My detroit 4-71 is making a little oil! Fuel lines seem fine when running. Could it be injectors? Any help on where else to check would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt
Matt,
You didn't park it over an abondoned oil well did you? Just buy some 55 gallon drums and start filling them up and open a stand beside the road. This could help offset the cost of your fuel. :D
Sounds like an interesting question. Can't wait to see how Cliff and the guys figure this one out.
BTW, let me know when you get all of that extra oil off the side of your bus. Everyone wants to see an article about Beluga Bus so when you are ready, let me know and we will bring the cameras and a note pad to start the ball rolling.
I guess the first thing is to determine what fluid is getting into the oil. As you suggest, it could be fuel. But it could also be water. If you have power steering system, it could even be fluid from that.
Gary, thanks for the encouragment, sure could use some extra money from a mobil oil well. Hope to get together with you and get something done this summer.
Lin, no ps, does not look like water, oil has definitly thined out and has the smell of diesel. Have about 1500 miles since last oil change.
Matt,
Other than changing the oil have you done any other work or maintenance on the engine just before this new oil well sprung up?
Can you see where exactly the oil is leaking from? It may help to pressure wash your engine so you can see new oil leaks better. Otherwise it could be leaking out one side of the engine whilst driving down the road, especially valve covers and running to the opposite side of the engine throwing you off track.
If you could get someone to sew you a white engine shirt that fits snugly around the engine, then you could trace where the oil is coming from better. ;D
Gary, nothing done to that engine in a while. No new leaks on the ground, just the level on the dipstick has gone up since i last checked.
Matt
Were you on level ground when checking??>>>Dan
You might pull an oil sample to see exactly what is going on. Or put a drop of oil on a paper towel or glass and see what happens.
Hope you find it Matt!
Have you seen any blue-ish colored smoke coming out of your tailpipe?
Hi Matt. Did you check fuel lines under valve cover if you did if any have no oil around the Top of nut and where the tube goes through it then it is getting washed by fuel leaks at that one and it could be cracked or not tight. 11 to 15 ft/lbs Only. If they all have oil on their tops then might be an Injector leaking and would have to be pulled. 3rd thing would be the o rings under the head missing blown out, never put in when something was fixed etc. HTH
Dave5Cs
PS where you guys at?
Utah, its parked in the same place that i usually check the level, fairly level
Dreamscape, will have to pull a sample for testing, what should a drop do on a paper towel?
Ed, no unsual smoke out of the tail pipe, had it last out Memorial Day and all was good.
Dave, Pulled tha valve cover off today, looked good, ran it and saw no leaks. I'm in Long Beach, Ca
Thanks ,
Matt
Now check the fuel pump,before pulling any injectors.If you run the engine for about 15 min remove the valve cover and pour oil over the lines and injectors the oil will not puddle where fuel is leaking fwiw
I would pull the valve cover again and use brake clean to dry up the fuel lines and injectors. Then restart it and put pressure sideways on each fuel line to check for a cracked line. It might only leak with higher pressure and not normally leak at idle pressure. Also look for any fuel coming past an injector plunger. Next with it shut off, I would pull the fuel pump and inspect /replace the shaft seal to eliminate that.
Touch the freshly pulled dipstick to a folded paper towel, if there is diesel fuel in the oil you will have two rings, dark in the middle, and lighter around the outside.
If you have the coated fuel line (Endurion) they look like cooper don't over tighten those 13.5 lbs of torque max or they leak,the old black steel line you can take down to 15 to 18lbs without to much trouble, the fuel lines on the Detroit are a 1 time use only,so if you have removed the lines a couple of times checking the line you may need a new set
luvrbus, Andy, tested fuel lines, all still looks good. They look to be black steel fuel lines. Pulled the fuel pump, will replace shaft seal.
Double Eagle, the outer edge was lighter then the center
Is the shaft seal a common seal or do i have to get it at a DD part supplier?
Thanks,
Matt
The seal is a DD item about 8 bucks or Diesel Pro on line for $4.50 plus shipping
Thanks for the help, will hopefully get that done tomorrow, along with an oil change.
Matt
Quick Update: Went the safe route and replaced the fuel pump and filter, all the fuel lines, and had the injectors rebuilt. Still starts great and runs great, no smoke or visible leaks. Big test will be in a few weeks, headed out to flagstaff. Thanks for everyone help!
Matt
Quote from: Beluga Bus on June 28, 2016, 03:36:28 PM
Quick Update: Went the safe route and replaced the fuel pump and filter, all the fuel lines, and had the injectors rebuilt. Still starts great and runs great, no smoke or visible leaks. Big test will be in a few weeks, headed out to flagstaff. Thanks for everyone help!
Matt
:) that will cover it
Quote from: Beluga Bus on June 28, 2016, 03:36:28 PM
Quick Update: Went the safe route and replaced the fuel pump and filter, all the fuel lines, and had the injectors rebuilt. Still starts great and runs great, no smoke or visible leaks. Big test will be in a few weeks, headed out to flagstaff. Thanks for everyone help!
Matt
Matt, we just tried to stay at Flag last week. Every park was full, so we stayed at Williams on I40. It was a pleasant surprise, a very hip Route 66 throwback town. I recommend it if you strike out in Flag.
David
If you don't need hookups there is plenty of free camping at the Lowell Observatory,this weekend may different though,We stay at Sun Set Crater west of Flag nice campground but no hookups all paved spaces and roads
Our home base this trip is Kaibab Lake Campground, looks closer to Williams. No hookups but seems central to most we want to do. Did almost all of 66 last year, wanted to do much more in that area than we had time for.
Quote from: Beluga Bus on June 28, 2016, 07:54:10 PM
Our home base this trip is Kaibab Lake Campground, looks closer to Williams. No hookups but seems central to most we want to do. Did almost all of 66 last year, wanted to do much more in that area than we had time for.
We stay there also only bad thing this time of the years nats drive you crazy it is a nice campground fwiw there are no fish in the lake if you are into fishing,White Horse out from Williams on 4th street is a nice area too with good fishing both are around 8 miles from Williams.Good thing about Kaibab it is all paved roads White Horse is mostly gravel roads but good roads
Guess we will have to deal with the nats. Going with about 10 families, that campground has a large group site area. Since many like to fish, we can do a side trip to White Horse but i bet many would be there everyday. We are going on the railroad to the Grand Canyon. Many have children and we have plans to see the Wild Animal Park. May do a day trip to Flagstaff and/or Sedona. Any other must see places while there?
Besides the Bearizona Park there is also a Deer Farm kids enjoy there is plenty to do in the Williams. Enjoy your trip once you get to Kingman the weather will start cooling off but from Barstow to Kingman is going to be hot,hot it was 118 here today 8 miles north of Needles where we live.Fwiw they have a big swap,flea market on Sat and Sun across the street from Safeway in Williams,if need food supplies Safeway is the only show in town and that area
Last year it was 115 in Needles when we did 66. A real test of the cooling and A/C. The driver overheated and we stayed in Seligman. This year i plan to stop and stay in Lauglin/Bullhead, how is AZ68 from that area to Kingman, as far as grade goes?
Quote from: Beluga Bus on June 28, 2016, 09:30:54 PM
Last year it was 115 in Needles when we did 66. A real test of the cooling and A/C. The driver overheated and we stayed in Seligman. This year i plan to stop and stay in Lauglin/Bullhead, how is AZ68 from that area to Kingman, as far as grade goes?
It is a 6% grade for 8 miles when you leave Laughlin to Union Pass take it nice and easy you will be ok it's 4 lanes,you will have plenty of company in the right lane,it can be a killer in the 115*+ this time of the year