Smoke from the oil filler tube?

[coW52Dodge]

Today I was fiddling around with my idle because it was high and noticed a slight bit of smoke coming from under the exhaust manifold. Initially I thought it was some spillage from my penetrating oil but it didn't really stop. It wasn't pouring out but just a trail of smoke, as if some oil had spilled onto the manifold.

When I stopped the engine, I noticed some slight smoke coming out of the oil filler tube. I don't remember seeing that before but haven't really run the engine very much as I'm still working on the truck.

The oil level is normal and smells normal.

I don't see evidence of gas or water being present. My head temperature gauge is not hooked up (the PO cut the line) so have no idea how hot I'm running.

The only thing different from before is that I've changed the oil a week or two back and replaced a metal filter (didn't seem to do anything) with a sock filter, as seems to the normal filter for this truck.

Could this be blocking oil flow somehow?

.. And, while I have your attention, is there a way to hook the original temperature gauge back up?

Rem

1952 B3B

[Don Coatney]

In a healthy engine there should be no or very little oil vapor coming out of the oil fill tube with the engine running. If you can see or feel any pulsations when you cover the oil fill tube with the palm of your hand most likely you have a piston ring issue causing blow by.

[TodFitch]

Worn rings will cause blow-by into the crankcase. Which will exit either the oil filler or the road draft tube and can look like smoke. If your compression is up, I would not worry too much.

If you don't like the smell or would like your oil to stay cleaner longer and don't want to rebuild your motor, install a PCV system.

Other than bolting it in, what do you mean by "is there a way to hook the original temperature gauge back up?". Sure you can. If someone has cut off the capillary tubing you can splice a new one on, but you should follow some instructions on that operation:

http://www.ply33.com/Repair/tempgauge

[coW52Dodge]

Thanks for those suggestions, including the info on how to fix the temperature gauge.

I went back out just now to look at it again and don't feel any pulsing with my hand over the filler tube. The engine runs like a clock, very smoothly.

One weird thing was that the oil stick measured over full.

This will sound stupid but am absolutely positive that I only used five quarts - there are five empties, now used them to store the old oil. This sock filter takes in a lot more space than t the filter the PO had used. Could that be a problem, somehow?

I drained off a bit of the oil bringing it up just to max and the smoke seems to be gone now.

On 52 half tons, an oil change requires five quarts, right?

Edited July 23, 2009 by coW52Dodge
spelling

[grey beard]

Mr. Cow52,

Something doesn't sound right here. My 1948 Pilothouse takes over six quarts to fill the engine. I wonder if your filter lines may be clogged, or if something is keeping the oil from reaching the filter. Were I you, I would wait till the engine is cool, and carefully loosen the lid on your filter cannister to verify that oil is indeed reaching the filter element. If it is not, you may need to do a little research. Sounds to me like you are just filling the oil pan and nothing more.

Don't know how long you've owned the truck, or what sort of maintenance it got with the PO. What did the oil you pulled out look like? Was it dirty? You may have a crankcase with a bunch of sludge in it that could account for the smoke/condensation you notice coming from the filler tube. The very best way to get a healh certificate on your engine's cleanliness is to remove the front (easiest to get to) valve pan cover and take a gander inside. If it's squeaky clean, you've really got a winner.

Let us know what you find.

Good Luck

[coW52Dodge]

Mr. Cow52,

Something doesn't sound right here. My 1948 Pilothouse takes over six quarts to fill the engine. I wonder if your filter lines may be clogged, or if something is keeping the oil from reaching the filter. Were I you, I would wait till the engine is cool, and carefully loosen the lid on your filter cannister to verify that oil is indeed reaching the filter element. If it is not, you may need to do a little research. Sounds to me like you are just filling the oil pan and nothing more.

Don't know how long you've owned the truck, or what sort of maintenance it got with the PO. What did the oil you pulled out look like? Was it dirty? You may have a crankcase with a bunch of sludge in it that could account for the smoke/condensation you notice coming from the filler tube. The very best way to get a healh certificate on your engine's cleanliness is to remove the front (easiest to get to) valve pan cover and take a gander inside. If it's squeaky clean, you've really got a winner.

Let us know what you find.

Good Luck

I took the filter cover off and it is definitely getting oil up there.

The PO did not change the oil very frequently, I suspect, because it was downright filthy. You're probably right, saying there's a lot of sludge in the pan. Taking the pan off is great suggestion. I'll try that.

Rem

[coW52Dodge]

Okay, by way of an update:

There's a load of gunk down in the pan!

I cleaned it off best I could and will just change oil very frequently for now to wash whatever is left out.

[grey beard]

Some more thoughts on your question:

If you find a buncha' gunk inside your pan, I'd consider warming it up very well - half an hour or more - and then dropping the oil out and fishing aound up inside the pan drain hole with a speedo cable or other flex-type tool, to drag out all the sediment and sludge you are able. You might also stick a flexible magnet in there to see if you can fish out any metal stuff.

I have also found engines with so much sludge that I scrubbed the heads down inside the valve covers - OHV engines - and then filled the pan with gasoline and drained it out, just to get as much loose sludge out of the head return passage ways. I did not run the engine with gasoline in the crankcase.

On the other hand, if it runs well and has no other basic issues, drive it long and well, and enjoy it. You can always drop the pan some day and really clean things out properly, whenever you are so inclined. The whole job can be done in four or five hours' time, and then you'll have the satisfaction of knowing it is as clean as it will ever be.

Whilst I had my pan off for the overhaul, I added a huffin' big six-inch junk speaker magnet to the bottom of the pan, down where it's flat, behind the oil sump pickup area. It'll hold onto any metal stuff that ever somes loose.

Good luck.