N14 dropped valve or cracked piston

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by mile marker 27, Sep 20, 2023.

  1. mile marker 27

    mile marker 27 Heavy Load Member

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    Was hauling a load of corn to a chicken farmer today and heard a chatter, not loud but noticeable and then lots of smoke and loss of power. Oil pressure was 50psi and coolant temp was 190*. I shut it down in about 1 mile of travel. Popped the hood and noticed lots of oil all over everything. Pulled dip stick and oil was clean but a gallon low. Started it back up and blow by tube was alot of crankcase oil smoke. Checked the two 10amp fuses that run from batteries to ECM and they’re good. Shut it back off and pulled cold and hot side of turbo and lots of oil on both sides. Compressor wheels felt fine, so I’m kinda ruling out a turbo problem. I also pulled the elbow for the turbo pressure side and it had oil in it. I started it again and it blowed lots of oil from the pressures side. There’s lots of oil on the front cover, from the crank pulley up to the accessory drive and just below the water pump. Also notice oil seeping from the rear of the center exhaust manifold, where it connects to the rear manifold. When I shut the engine off it sounds like and air compressor shutting off from the passenger side of the engine. All that said and you guys are experts and I’m not, I’m guessing a dropped valve from middle head or cracked piston?
     
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  3. mile marker 27

    mile marker 27 Heavy Load Member

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    ……and I’m assuming the crankcase pressure has possibly blown the front main seal. Dipstick is trying to blow out too.
     
  4. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I'd start with pulling the valve covers and seeing if you can spot some valve train issues. If it looks good I'd pull the exhaust manifold and see if you could pinpoint which cylinder the oil is coming from. Then pull the head on that cylinder and see what's going on.
     
  5. High Stepper

    High Stepper Light Load Member

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    Crankcase pressure trying to blow the dipstick out could mean a broken ring or broken piston.
     
  6. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    I agree but after checking the valves I would pull the turbo, plug the oil supply line to it and start the engine. Could the turbo be pressuring the crankcase? Why would a bad cylinder cause the turbo to put oil into the engine air intake?
     
    Jubal Early Times Thanks this.
  7. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    My reasoning is the turbo is probably fine, the oil is likely being pushed through it and into the exhaust.
     
    Magoo1968, cke and mile marker 27 Thank this.
  8. mile marker 27

    mile marker 27 Heavy Load Member

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    I put a brass plug on the pressure line, supplying oil to the turbo. Still getting oil into turbo. I’m not ruling out the turbo is bad cause I don’t understand how oil could be on both the hot and cold side, along with in the middle(bearings) where it’s supposed to be.
     
  9. mile marker 27

    mile marker 27 Heavy Load Member

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    I pulled the boot at the intake manifold and no oil had made it that far, luckily or this could’ve burnt the whole sumbeech down. I’m betting there a quart in the A2A though.
     
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  10. OLDSKOOLERnWV

    OLDSKOOLERnWV Captain Redbeard

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    Extreme crankcase pressure is pressurizing the turbo oil drain most likely…
     
  11. OLDSKOOLERnWV

    OLDSKOOLERnWV Captain Redbeard

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    (1). Pull the valve covers, start the engine and look down in each rocker assembly with a flashlight, if the cylinder is scored bad you can usually see and hear it.

    (2). pull the exhaust manifold, which ever cylinder is having problems will be blowing smoke and probably a lot of fuel or oil. Road that horse before….

    IMG_1005.jpeg
     
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