Sudden Oil Leak: DD Series 40/DT 530E

eagle19952 · September 15, 2015, 10:01:08 AM

Quote from: azdieselman on September 15, 2015, 09:24:10 AM
No need to "build" any devices, They are already available. There's a few pipe plugs in the head below the t-stat. I would limit the pressure to 15 psi. If it won't leak, you can go to 20. Your cap may vent somewhere in between. If you have a block heater, Plug it in.

my device is already built

but yours is easier, just might lose a bit of coolant.
either way a warm/hot engine will tell you more.

Lostranger · September 16, 2015, 10:15:23 AM

Ran the pressure test today. The expansion tank had a couple of convenient 1/4" FPT ports. I knew in advance that we would get water through the pan drain with the oil and plug removed. That's where the water was ending up to start with. Fifteen pounds of pressure was enough to push lots of water out the oil drain.

What we also found was a lot of water coming from the oil cooler. The air is down, and a low floor is—well—low, so it was impossible to pinpoint the leak. I'll get it jacked and blocked. Then I'm going to remove the oil cooler and pressure test it separately. If the cooler is bad, I'll buy one and install it. If the cooler tests good, I'll reinstall it. Either way, we can than run the pressure test again. If we still get water through the oil drain, we'll drop the pan and pressure test again.

All helpful comment welcome at this point.

Jim H.

luvrbus · September 16, 2015, 11:40:21 AM

I just wish you luck and hope it is not the liner seals or liners,the 92 series get a bad rap about the liner seals leaking but all engines with water around the liners have the same problem when overheated

good luck

azdieselman · September 16, 2015, 12:54:52 PM

Is the oil cooler leaking internally or externally? If it's external and just leaking on the ground, I'd pull the pan and find the source of all the internal leaks first.

You could have a failed H/G, Liner or o-ring, Front cover o-ring or a combination thereof.

You also have to consider the air comp, But that is less likely.

If you want to do this once, You need to know where all the leaks are first.

azdieselman · September 16, 2015, 12:55:08 PM

Is the oil cooler leaking internally or externally? If it's external and just leaking on the ground, I'd pull the pan and find the source of all the internal leaks first.

You could have a failed H/G, Liner or o-ring, Front cover o-ring or a combination thereof.

You also have to consider the air comp, But that is less likely.

If you want to do this once, You need to know where all the leaks are first.

azdieselman · September 16, 2015, 12:56:05 PM

Sorry about the double post.

Stupid computer!!!!

Lostranger · September 16, 2015, 01:45:01 PM

Dieselman, I'm happy to have as many posts from you as you see fit.

Are you telling me that it is impossible for the oil cooler to be the total source of my water infiltration? If that is the case, I will pull the pan first. I was merely trying to eliminate the oil cooler as a potential problem first.

Whatever the problem is, it is not subtle. We had a gusher at the drain plug while I was holding pressure on the cooling system. Is that consistent with a bad O-ring? If you tell me that the cooler cannot possibly be the source of my problem, I'll pull the pan tomorrow.

Thanks again.

Jim

azdieselman · September 16, 2015, 03:29:44 PM

Anything's possible. In my experience, A cooler that was leaking coolant that heavily should also have large amounts of oil in the cooling system.

I believe that you seen a leak at the cooler, I just don't think that's gonna be the end of it.

I would pull the pan before I opened the system and lost the ability to pressurize it further.

Get a good flashlight and it's best if there is someone else available to rotate the engine if needed.

PS, Don't wear your favorite clothes for this job.

luvrbus · September 22, 2015, 11:44:24 AM

Any updates yet Jim ?

uncle ned · September 23, 2015, 10:29:54 AM

Yes Jim any up dates. Just 2 weeks till the non rally.

Will I need to come through Marion and use HUGGY to pull you down to Palmetto Cove.

uncle ned

luvrbus · October 08, 2015, 05:36:24 AM

No word from Jim in month must not have been good news ,I hope it was a simple fix for him

LuckyChow · October 08, 2015, 07:15:23 AM

I talked to him last week. The rain storms in SC delayed him from working on it. Maybe he's made some progress by now.

eagle19952 · October 08, 2015, 11:54:54 AM

Quote from: LuckyChow on October 08, 2015, 07:15:23 AM
I talked to him last week. The rain storms in SC delayed him from working on it. Maybe he's made some progress by now.

14 dams have burst, i am thinking it may be a few more days till SC. is back to normal..

Scott & Heather · October 08, 2015, 12:48:28 PM

Worst case scenario, the bus flooded and insurance will buy him a new one

ok. I can hope for him can't i?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

azdieselman · October 08, 2015, 01:52:24 PM

Everyone knows that flooding will ruin a head gasket.