Finally got my own truck

@BoyWander great job man... Hope you keep the momentum

 

When I bought it (@ 690K) I noticed the oil level was higher...but thought maybe old man 'overfilled' it. On my was home, low pressure light came on, checked it, level was "ok".

Friend helped me do PM, and he noticed oil was thin. Did oil analysis, came back as fuel dilution. He suggested I add Lucas, and reduce the volume @ PM, and watch the level - if rising, then could be fuel pump diaphram, or injector rings.

About 3K miles ago, did fuel pump...Oil level still rising.

Decided to "measure" how much oil is coming out the blowby - since underbelly was showing wetness. I build an oil catch using 5gal water bottle + quick drain. Did a 250 mile load run, came back --> about 2Qts oil drained from catch bottle.

Decided to have a shop do injector rings (next suspected culprit)....only to detect a crack on the head between injector 5 and one of the valves. This was detected prior to changing injector cups/rings...so NO GO on cups/rings. Shop used air pressure and showed me actual bubbles coming out of the head.

Now I have to decide:

• Used head or
• New head or
• Engine swap or
• Screw it - dump oil after 1500 miles, replace with fresh oil + lucas

This past weekend, I did option 4 to evaluate the severity/risk of running like that. Truck did 8.3mpg @ 65mph...but drained 4 gallons of the "overflow" out of the catch bottle.

Decision, decisions....

When did the issue arise? ----> prolly existed WAAAAYYYY before I bought the truck, since right side tank was grimy and greesy when I initially saw the truck. I suspect that was the reason the truck was sold, coz it runs beautifully, but the cost of the repair is a MF...lol

 

What's the repair cost and what's the engine?

 

Motor is pre-2K Volvo D12 (build date 1997)

Decision / Repair options:

• Used head: $1500 + 2500 (labor) + 1000 (head gasket kit) ---> $5K
  
• New head: $4000 + 2500 (labor) + 1000 (head gasket kit) ---> $7.5K
• Used motor (unknown history?)....no idea ---> not evaluated that deeply yet
• Fresh oil/lucas: $100 every 1500 miles

 

Have you looked into a reman motor, from a reputable builder? Wasn't the rest of the truck in pretty good shape?

 

I vote for new head

 

Haven't explored that option...yet....

 

Reman d12 is likely well over 20k

 

Extra 2.5k go new head. You keep the truck for more than a year.