2h Compression results , what to do after leak down test? (1 Viewer)

[sodafeld1]

2h with 280,000kms, should be still young.
Engine hot as possible whilst trying to work on after 40km drive.
1st 450
2nd 400
3rd 450
4th 440
5th 450
6th 450

I placed a drop of oil in 2nd, cranked to remove excess and retested, went to 450 psi.

Ebay tester so actual gauge is probably not accurately calibrated, but at least it seems consistent.
Waiting on a leak down tester to find where the leak is.

I was motivated to do a compression test as I am getting oil vapour smells with the window down.
Chased all leaks, not one drip anywhere. Coolant fresh and clean, no oil in the coolant. No oil loss, no oil burnt, so far. Clean oil, kept clean, very frequent oil changes.
Starts beautifully, exhaust has very minimal to no visible smoke, clean as. Was thinking of fitting a reverse camera so I can really watch the exhaust on screen.
Runs well, get around 10km per liter.

10,000 kms ago I changed to fresh injectors but stupidly damaged the injector port on number 2 cylinder, chipping the edge where the main brass injector seal sits. It does not leak diesel outwards.
I tried to blow out and vacuum out any metal chip which may have fallen in at the time whilst swearing profusely. It seemed ok for awhile, but I don't think I got all the metal chips it seems. It wouldn't be much but enough to do some damage.

So, either I damaged the cylinder wall, piston rings or one of the valve ports. The leak down shall tell me where. Maybe even a valve is damaged.

I shall recheck the valve lash to make sure none of the valves are sticking but it seems at best I have a top end build or at worse bottom end build coming up.

Can I drive it until more visible signs like running rough and burning smoke arrives? How sudden would the inevitable be? Or would it be gradual?

It has taken 10,000km for the annoying smell to arrive which must be oil vapour escaping wherever the leak is. So i guess/hope it is a bit gradual. My autometer oil gauge fluctuates a bit more now by 5 psi. It use to be very consistent in it's reading at 62psi at 2100-2200 rpm constant. The factory gauge doesn't tell much. Perhaps the exhaust smells a bit heavier of oil, but not visible at any rpm. The camera shall be helpful.

I am a bit over pedantic with the maintenance, still feel sick a bit thinking how I chipped the injector port. Hate the oil vapour smell. When I was younger I guess I would have driven until it died.

 

[sodafeld1]

In the meantime I picked up a 5mp endoscope wifi camera (not bad,5.5mm width, $55aud, gumtree) and hooked it up to observe the exhaust with my phone.
Can't for the life of me make much smoke! Uphill, downhill, engine braking , start up , idle or rev upto 2600 rpm. Is something wrong there? Not kidding or exaggerating.
Still can smell the yucky oil vapours though.

 

[sodafeld1]

I put a loopy hose for the crank case vent to intake manifold, still smells..

 

[cuteo100]

Is your exhaust system all buttoned up nicely? Mine leaked a little bit underneath the driver area and I could smell it at times. I used the exhaust wrap around that area and it turned black quickly; that's how I found the leak area. Will have to fix it one of these days.

 

[sodafeld1]

Thanks Cuteo.
That would be one of my more optimistic scenarios and a possibility. I removed and gave my headers/extractors a lick of paint when I did the injectors. I shall crawl around down there when the rain stops, I think the rain shall stop eventually.

But of the various kinds of smells from a diesel, it kind of has engine crank aroma to my nose. Not as sweet as coolant, and not as acrid as diesel or exhaust. I think clean fresh engine oil crank vapour has a hint of sweet with lingering heavy, like a pcv valve or oil filter leak when the oil is heated and not being burnt on a hot surface. Usually gear oil is obvious, smells nasty.

Another possibility is my oil bypass feeds back through the valve cover, then perhaps the valve guides and drain holes cannot keep up with amount of oil return. It would be better if the return went to the sump. I was always a little suspicious of returning oil through the oil filler. It has worked well for 100,000kms and bypass filter does keep the oil cleaner for sure. I think that is why I don't emit much exhaust smoke, along with fresh injectors.

Whilst waiting for the leak down tester , I shall pull the valve lid and inspect, it is usually cleaner on the rockers where the oil return enters (just above the suspect 2nd cylinder..), and have a look at the exhaust. Maybe a good time to make some sort of oil return distribution bridge for the oil return so it pours over all the rockers.

Hope I am just being pedantic. As the compression results are close to 10% and not as extreme as some of the other %'s posted here.

 

[sodafeld1]

I think I was being pedantic. I did a co and co2 test on the radiator after a compression test on the coolant system. No exhaust gasses in the coolant, ripper, the liquid stayed blue but went green in the exhaust pipe.

I put some uv dye in a heavier 20w-60 oil change and the oil pan gasket glows on the paper gasket, no drips. That is probably the smell...