White snott in motor oil

that was my thought as well--cause i have seen the snot come out of air cooled aircraft engines---out of the vent and it rusted and gooped up the oil fill cap
a simple oil test will check that out---or do the old timer test---lick the oil not sweet--good to go

 

If you are going to take the head off to replace 3 liners, you should go ahead and do the inframe. You are going to have to put 3 cylinder kits in anyway, why not just do the other 3 while it's apart?

 

I would be calling Cummins and getting a quote on an exchange, That is an awful high price if it is just kits.

 

$18k is ridiculous. Was the head cracked as well? If it's going to come apart I'd do the full inframe. Getting a used motor is just a question mark, could last you 10,000 miles or 500k, you just never know what exactly it is that you're getting.

Just don't waste your time with shims or other "low cost" options. You can do it right once or do it wrong several times. Definitely go to a reputable Cummins shop that wants your money more than this place seems to, 6 days was a little much.

 

water in the oil shows up primarily in two palces. The valve covers and oil fill tube and that is because the water is turned into steam during hot engine temperatures. The easiest way to find where it is coming from is to drop oil pn and isolate the cylinder, water pump and oil cooler as a possible cause of water in the oil. Oil cooler are rare but can be a culprit and that will come from the oil supply into the crankcase from the cooler. same is for water pump it will drain back into front cover down into the pan.

 

definately would not recommend a used engine. 10 years on a diesel is like a 80 year old man...its been through alot. a oil cooler leaking would show oil in the water before it showed water in the oil.

 

If it has three bad liners, they must know this from the coolant coming down past the pistons which tells me that engine has been rode hard and put away without any cooling system maintenance. That is why they made the purple antifreeze. The last time I had any tracking on Cummins rebuild it was less then 10K. That was with exchange heads and counter bore work. If three liners are cavitated which I have to believe do all six cylinders.

Most shops quote a flat rate time but Cummins should be no more than 40 Hours and if being done in two or three shifts can be done in shorter time. Stay with someone who will give you a flat rate cost on parts and labor barring any other issues.