I've noticed just recently a small amount of oil collecting in the top of the rad and in the overflow, was worried that it may be a headgasket but there is no whitesmoke, water in oil, or any other signs as to a blown headgasket. After searching here it appears that it may be the oil cooler and that is located above the filter. I can't look at my truck just now, but is the filter mount also the oil cooler? And should I just go ahead and replace the whole cooler, or do gaskets only usually fix the problem (I am assuming cummins parts only is the way to go). The truck only has 265000km or 165000 miles

Thanks,

Max

 

OH dear, welcome to the club the oil filter adapter covers the oil cooler. Gaskets will not fix the problem, oil cooler replacement will. I'm in the same boat

 

Req 2 gasket and the cooler............and lot of hot water and tide..........at least thats how i had to do mine.
Nothing but a grease slick every ware after words

Flash

 

Ive Got A Lot Of Oil Coming Out My Rad Alot. So U Guys Think Its My Oil Cooler? Or Cracked Head

 

Could be either or it could be the trans cooler. Does the engine run smooth? Does the truck puke coolant? Does it put out white smoke? If no to all it is most likely not the head gasket.

 

If you're just finding oil in your coolant and everything else appears to be fine(rad not burping, no white smoke, etc) I would assume it to be an oil cooler. Mine is a 5 spd so I don't have this, but if the auto tranny cooler were to leak you should be able to distinguish between whether it is engine oil or tranny fluid in the coolant by the colour.

I caught mine at the point where the oil is just sitting at the top of the rad and not mixing with the water. I would recommend to stop driving the truck immediatlely if possible, it will save alot of headache trying to drain the coolant if you get it before it ends up mixing together like some have had happen (woodrat I believe?)

I'll be doing my cooler in the next week or two when time allows.

Max

 

had the same problem with my old truck, same year same milage approx.
drove at least 40 miles with oil in the coolant....make sure you flush the rad. with some kinda cleaner. i was having some heat issues the following summer until i flushed mine....come out solid oil almost...ugh. if you have a couple of valve stems handy, plug them into the two holes on the flat side of the oil cooler baffles, put in bucket of water then with an air hose, put some air in the top stem. if the bucket looks like when you fart in the bath tub, your cooler is bad. 10 mm bolts if i remember right, can't member the tork tho...it's in the cummins b series manual. don't forget to drain the coolant first...this one's a trashy job

 

Before you replace it have it pressure tested, it may be the first signs of a bad HG, not an oil cooler. If thats the case, at least you'll know. My oil cooler blew, but it blew entirely...tons of oil in the coolant, its at over 40psi remember, so it will quickly open up a small hole. Do not drive the truck unless you have to, it will get much worse with time.

 

soory about not listing pressure amount also wasn't very clear....i didn't mean to drive those 40 miles....it was that far before i could get my truck to a place it could be towed

if you have a compressor w/regulator, set it to 40 lbs. and use the valve stems i talked about and there's your pressure test....

good luck

 

yeah, that was me with the big freaking oily mess all over the place. i drove about 10 miles or so probably with the oil cooler actively pumping pressurized oil into my coolant system. Some where there is a thread; I was working on that project last january/february.

I tested my oil cooler with a homemade jig in a bucket of water. I believe that the pressure was to be tested at 70 psi per the cummins book. And mine only had a tiny stream of bubbles starting at about 40 psi, but that was all it took.

I just checked in here for the first time in a long time and here it is, the oil cooler problem, right near the top of the stack....