burning oil - Diesel Forum

6.9Laska · 11-10-2009, 07:29 PM

i have a 6.9 1985 uses about 4 quarts of oil every 100 miles no leaks burns it.
idk whats causing it i checked CDR valve and it ok there is no oil in the intake this problem just popped up outta nowear
anyone ever run across this before?
thanks

longwolf · 11-11-2009, 10:13 AM

There are several things it could be.
I have an 84 that's been smoking badly.

A few days ago it sprang a fuel leak between the pump and fuel filter.
I changed the line and filter and most of the smoking has stopped.

It might be a cheap fix for you.

cdnsarguy · 11-11-2009, 10:38 AM

Are you filling it back up to the line on the dipstick.......

Post from a pro......

DieselDon

Oil consumption, and the proper checking of the oil levels in Ford diesels comes up periodically. Ford dipsticks are calibrated for hot oil. The 10 quarts in the IDI engines expand about 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart as the oil heats up, and contracts the same amout after cooling. If you check the oil first thing in the morning ( which I grew up doing ) the engines will all indicate oils level below full, but when checked hot, will ( after a 10 minute drain time ) the oil level is usually at full. If you are checking the oil cold, and keeping the level at full, you are actually over filling the engine which will burn of the extra rapidly.

Suggestion: Check oil hot after 10 minute drain time.
Don't add until level reaches add line ( 2 quarts ).

In my days at Ford this often cured, or at least improved, the apparent oil consumption complaints.

Joe Mc · 11-11-2009, 11:05 AM

From the Ford TSB on oil burning:
OIL DIPSTICK (6.9L) - ENGINE OIL LEVEL CHECKING PROCEDURE

LIGHT TRUCK 1983-86 E AND F SERIES
In order to measure engine oil levels consistently and accurately, it is useful to employ the following recommendations:
 Park vehicle on level surface. Low oil level readings will be obtained if the vehicle is sloped away from the dipstick.

 Have engine at normal operating temperature as oil expands at the rate of one percent per 25~F (14~C) change and the dipstick is calibrated to the engine at normal operating temperature. In addition, allow at least a fifteen (15) minute engine shutdown period to assure that oil contained in the upper parts of the engine has returned to the oil pan.

 Have dipstick loop directed inboard as this eases installation and minimizes wiping action on oil level gauge.

 Read oil level on both sides of gauge and use highest level (reading) for the actual engine oil level.

Correct oil dipstick calibration can be verified by draining the engine oil and filling the engine oil pan with nine (9) quarts (8.5 liters) of oil. When the oil dipstick is properly seated, correct dipstick calibration is indicated if the oil level is within 1/16 inch of the "Full" mark.

NOTE: The area between the "Add" and "Full" marks represents two (2) quarts. As long as the oil level is between the "Add" and "Full" marks, no oil should be added. When the oil level does reach the "Add" mark, only one quart of oil should be added. If the oil level exceeds the "Full" mark, oil consumption could result.

6.9Laska · 11-12-2009, 08:48 PM

yes i always check oil level with hot oil. the truck just burns that much oil im guessing its the rings because its hard to start even with glow plugs at 60 degrees only way to start it is ether

Matt0987 · 11-12-2009, 09:49 PM

Did I miss this? How many miles on the engine? Mine "used" oil until it seated at about 50k miles. Then at around 125k miles it started using it again.

Joe Mc · 11-13-2009, 10:12 AM

Mine got harder to start without using the glowplugs even warm, when the IP was worn-out.

Have you changed your brand of oil?
Done anything to the engine?

6.9Laska · 11-13-2009, 11:26 AM

hi the engine has 140000 miles on it. i havnt done anything to the engine everything is stock i use rotella 15w-40. ip could be weak that truck doesnt have near the power as my 84 truck sat for 12 years before i bought it didnt take much to get it running and when i first started driving it it barly used any oil then it just started all the sudden. maybe a bad injector or 2 is washing down walls idk. my 85 is just a beat around truck that i burn waste oil in but the oil consumption started before i started burning waste oil so i dont think that has anything todo with it

Njellison · 11-16-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6.9Laska

i have a 6.9 1985 uses about 4 quarts of oil every 100 miles no leaks burns it.
idk whats causing it i checked CDR valve and it ok there is no oil in the intake this problem just popped up outta nowear
anyone ever run across this before?
thanks

OK.... not good. I agree that overfill can cause excess oil to be burned but cannot imagine this much. Are you topping it off every 25 miles or did you check it at 100 miles and have to add 4 qts?

CDR valve is also likely oil siphon culprit but you indicate not bad.

Let's assume you are blue smoke all the time with this much oil being burned, if not then you are leaking it. Have someone drive behind you , or better yet have someone drive your truck and you drive behind them and get an idea about how much is burning.

How much puffing do you get from the oil fill cap when removed? If major locomotive pulling a hill type of puffing then rings or head gasket are probably to blame.

I go through about a quart every month or so (500 to 1000 miles), some leaks (rear main) and some burns as is evident by the light blue smoke at start up and minor smoke blow out the oil filler when cap is removed. This is typical for the rigs I have seen. What you have is not typical. Good luck and let us know what you find.

6.9Laska · 11-18-2009, 03:04 AM

hi the smoke is mostly grey. on startup it smokes heavy for a few minutes then fades out to barely any just a small amount of grey doesnt seem to smoke much wile driving under hard acceleration it blows black

CDX825 · 11-21-2009, 02:00 AM

Id run a compression check on all cylinders and see what you come up with.

rsr911 · 11-21-2009, 03:44 AM

An IDI will not smoke burning 4 quarts in 100 miles. For reference I run up to and sometimes past 50% waste motor oil in mine, I get average 14mpg of mostly city driving. That's about 3.5 gallons (16 quarts) in 100 miles with no smoke other than typical diesel under heavy load or acceleration.

A compression check is a good test but it is possible that the compression rings are good while the oil rings are bad, I've had it happen on a gasser.

If an injector was bad you'd have a misfire, if it was washing down the walls the oil level would rise. Besides you're running waste oil so even if it was washing down the walls it would be lubricating them.

As for starting hard at 60F, how thick is your blend? Does it start hard both warm and cold? One more than the other?

Joe Mc · 11-23-2009, 01:08 PM

Does anyone know if Shell has reformulated their oil recently?
CJ-4/SM is the last ratings on the jugs I have here.

With the amount of oil your losing, try changing to Delo and see if it makes any difference. In past post on this site others have seen high oil consumption with one brand over the other and they noticed immediate improvement when they made the change. This is not to claim that one brand is better than the other, it just seems that some engines have a preference for one brand or the other. I use the Rotella T in my truck.