 3500 that has recently started going through oil at an astonishing rate - ( 1 qt. per 1000 mi. ). I have been using Amsoil 15w40 HDD/Marine

oil since the engine had around 10,000 mi. on it, also running an EaBP 100 bypass filter. The oil is changed at regular intervals of 12,000 - 15,000 mi. , with

oil samples sent in for analysis. There have been no unusual issues in the analysis reports. The normal oil usage for this engine had been 1 - 1. 5 qts. between oil changes. There are no visible leaks on the engine, and the exhaust shows no evidence of any blue smoke with engine under full load, just the usual amount of black smoke, which is not much. The crankcase vent hose is now putting out a fair amount of visible vapor, and most of the time there is a noticeable smell of hot oil outside the cab area. The engine is stock, with the exception of the bypass filter and a GDP secondary fuel filter installed at 10,000 mi. also. The engine has 132,000 mi. , I have owned the truck since it was new, and it is running fine with no abnormal indications of a problem. Any ideas as to cause and/or remedy of this oil consumption issue would be appreciated. Barry Steele Roswell N. M.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

That's a mystery for a lot of of us that has yet to be resolved. My 04. 5 has the same oil loss in between changes. Like you, I'm using a amsoil and a by-pass system.

Good luck finding the culprit. For the 70k+ miles, I've been losing oil somewhere and have yet to find where it's going.

 

[HBarlow]

My '06 had 230k miles on it when sold and never needed any oil added between changes. I used ordinary Shell Rotella 15/40 and Fleetguard filters and a change interval of 10k miles. Never had an oil sample done.

I ignore the owner's manual guidelines and all the common knowledge and do exactly the same with my '08 which now has 120k miles on the clock. It doesn't consume any noticeable amount of oil between changes either.

Can someone please explain the advantages of expensive synthetic oils, bypass filter set ups, and oil sampling?

 

[mfurrh55]

Might be getting by the turbo, have you checked your turbo to see if it's going out it?,monte

 

[BSteele]

Thanks for the reply JHawes - I'll keep researching this mystery and post anything relevant that I find. The only solution I've found so far is to keep adding oil!

 

[BSteele]

Not really sure how to check the turbo myself, and we're working six days a week right now with no time to take it to a shop. Wouldn't it be blowing a lot of smoke out the exhaust if the turbo was going bad?

 

[NIsaacs]

Subtle oil use can be hard to pin down. If it's not leaking, it is burning it, but how and where can be the question. Oil vapor out the blowby hose indicates rings/pistons/valve seals. Turbo can leak oil from either end. It would be hard to see smoke with 1 qt per 1000 miles.



Nick

 

[Wingate]

i get the same crankcase oil smell outside the cab. . thats not a concern to me as this is just a product of a diesel engine... If it had a CCV system like the 6. 7l, you would not smell it. My truck does not use oil though, but i do not run amsoil, I run Cat 15/40 dino oil.
As for your oil consumption, I would do the simple stuff first. At the next OCI, replace all filters and engine oil with a NON-Synthetic DEO and run the engine for 5K miles and monitor oil consumption. I would expect to find that the engine uses a small amount of oil at first, but then slows as the engine purges itself of the synthetic.

 

[rscurtis]

I use Amsoil series 3000 5/30 in my signature truck, and it uses no oil between changes, which I do at about 18K miles. Is the OP possibly using an aftermarket air filter assembly?

 

[JJPage]

Pull the boost hose and intake tube off your turbo and check for oil. If you have a failing journal bearing or seal on the compressor side of the turbo, you could be feeding oil into your intercooler and intake, and burning it. At a rate of 1 quart per 1000 miles you would be hard pressed to see any unusual smoke.

Once you have the intake tube off the turbo, you can check for shaft play. You should have some radial movement, but not enough to contact the compressor housing. There should be no axial play.

Jess

 

[TGVET]

I have a 2006 Ram 3500 that has recently started going through oil at an astonishing rate - ( 1 qt. per 1000 mi. ). I have been using Amsoil 15w40 HDD/Marine
oil since the engine had around 10,000 mi. on it, also running an EaBP 100 bypass filter. The oil is changed at regular intervals of 12,000 - 15,000 mi. , with
oil samples sent in for analysis. There have been no unusual issues in the analysis reports. The normal oil usage for this engine had been 1 - 1. 5 qts. between oil changes. There are no visible leaks on the engine, and the exhaust shows no evidence of any blue smoke with engine under full load, just the usual amount of black smoke, which is not much. The crankcase vent hose is now putting out a fair amount of visible vapor, and most of the time there is a noticeable smell of hot oil outside the cab area. The engine is stock, with the exception of the bypass filter and a GDP secondary fuel filter installed at 10,000 mi. also. The engine has 132,000 mi. , I have owned the truck since it was new, and it is running fine with no abnormal indications of a problem. Any ideas as to cause and/or remedy of this oil consumption issue would be appreciated. Barry Steele Roswell N. M.

That weight is not recommended for the 5. 9 Cummin's. You may want to check w/your dealer or go on the Amsoil site. 5/30 HDD is recommended according to my Amsoil distributor. I was going to use the 15/40 too but he said it's for the 6. 7's and marine use, Fords too. Also, it's unusual to be changing oil every 12 to 15K using the bypass system with is 5mic filtration when you could go many thousands more and use an oil analysis program. The purpose of the bypass is to conserve oil.

Just some thought's.

 

[AH64ID]

My '06 had 230k miles on it when sold and never needed any oil added between changes. I used ordinary Shell Rotella 15/40 and Fleetguard filters and a change interval of 10k miles. Never had an oil sample done.

I ignore the owner's manual guidelines and all the common knowledge and do exactly the same with my '08 which now has 120k miles on the clock. It doesn't consume any noticeable amount of oil between changes either.

Can someone please explain the advantages of expensive synthetic oils, bypass filter set ups, and oil sampling?

As always, without oil analysis you CANNOT make accurate comments about your oil and engine... but you have never been one to use facts to base your opinions.

 

[mfurrh55]

Brothers turbo bearing went out and he went through the same thing with his, replaced the turbo and it quit using oil, monte

 

[TGVET]

I use Amsoil series 3000 5/30 in my signature truck, and it uses no oil between changes, which I do at about 18K miles. Is the OP possibly using an aftermarket air filter assembly?

Pretty much a ditto other than I go 15K. 5/30HDD, EA080 filter. Also do the OE fuel and GDP fuel at the same time. 278K and not using a drop. Switching to CJ-4 5/40 next interval for summer time.