oil coming out the air intake

[philipmelanson]

We just noticed a lot of oil coming out the air intake of our Perkins 4.236
There is also water in the oil and raised the oil level by more then double.
White smoke started bellowing out the exhaust and while exception we saw the oil coming out the breather cap.
Motor was shut down and draining from its oil a white colored oil .What would cause this?Water is getting into the motor we know but how.All was good for a long time and then one day this .

[model 10]

You may have blown a cylinder liner O ring. Bummer.

[Emmalina]

Cracked head,Blown head gasket or a cylinder gone Sorry not a good prognosis. Stop drain the oil and water. Refill with diesel and head for a rebuild center !

[philipmelanson]

Thanks for the advise .
I have to checked the anti siphon set up first because for some strange reason they are tied together.The genset and main.

[billknny]

Originally Posted by philipmelanson

Thanks for the advise .
I have to checked the anti siphon set up first because for some strange reason they are tied together.The genset and main.

That sounds like a problem waiting to happen. What WERE they thinking????

If you let the oil settle you will be able to see if you have antifreeze in it or not, but if you really doubled the volume of oil by adding water--and you see no decrease in coolant level--then it pretty much as to be raw water.

Raw water is a MUCH more common cause of this problem than the internal engine failures everybody else seems to have jumped on.

[Cadence]

It may just be a head gasket?

[boat driver]

Originally Posted by billknny

That sounds like a problem waiting to happen. What WERE they thinking????

If you let the oil settle you will be able to see if you have antifreeze in it or not, but if you really doubled the volume of oil by adding water--and you see no decrease in coolant level--then it pretty much as to be raw water.

Raw water is a MUCH more common cause of this problem than the internal engine failures everybody else seems to have jumped on.

check the fresh water coolant- chances are the coolant is down equivalent to the oil rise in the dipstick.

milkshake is the oil/water mixture.
rise of oil is water filling the crankcase.
if engine running then most probably it is a head gasket failure.
If caught before damage done immediately change oil out and as mentioned refill with diesel or fresh oil.
If fresh water coolant low then do not refill till after fixed (otherwise may gravity drain into fresh oil)
if lucky new head gasket which will include inspection of head itself for warping. (may have to machine flat)
If a noise or engine shut off itself- then damage may be worse with overheating/scoring of cylinders/ etc.
good luck
not sure how raw water is involved if engine is running unless lots of problems.

[Mike Banks]

Sounds like the dreaded blown head gasket syndrome. Head will have to come off and be planed as like as not, and block checked, with luck the head will be OK and not cracked.

Then a new gasket and complete gasket set for manifolds etc. While the head is away, check any oil condensation/recovery systems for clogged baffles or mesh--and replace mesh if any and clean baffles and spacers. These systems can often dump a load of oil into the intake manifold, which causes white smoke--but that does not account for the water in the oil. That is a symptom of a cracked cylinder head or--with luck, just a badly damaged head gasket linking the oil and water galleries and one or more cylinders.

[rbk]

Not sure if the 4236 is the same as a 4108 but if you’re raw water pump is driven off the cam and requires a pressed shaft bearing it is common on the 4108 for that bearing to go and leak raw water down into the crank.

[jewt]

Had a similar problem with a 4-108 Perkins diesel getting fuel into the oil then over flowing into the air intake causing a runaway engine. The problem turned out to be a leak from the injector pump seal into the crankcase. A fairly easy fix by pulling the injector pump and having the seal replaced. Good Luck!

Jewt

S/V Bifrost

[bharney]

I had a stuck anti-siphon valve cause seawater to back flood into my yanmar which resulted in a bent connecting rod when I tried to start it. I got rid of the valve and now run 1/4 " tubing from where the valve was to an overboard drain that is above the waterline.

[mvmojo]

If you have an oil cooler, that's the first thing to check. Had a Lehman 80 hp on our sailboat and while in the USVI we noticed that the oil pressure didn't come up on start. Checked the oil and found the dreaded white milky oil on the dip stick. First thought was "Oh sh*T, blown head gasket". But decided to check the easiest things first. Pulled the oil cooler, closed off the end and blew through it. Air came out the oil ports. Had a spare on board, changed it out, did two oil changes and all was well.

[Macsea]

Sounds like the raw water pump bearing leaking water into the sump, it will need a rebuild or replace the whole pump assembly not too expensive. If it has been leaking into the sump for some time you may need to replace the main engine bearings.(ouch!!)

[oldtom]

Originally Posted by rbk

Not sure if the 4236 is the same as a 4108 but if you’re raw water pump is driven off the cam and requires a pressed shaft bearing it is common on the 4108 for that bearing to go and leak raw water down into the crank.

rawwater pump is mounted under the feul injection pump left hand side of engine looking from fly wheel end .parts are ready obtainable or exhaust cooler more unlikely bit good to check and clean out tubes fit new o rings &gaskets