Oil leak?

rube2112 · 08-10-2018, 04:52 PM

I just finished my conversion and made my first trip from Ohio to Florida. I just checked the oil and I lost 1 1/2 gallons of oil. There seems to be more oil on the passenger side of the engine coming from up high but i can't tell for sure yet where it's coming from. What are some things for me to check? Thanks, Robb

nevrenufhp · 08-10-2018, 07:52 PM

What engine are you working with? How old?

rube2112 · 08-10-2018, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevrenufhp

What engine are you working with? How old?

Oh sorry... T444e. 2002.83k miles

roach711 · 08-10-2018, 08:31 PM

If it's dripping down the side of the engine I'd look for bad valve cover gaskets. The high pressure oil pump (HPOP) is up on top of the engine but when it leaks you'll usually see oil flowing down the engine valley and dripping back by the torque converter housing. A leak in one of the HPOP oil lines going to the heads could spray oil all over. There isn't much oil related stuff on the passenger side of the engine, at least not on the Powerstroke version of it.

The engine oil cooler is mounted low on the driver's side behind the oil filter mount. Those can leak but you wouldn't expect to see oil on the passenger side.

The hunt begins

cadillackid · 08-11-2018, 12:42 AM

definitely hop up and loom down into the valley thats in the center of the engine.. thats most often where oil leaks originate as roach mentioned... the biggest issue on the poassenger side is if the oil dipstick tube has gotten loose or god forbid the nut came off.. then you would have opil leaking out of the area where the dipstick tube fits into the engine..

if the oil cap filler tube is loose then you'll get oil around its O-ring on the right side valve cover..

otherwise as mentioned most stuff is on the driver side or manifests itself in the rear of the engine..
-Christopher

rube2112 · 08-12-2018, 08:00 AM

Ok it's not on the passenger side like I thought. I just let the engine warm up and gave it a good look and there is oil dripping pretty fast out of the front of the air compressor. I'm in the middle of a trip so I'm going to have to fix this if anybody knows someone that could fix this as cheap as possible I would appreciate it. I am in the Dunedin Florida area

EastCoastCB · 08-12-2018, 08:20 AM

Figure out what part of the compressor is leaking. Are you able to rebuild it yourself if needed?
If not the compressor on your engine is easy to replace. Idk how much one costs but I know they're not hard to replace.

rube2112 · 08-12-2018, 08:26 AM

I'm sure I could.... I'm boondocking in an area that isn't really easy tear the pump down. I'm pretty sure all I'd have to do is remove the belt, pull the front housing off the compressor, and replace the seal. Not so easy while traveling... And not sure how hard the part would be to get.

cadillackid · 08-12-2018, 09:35 AM

is it leaking around the shaft and running down? there are a couple oil lines attached to the compressor... one at the back and then one under the bottom.. the bottom of the compressor is open and sits on a base and there is a gasket between the base and the compressor.. if its running out the bottom and not out the shaft you can opull the compressor and replace the gasket.. or make your own makeshift gasket out of a serial box.. (not a corrugated box)..

replacing the compressor.. if its leaking at the shaft you can get a reman unit.. call navistar dealer and tell them you need a new compressor.. they will give you a crazy high price and ask for the navistar part number.. armed with the navistar part number you can cross reference to an aftermarket remanufactured unit.. they will be a few hundred bux.. and can be ordered.. i got mine from finditparts

to change it get to an autozone and rent a gear / pulley puller (free loan a tool).. make sure you have a decent breaker bar to disengage the serp belt..

oitherwise general sockets and wrenches..

-Christopher

rube2112 · 08-12-2018, 09:45 AM

Thanks.... Its dripping from the shaft. Actually, the international part number is right on the pump.

rube2112 · 08-12-2018, 09:51 AM

Here it is...

cadillackid · 08-12-2018, 10:33 AM

One other thing to check is that your draft vent tube is not blocked or if you have a draft recirc device that it is clear.

The draft tube is a pipe that goes from the driver side valve cover and points down into the open . When idling it’s normal to see a little smoke.,if there is none then take off your oil fill cap while the engine idles and see if you get a decent amount. If so then that tube could be blocked allowing for crankcase pressure to build up and blow oil out that compressor seal. Not likely just a thought before you get too deep in this.
Christopher

rube2112 · 08-12-2018, 11:19 AM

Thanks I'll check that too. I'm pretty sure it's clear... I've seen it before.

cadillackid · 08-12-2018, 11:39 AM

you have the same compressor as i had..

this is what I replaced mine with..

https://www.finditparts.com/products..._source=orders

-Christopher

rube2112 · 08-12-2018, 12:12 PM

Do you know how hard it is to replace that front seal? I found the part and it's $10

cadillackid · 08-12-2018, 01:09 PM

im not sure on those... on a lot of things it involves needing a press.. if the bearing and seal is one part, might just be a snap ring holding it in...

-Christopher

rube2112 · 08-12-2018, 01:32 PM

This is supposed to be the one I have....

rube2112 · 08-13-2018, 01:14 PM

Okay, I located a seal for the front of the compressor, and I located a place to work on the bus, and now it's not leaking a single drop. Yesterday it was leaking hard out of the front steel of the compressor and today absolutely nothing. I'm wondering if I should be looking harder at the engine breather.

cadillackid · 08-13-2018, 01:58 PM

before you go changinbg the seal.. have you pulled the belt and made sure that the bearing on the compressor is good? ie see if you can jiggle it back and forth?

also when you sday its not leaking today, are you driving the bus or just starting and idle? rotating seals often change properties as they get hot and cold.. ive had more than one seal leak when its cold and not hot, and vice versa... and also the engine under load.. compressor is running more than staying off.. after that pumps up that compressor shaft is no longer under load until the air leaks down and governor kicks on... that can slightly change the position of the shaft / temperature, etc.
-Christopher

rube2112 · 08-13-2018, 02:17 PM

Yes there is no play in the shaft. That's the first thing I checked. The times I've seen it leak were at operating temp. I've checked it today at idle and at 2000 rpm with compressor at idle, and under load. It was leaking earlier today for sure because I saw the puddle. It sure isn't now. I just pulled the breather and it seems clear to me.

You may also like: