| Author |
Message |
Roy Strickland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 6:19 am: | |
Well, as I'm sure most of you know, I'm the guy with the '78 GMC RTS II w/8v71. Well, ever since I bought the thing (Aug 05) it has been using/blowing oil like nothing I've ever seen. Well, today I got to doing some digging and opened up the engine access that is behind the 5 seats that go across the back. That valve cover was loose as could be... I do believe this is where most of my problem lies. I tightened them puppies down good (as hard as I could with my bare hands) and give the engine compartment a decent cleaning, along with the back of the bus. I have a good feeling about that being the problem althought their could be others. When I bought the thing, the hub odometer only said 760 miles... so maybe it had received a major service (I'm hoping). Or maybe the turds just reset it when they sold it. I don't know. They (VIA San Antonio) were supposed to return my call today but didn't quite make it. I will annoy them some more tomorrow to see if I can find out if it has been rebuilt recently. From the way it cleans up, I really want to think that it has... but who knows. It has a rebuild tag from Engelhard or whoever, but it lacks info in the worst way. I am gonna take her for a nice little spin in a while (after some more cleaning and see if I got lucky). As loose as that valve cover was, I feel that was atleast 90% of my problem all along, but that's just a feeling. I will post back later today. If that's all it was, I'm gonna throw a little party... :-)
I just wanted to share that little bit with everyone... I got my fingers crossed big time! Come on baby, do me right! LOL |
Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 7:50 am: | |
Good deal, Roy! One of my buses burped some oil from the airbox drains since the day I brought her home. I put the correct oil in her, changed the filters, and took her for a 300+ mi trip, checking the oil often, and after the first 100 mi or so she cleaned up so well I was shocked. She runs like a champ now! Hope it is the same for you... Bob |
Roy Strickland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 4:05 pm: | |
Well, looks like maybe not. I can't believe it, I thought for sure that was gonna take care of it. It's not any better at all really. I sure gotta get something done about it.
Is it common to replace gaskets or what? I figure maybe since the one valve cover is as loose as it was, that maybe there are some other things loose.
Will the bus blow st. 30 wt. oil? I am gonna get some 40 wt. and do a complete change. I am gonna try to go over everything I can see and make sure all is tight. Thanks guys! |
Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 4:43 pm: | |
Roy
CF2 - straight 30 should be fine in this weather - I use 40 wt here in Florida
Clean the engine - unscrew and dump the puck tube (overflow) - drive the bus again and see where it's coming from
I used a couple cans of gunk and a garden hose with a high presure nozzle
Pete RTS/Daytona |
Donald Lee Schwanke (Dontx)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 5:48 pm: | |
Could well be a busted gasket on the cover. Someone pulled it, replaced it without intending it to be permanent, but then sold with busted gasket and loose nuts. |
motorcoach1
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 5:56 pm: | |
look to see if the crankcase vent is blocked if that engine has one , this will cause oil to blow out in strange places. make sure the valve covers are for that engine ,the vents are are sometines in them with a check valve ,see if it is working if one is there. maybe this will help...mike |
motorcoach1
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 6:03 pm: | |
look to see if the crankcase vent is blocked if that engine has one , this will cause oil to blow out in strange places. make sure the valve covers are for that engine ,the vents are are sometimes in them with a check valve ,see if it is working if one is there. maybe this will help... most engines create back pressure in the oil pan and it has to breath and when it can't it will blow oil out where it can ....mike |
Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 9:16 pm: | |
Even in the "Great White North" Detroit D say to use 40 weight oil ...even in 20 below
Ron |
Dale Waller (Happycampersrus)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 10:23 pm: | |
According to Engineering Bulletin No. 38 "Cold Weather Operation" (0 to -25F) Detroit Diesel says it is ok to use CF2 30wt. to help improve startability.
So you can use either 30 or 40wt without any problems this winter. Just keep an eye on the ole oil pressure gauge if it seems really low like below 15psi at idle change to 40wt.
I would use 40wt. and a block heater.
FWIW, Dale |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 11:32 pm: | |
About the cast covers, which we have. Our rearmost cover had something broken in it before we bought our coach. We replaced the first gasket a year or so ago, after it let go and made a big puddle.
At the time, I wasn't suspicious, but it happened again this last trip, so I looked it over real close. As it turned out, there was a sharp ridge on the inner edge of the cover that cut clean through the gasket.
I took a rasp and smoothed the ridge off, and it has been fine, since then.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 5:34 am: | |
For many DD there are at least 2 styles of valve covers.
A stamped steel unit , that suffers greatly from overtightning and a cast aluminum setup that does far better at keeping the oil inside.
Which do you have ?
FAST FRED |
Roy Strickland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 3:34 pm: | |
Hey everyone, I am looking over the engine. I can't say for sure which valve covers I have... they have Detroit Diesel stamped in them and the two little star things that hold them on. They are kind of a light green color (except for the front most one which is completely covered in greasy/oily buildup. (This was the one which was loose, and I tightened it down with hand power only) I used 2 whole cans of degreaser on it. I am gonna get some more and get someone to look it over while we drive around a bit. From what I've seen, I think we'll definately get some sort of idea where it is coming from, but I worry about the fan blowing it about. I hope it is something that can be seen. Can't see too much in the area between the blower and the valve covers.
As far as the crankcase vent...? On the rear most valve cover, there is a thing shaped about like a coffee can coming out of the top. It has a long tube running from the top of it down to the bottom of the engine where it just hangs. Is this that vent? Otherwise I have no idea about where to even look for that. The front most valve cover does look like it may have been overtightened at one time possibly... it seems to be recessed a little around the star thingy that holds it on. |