Very black under rocker cover...

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tom1979

tom1979

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Location
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I know that engine oil in diesels does turn black quite quickly, but quite honestly this is filthy and the second time I've seen it like this in a row when changing the oil. I don't normally remove the rocker cover when changing the oil but I noticed this the last time I changed the oil so wanted to check again.

Any ideas what causes it to get *this* dirty? Attached photo is after approx 3000 miles. It's not a sludge, just a very fine layer of cr*p that wipes off easily. It seems like slightly more than just dirty oil.

Someone has suggested piston rings, another injector seals. However I have no running issues whatsoever and I would expect something if either of those were the cause. Mileage is around 135,000 miles and I use Comma PD Plus oil, no additives etc, genuine LR filters.

Plan at the moment is to just change the oil weekly for a few weeks and check again, but interested in other peoples ideas....

IMG_6527.jpeg
 
Same under timing cover and sump too and anywhere oil flows, I guess if you clean all these areas up it might stay a bit cleaner for a while , but some areas might not have seen daylight In decades, I’m rebuilding this diesel, and hoping to get it running on th e ground so will be interesting to see how quickly oil blackens
CCDD4431-D70C-4261-94A6-47DFAF8AF650.jpeg
 
tom1979 said:
I know that engine oil in diesels does turn black quite quickly, but quite honestly this is filthy and the second time I've seen it like this in a row when changing the oil. I don't normally remove the rocker cover when changing the oil but I noticed this the last time I changed the oil so wanted to check again.

Any ideas what causes it to get *this* dirty? Attached photo is after approx 3000 miles. It's not a sludge, just a very fine layer of cr*p that wipes off easily. It seems like slightly more than just dirty oil.

Someone has suggested piston rings, another injector seals. However I have no running issues whatsoever and I would expect something if either of those were the cause. Mileage is around 135,000 miles and I use Comma PD Plus oil, no additives etc, genuine LR filters.

Plan at the moment is to just change the oil weekly for a few weeks and check again, but interested in other peoples ideas....

View attachment 294611
Click to expand...
I wouldn't show the picture of oily engine block to a effeminate just stop oil protesters. They probably hyperventilate.
 
lynall said:
Could be worrying over nothing.
Does it use any oil?
Does it start well?
Keep on trucking.
Click to expand...

Could well be, it just seems odd. I work on a lot of different Td5's and not seen another like it - even the neglected ones! It doesn't use oil, starts drives and stops fine so I guess I'll just change the oil a few times over the next few weeks and see.
 
tom1979 said:
Could well be, it just seems odd. I work on a lot of different Td5's and not seen another like it - even the neglected ones! It doesn't use oil, starts drives and stops fine so I guess I'll just change the oil a few times over the next few weeks and see.
Click to expand...
Has the small spinner filter been changed?
 
I changed the oil again today, and actually took the centrifugal filter out and cut it open - there was nothing in there except the same filthy film of crud as everywhere else! I'll run it another 500 miles and change the oil again....
 
tom1979 said:
I changed the oil again today, and actually took the centrifugal filter out and cut it open - there was nothing in there except the same filthy film of crud as everywhere else! I'll run it another 500 miles and change the oil again....
Click to expand...
Hi Tom hope you are well mate I would definitely be using a different oil if I was you, especially if the oil says c3 on it
 
201k TD5

gtUzx3Dl.jpg


So long as the cam and roller rockers are in good nick just change the oil a few times, it might clear her out. ;)

GMUjQJhl.jpg


depends on the quality of the oil used too and the frequency of the changes, its probably had a few extended drain intervals in its life which would be to blame..
 
Henry_b said:
201k TD5

gtUzx3Dl.jpg


So long as the cam and roller rockers are in good nick just change the oil a few times, it might clear her out. ;)

GMUjQJhl.jpg


depends on the quality of the oil used too and the frequency of the changes, its probably had a few extended drain intervals in its life which would be to blame..
Click to expand...
That's what I like to see! I don't know the history of the engine as it was a replacement engine from a breaker about 3 years ago. I did do the head gasket before fitting the engine so I could have a good look and it all looked in good order.

It's tempting to use one of those engine flush additives but I can't help but think they are like snake oil and a few extra changes would probably do a better job.
 
Hi, Even though i'm sick of oil debates i'd like a scientific explanation for that statement:
Discodevon said:
I would definitely be using a different oil if I was you, especially if the oil says c3 on it
Click to expand...
as about the subject of this thread, if the Comma PD oil was the problem my engine would be the same like Tom's while mine is clean as a whistle which IMO is normal as C3 has a lower portion of sulphate ash, phosphorus, and sulphur than A3/B3 which keeps the oil "cleaner" also it has higher thermal breakdown limit.
 
Last edited:
On the subject... what about the blow by on your engine, undo the filler cap and let it idle, it should behave like this, if it's not so smooth and bouncing then IMO your probem is with excessive crankase gasses which are contaminating the oil
 
sierrafery said:
On the subject... what about the blow by on your engine, undo the filler cap and let it idle, it should behave like this, if it's not so smooth and bouncing then IMO your probem is with excessive crankase gasses which are contaminating the oil
Click to expand...

Evening! No mine is just like that, no blow by at all. As suggested above it may just be that in "history" it wasn't so well looked after and needs more regular changes than I normally do. My Defender uses the same oil and is clean as a whistle. I'll change it a few more times at extremely frequent intervals and see if it improves.
 
tom1979 said:
It's tempting to use one of those engine flush additives but I can't help but think they are like snake oil and a few extra changes would probably do a better job.
Click to expand...

I had positive experience about two years ago with liqui moly engine flush on my wife's formal Hyundai Santa Fe which was quite the same as your's in this thread(didnt know it's service history as well) so i tried it, i followed this video which was new then ... i sold that vehicle one year later but at that time it was nice and clean as i changed the oil before that
 
Not wishing to start an oil debate but can you wipe the black stuff off with your finger Tom ?
 
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