1)It appears that oil is leaking around the oil fill cap on the top of the valve cover. Is this cap suppose to seat tight or loose mine is loose.

2) my engine has a nice coat of what appears to be oil all over it. I think this is fairly normal as 12 years of army experience tought me that diesels are messy. The "overflow bottle"?? near the radiator is not full is there any thing I can do to limit the mess.

3) on the same note I'd like to cleam the mess if I pressure wash the engine should I be concerned about keeping water away from anything? Any other recommeded ways to clean up the mess?

Thanks!!!

 

I think you will wanna stay clear of the VP44, I think someone here hit theirs one time and had trouble. I would not use high pressure around the sensors and electrical connections, you might force water in the back of the connector causing problems. I sprayed mine with the engine cleaner from the parts house and then just used the garden hose to wash it off. Yours will have the puke tube at the front of the engine like mine, comes out the in front of the injection pump and there is a bottle shaped thing about halfway down, mine was full of water/funk. I took it off and cleaned it out to. I guess what you are referring to as the overflow bottle would be the breather/puke tube.

Some guys have relocated theirs I believe, towards the back of the engine or something. And your oil fill cap should be tight, not loose.

 

If the cap is suppose to be tight is there a gasket or something on it mine does not have one...

 

It's like a gas cap, when you turn it and it gets tight it clicks, that's how mine is, just change my oil and was thinking about your post while doing it. The cap will wiggle a little when it is tight and should have a gasket on it. Turn it and when it gets tight it should click.

 

went to auto parts store to see if they had a gasket and all they had was an after market cap. The cap had on oring on it so I got a replacement oring that would fit on my existing cap and now its tight and not leaking oil...Hopefully the oring does not melt...

Anyone with anything on how to clean engine compartment? pressure wash, engine cleaner and light hose?