Increasing Oli Level

[Beluga Bus]

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

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

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.

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.

[Lin]

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.

[Beluga Bus]

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.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

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. 

[Beluga Bus]

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

[Utahclaimjumper]

 Were you on level ground when checking??>>>Dan

[Dreamscape]

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!

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Have you seen any blue-ish colored smoke coming out of your tailpipe?

[Dave5Cs]

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?

[Beluga Bus]

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

[luvrbus]

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   

[Andy T]

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.

[DoubleEagle]

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.

[luvrbus]

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