1st Gen. Ram - All Topics Discussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.

oil smells like diesel

Old Sep 13, 2012 | 07:52 PM
  #1  
bannerd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 59
From: New York
oil smells like diesel

Hey all, tomorrow I maybe going on a two hour ride I notice tonight that my oil light came on and I checked the oil it was fine. When I smelt it.. I could smell a hint of diesel in it. I haven't changed the oil in awhile and it's on my to do list. Is this normal?
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2012 | 08:20 PM
  #2  
j_martin's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,479
Likes: 211
From: Isanti, MN
Originally Posted by bannerd
Hey all, tomorrow I maybe going on a two hour ride I notice tonight that my oil light came on and I checked the oil it was fine. When I smelt it.. I could smell a hint of diesel in it. I haven't changed the oil in awhile and it's on my to do list. Is this normal?
NO

Fuel oil isn't a good enough lubricant for rod bearings.

Don't drive it.
Change the oil
Find out where it came from, likely lift pump or IP front seal.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2012 | 08:41 PM
  #3  
1STGENFARMBOY's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 139
From: extreem southern ILL
In my best Barney Fife voice, ( of coarse it does what do you think they run off of coal ).

i say change it before you go, and keep an eye on the level to make shure fuel is not getting in the crank case, via the original lift pump diaphram.

Darwin
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2012 | 08:46 PM
  #4  
1STGENFARMBOY's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 139
From: extreem southern ILL
man it would help if i read the other answers before posting.......EH PACHA......
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2012 | 05:51 AM
  #5  
bannerd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 59
From: New York
Going to do a quick change, it's 11quart of 15-40 correct?

Edit, nevermind found a sticky with fluid levels, looks like 12 quarts
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2012 | 06:49 AM
  #6  
dzl_damon's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Yeah, just 3 gallons of your favorite 15w40 such a Rotella or Delavac, etc.

It will cost about $45 or so from wal mart. I would check your lift pump first for the leak since it's the easiest to get to and cheapest. I think a stock lift pump can be found for about $40 if you look around. Some places charge far more for no good reason.

injection pump front seal is more involved and requires the removal of the ip. However, if you are using the stock lift pump, you SHOULDN'T have a problem with the front seal on the IP. usually too much pressure to the IP is what causes seal issues there.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2012 | 06:59 AM
  #7  
bannerd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 59
From: New York
Originally Posted by dzl_damon
Yeah, just 3 gallons of your favorite 15w40 such a Rotella or Delavac, etc.

It will cost about $45 or so from wal mart. I would check your lift pump first for the leak since it's the easiest to get to and cheapest. I think a stock lift pump can be found for about $40 if you look around. Some places charge far more for no good reason.

injection pump front seal is more involved and requires the removal of the ip. However, if you are using the stock lift pump, you SHOULDN'T have a problem with the front seal on the IP. usually too much pressure to the IP is what causes seal issues there.
Yeah, I think the oil is really old. I haven't changed it when I bought it from the old gentleman last year. I don't drive far to work (three minutes) so I don't put a lot of miles on it. I rebuilt my pump a few months ago and put a new seal in. Is the lift pump that manual pump before the filter?
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2012 | 07:15 AM
  #8  
1STGENFARMBOY's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 139
From: extreem southern ILL
Yes, 2 lines and 2 bolts and it's off, but i would drive it before i pulled anything off.

if i use a little paranoia i can smell diesel in my fuel also, so it mite just be sooty enough to smell like fuel.

Dar
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2012 | 07:28 AM
  #9  
gyman98's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 208
From: Saskatchewan
Some fuel in oil is normal but even without changing oil for a year you shouldn't be able to smell it
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2012 | 11:55 AM
  #10  
maybe368's Avatar
Administrator
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,311
Likes: 566
From: Phoenix AZ
[QUOTE=dzl_damon;3132263]It will cost about $45 or so from wal mart.[QUOTE]

I wish, I run 15-50 mobil one, much closer to 200 bucks...Mark
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2012 | 08:22 AM
  #11  
bannerd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 59
From: New York
Well I changed my oil, Rotella T for about $30 from TSC. Put a wix filter on her. Ran about 400 miles.. check the oil and it was clean as can be. Now my oil pressure light keeps coming on in the cab.. the guage will go way past low and and the oil light comes on. If I put it in gear it climbs back up to full pressure. Where is the sensor on the block, I'm thinking that I might need a new on.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2012 | 12:48 PM
  #12  
j_martin's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,479
Likes: 211
From: Isanti, MN
Originally Posted by bannerd
Well I changed my oil, Rotella T for about $30 from TSC. Put a wix filter on her. Ran about 400 miles.. check the oil and it was clean as can be. Now my oil pressure light keeps coming on in the cab.. the guage will go way past low and and the oil light comes on. If I put it in gear it climbs back up to full pressure. Where is the sensor on the block, I'm thinking that I might need a new on.
I'm thinking you fried all your bearings the first go round. Keep running it till it ventilates the block.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2012 | 12:56 PM
  #13  
bannerd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 59
From: New York
Originally Posted by j_martin
I'm thinking you fried all your bearings the first go round. Keep running it till it ventilates the block.
Ok.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2012 | 04:55 PM
  #14  
Gunnar1971's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Whittier, Ca.
I am having sort of the same issue.

Truck and oil pressure are fine until the truck runs for about 45 minutes, then the oil pressure gets low and causes the oil light to flicker, I have also noticed that the idle has dropped just a bit once the truck warms up.

I was thinking of bumping the idle a tad and possibly installing an oil cooler, but am unsure if this will fix the problem.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2012 | 06:40 PM
  #15  
patdaly's Avatar
Administrator
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,372
Likes: 172
From: Streator Illinois
Originally Posted by bannerd
Well I changed my oil, Rotella T for about $30 from TSC. Put a wix filter on her. Ran about 400 miles.. check the oil and it was clean as can be. Now my oil pressure light keeps coming on in the cab.. the guage will go way past low and and the oil light comes on. If I put it in gear it climbs back up to full pressure. Where is the sensor on the block, I'm thinking that I might need a new on.
Should be the same as in the second gen 12V, look right behind the PS pump, about midway of the pump up and down.

I would get a manual gauge on it right away though, no sense in ventilating a perfectly good block.
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:20 AM.