Oil mystery

workshopman · Jun 28, 2022

What would cause a tractor to eat oil really fast. We have a 2651 and I refilled it yesterday, 10L, had to refill it again this morning,
10L, again. There are no leaks that I can see. Any ideas? And it's not every day I have to refill sometimes it's a day or two apart.

A list of possible causes would be greatly appreciated.

tractorsam · Jun 28, 2022

A 2651 what? How many hours and doing what? Checked your air filter and intake lately?

workshopman · Jun 28, 2022

Sorry, it's a JD2651, and it's towing a trailer of citrus, about 4.7tons. And the air in take is clean.

caterpillar guy · Jun 28, 2022

Dirty air filter, intake has a leak to open air so it is getting dirt sucked in and wearing the cylinders at an alarming rate,worn/brokrn rings, somebody draining some out for their car/truck at night while setting If turboed turbine bearing getting bad. IF the last item look at that very hard. If it goe s to burning the crankcase oil only way to shut it down is ti smother it by closing off the air intake. Shutting off fuel will not do it. And in the end it will probably put a rod through the block as it runs away with itself. You will also need an engine then as the bearings ,crank,and rods will be shot from no oil as it stops. Turbo will be shot too. I'd quit using till I had a chance to look closer at it. Cheaper than the engine result. Burning that much oil daily should be coating the exhaust. If this is idling all day it could be just pushing the oil out the exhaust. IF it was, you would see it running down the outside of the pipe though with that much. Is it leaking fuel into the crankcase? That would help with it using oil by diluting the oil and allowing it to Wash out the rings and burn easier. The reason you don't want to idle diesels for long periods of time.

workshopman · Jun 28, 2022

We'll look into that, it would be a good idea to bench the tractor till we fix it. But as we're short on tractors, it's gonna be hard to convince management to let go of one when we need it. But it's would be better than an engine overhaul, or buying a new engine, or even a new tractor. I've seen what an engine overhaul costs, ouch.

Thanks, this is the best advice I've gotten so far.

super99 · Jun 28, 2022

Post a picture of what's left of the block after it self destructs.

workshopman · Jun 28, 2022

That would be hilarious, I'll do that if it happens. Hopefully it won't and we get it fixed.

BarnyardEngineering · Jun 28, 2022

"Better than an engine overhaul."

That's how you fix massive oil consumption that is not caused by leaks or theft. If you could twist a screwdriver and adjust the problem away, you would do it immediately.

The only other possibility is that the engine is burning the oil, and the fix for that is overhaul.

Check your hydraulic system. Not sure how but the oil could be getting in there.

Steve@Advance · Jun 28, 2022

If it's not leaking or transferring it somewhere, it has to be burning it.

Is there a turbo? Seals?

I've seen engines that leaked a lot, and still did not need as much oil as you would think.

Then occasionally one comes along that seems healthy in every way, but consumes large quantities of oil.

Only solution is to go in and fix it before it's too late and it is not feasible to repair.

Sounds like you have covered the usual causes, air cleaner, crankcase ventilation, overfull... Not much left.

workshopman · Jun 28, 2022

We'll check as soon as we can get it into the workshop. But from the way it's running, according to the driver, it's not burning oil.
But he a driver not a mechanic, we'll have the mechanic check the tractor. If it's burning oil then we'll have to replace the rings, and
hopefully it won't need an engine overhaul. I'm suspecting it will.

workshopman · Jun 28, 2022

The mechanic said he'll have strip it find out what's causing this. If it's a seal or the turbo or what ever will find it. But so far we have a good idea on where to start, thanks to all the advice we got from the comments.

Dave BN · Jun 28, 2022

I'm in favor of checking all other fluids. Hydraulic, radiator, transmission etc to see if any are WAY overfull.
Let us know what you find.
Dave

cjunrau · Jun 28, 2022

Turbo without a doubt. If it was rings it would smoke more. I have a turbo leaking on a car. Tank of fuel a complete fill of oil every time. No smoke. I have seen turbos that leak a little never smoke. If it takes 2 hours to empty then they smoke.

workshopman · Jun 28, 2022

Now that you mention the transmission, it is overfilled and havened needed to fill for awhile. So how would it go from the engine to the transmission?

I don't see how the two are connected. It can't go through the clutch assembly, so what other path is there?

workshopman · Jun 28, 2022

We'll look into it as soon as the tractor is in the workshop. I love a good mystery, but hate a frustrating one. Like this one, I'm not a mechanic but I do know my way around an engine. And this as me stumped.

RBnWA · Jun 28, 2022

I agree with cat guy a dirty air filter will cause the turbo to suck the oil out of engine. Seen it happen. RB

coonie minnie · Jun 28, 2022

Turbo or rear engine seal would be places I'd look first.

warbaby · Jun 28, 2022

If you were burning that much oil, you, and the folks within a 3 mile radius would know about it. If its leaking into the turbo at that rate, it seems it would smoke as well, or at least youd have a wet exhaust system dripping with unburnt oil.

I'd triple check for leaks parked on a hard, clean surface. An major oil leak over soft, porous ground can look like a tiny, hardly noticeable spot in the dirt if it can be readily absorbed.

Check your other systems (hydraulic, coolant, fuel) for migration, and make sure the maintenance man (person?) is putting all that oil in the correct reservoir!

GOOD LUCK!

504 · Jun 28, 2022

A just what happened to me story. I knew something was off ,I checked the oil and it was full. 1 mile latter(all up hill) I got off of the road and checked it again. It took 3 gallons to fill it,if it had not been a manual transmission I am not sure I could have gotten it to shut off. Cummins in a Freightliner.The turbo sealed failed.

Janicholson · Jun 28, 2022

If the workers are able to have time with it they can drain as much as they want and sell it!. Clean the drain plug and put finger nail polish on the side of the hex so it dabs onto the pan. if it becomes cracked they are taking oil! Jim

caterpillar guy · Jun 28, 2022

If there is an ether start option on it and no empty or full can on there it can suck enough dirt running to make all the difference in the world on wear in the cylinders. Thhis air goes directly into the engine past the air filter so the filter will not catch one bit of that dirt. And oranges are on sandy ground from what I've seen when in FL. So lots of dust.

Destroked 450 · Jun 29, 2022

Something doesn t add up here
A John Deere 2651 is a 80 hp tractor with a 3.9L non turbo engine
I don t thing that engine would hold 10L of oil if it was bone dry with a new filter
I may be wrong but that a lot of oil for that size engine

Jim.ME · Jun 29, 2022

(quoted from post at 09:50:01 06/29/22)
Something doesn t add up here
A John Deere 2651 is a 80 hp tractor with a 3.9L non turbo engine
I don t thing that engine would hold 10L of oil if it was bone dry with a new filter
I may be wrong but that a lot of oil for that size engine

I believe you will find a number of the 4039 series engines now hold 10 to 10.5 liters, with filter, if you check like the 2650 tractor specs and others. I've got a 2030 with a 4039 transplant and it needs 10.5 quarts (10 liters) for an oil and filter change.
My thought is they are lucky they haven't destroyed it yet as they are basically running it dry of oil.

Oil mystery

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads