Cummins Canoe (A Stepvan Story)

[bullfrog]

Check for fuel in the coolant as well. Do a slow pressure check with a coolant system pressure tester. Did you replace head bolts/studs? Do a torque check before disassembly especially pay attention in the area around the leak. Check for cracks as the use of turbo chargers tend to cause them most likely around the exhaust valve area as well as stretched head bolts due to increased cylinder pressure. It would be really unusual to have “just” a coolant leak but could happen with a head gasket that was damaged during installation. White smoke out the exhaust indicates coolant is in the cylinder which is not good and it will eventually seep past the rings into the oil so for sure do an oil analysis just to be sure. Hope for the best prepare for the worst. In case you didn’t notice I really don’t like turbos and would much rather use a larger displacement engine to increase power. These kind of problems are common when using them in my opinion. Just curious, with 19 MPG is it possible you are running too little fuel in the cylinder adding to the problem?

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

The radiator gets up to a few psi, yes. No, we used the original bolts as they were still in spec. Good idea on checking the torque during disassembly! We did increase boost from 7psi to 18psi, maybe that is the issue? But I don't think there are any leaks into the cylinders. Sorry for the confusion, but all the white smoke was coming from under the hood when all the leaky coolant was hitting the exhaust manifold. The exhaust is clear with no smoke of any color. I love turbos! We gained an extra 2mpg with the better turbo and intercooler with some increased power which was nice with having a lil 4 cylinder. Thanks for the advice, will now need to rip it all apart and post updates.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Need a few more packages of JB Weld for this one!

The head gasket is what it is. Not sure why it blew, but it definitely leaked coolant outside of the engine. Won't know why until I get cylinder head to a shop. But upon further inspection...

C'mon, like what is that?!? Why? Pistons aren't supposed to be vented! JB Weld is going to be working extra hard to fix this one...

 

[mudbunny]

You seem to have an enormous amount of faith in JB Weld. A cracked piston can only be fixed one way, with a new one. But if JB Weld works, I'll gladly eat my words. But if it doesn't it'll need to come apart again or worse, another shortblock.

 

[bullfrog]

If you don’t mind dealing with the increased wear and broken parts turbo charging does increase power but decreases the life of the engine in most cases. Parts + money + work = more performance = shorter engine life. The perfect race car self destructs as it crosses the finish line.

 

[AmargosaWayne]

The Top Fuel rails that get a top end rebuild after each quarter mile run that lasts a few seconds.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

JB Weld should sponsor me! But no, we're going to get this things back up and running. I'm tired of messing with it. Need to find a legit Cummins rebuilder who won't con me and I can just have a reliable engine. We've literally fixed everything else with this thing, but it's always the engine that is waiting there to surprise us with something new! She needs all new pistons and everything. Anyone know any good, trusted Cummins builders on the east coast?

These Cummins engine come stock turbocharged. It just has enough power to make it comfortable to drive. I did the math and while possible, it would just be too much work trying to fit a 6 cylinder in there. The 4 cylinder is adequate and leaves plenty of room to access and work on things.

 

[bullfrog]

More boost = more power = more heat = more wear = problems more quickly. Math class is over! Lol!! Experience has shown you 18 lbs of boost doesn’t fit your style of driving or your pocket book I bet. When you get your new engine keep the boost turned down, your motor will last longer. Remember “There is no replacement for displacement.” Depending on how much weight you are hauling and how comfortable you need to feel driving may prove the larger engine necessary.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Haha, there is no replacement for displacement, but sometimes you can't fit a bigger engine, so turbo chargers it is! Yes, I know about that turbo will add wear and tear on engines. But 18 lbs of boost is moderate for these engines. It only gets that high when I'm really pulling a hill in 4th. The intercooler keeps the EGT's down much lower than before. All other Cummins get 500k+ miles on them, I doubt this turbocharger, which is the turbocharger spec'd for this engine, will cause all these problems including cracking pistons. Maybe it is beyond me. I do want stock reliability, but this rig ain't going anywhere without a turbocharger. I want someone who knows these engines to tear into it, tell me what's been going wrong, and build it right.

 

[Calypso]

Ummm… you need the power of a big in the space of a little?

so, if it’s done right, you won’t need to work on it which means you won’t need the room. You say you need the size of a 4 so you can fix it while you burn it too hot … but if you get a solid 6, it won’t get run down and you won’t need to fix it (as much), so the room in which to fix it is a moot point. Haha.
I have no idea about any of this. A nonturboed working engine will get you much further than a broken turboed one. I do know that much, but so will a bicycle. 6 to 1, half dozen to the other. im clueless.

hopefully you can find someone that can sort it out for you without too much frustration. You might have something there with a JB Weld sponsorship!

 

[jasper]

Looks like that piston's rod needs an access hole in the oil pan underneath it.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Ummm… you need the power of a big in the space of a little?

You know how many times women have told me that in the past?

Looks like that piston's rod needs an access hole in the oil pan underneath it.

Huh?

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

That one I haven't heard, and glad I haven't!

 

[KarlH]

Depending on how much weight you are hauling and how comfortable you need to feel driving may prove the larger engine necessary.

The 6BT is a good engine, but it has sump clearance issues in a P30 that might require modifying the pan or notching one of the cross-members. The rear-sump pan definitely won't fit onto an independent suspension P30, and the front-sump pan would cut it close on the centerlink and the front two cross-members.

 

[jasper]

Showing my age. I have seen others and presently own a seventy-two year old Ford with an original removable cover on the bottom of the oil pan, using bolts and a gasket. Having one underneath a blown piston's rod could allow for its removal and replacement without dropping the oil pan.

 

[bullfrog]

Today’s engines development has produced a product that though reliable for many miles is more or less a throwaway replacement item in my opinion.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

As much as I'd love to have a 6bt, I just don't think it's worth all the hassle to make it fit. The 4bt is adequate. Not going to replace a piston while it's in the vehicle. I can remove the engine in about 4 hours so no reason not to remove it. And if one piston is shot, what about the others? I plan on taking the whole engine to a Cummins builder and have it fixed properly. I just want a simple reliable engine with no more issues. Just need to find a good Cummins guy on the east coast...

 

[KarlH]

As much as I'd love to have a 6bt, I just don't think it's worth all the hassle to make it fit. The 4bt is adequate. Not going to replace a piston while it's in the vehicle. I can remove the engine in about 4 hours so no reason not to remove it. And if one piston is shot, what about the others? I plan on taking the whole engine to a Cummins builder and have it fixed properly. I just want a simple reliable engine with no more issues. Just need to find a good Cummins guy on the east coast...

Four hours is pretty quick I think I'd have to drill out rivets and remove the front body panel to get the engine out of mine.

About boost, supposedly the 4BTA and 6BTA used a lower compression ratio (16.5:1).

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

It's very quick with two people, I love it. I'll time us this time. Hardest part now will be removing the passenger seat with all that extra hose and wire and stuff that goes out to it. And with the compression ratio it's supposed to have, the amount of boost should be ok. But I'm not sure. Need a professional on this on.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Well, life moves on. Unfortunate that we are stationary, but will make the best of it. Good time to fix other things while we decide what to do about engine.

Even though we can't drive anywhere, the solar panels are still working and we're still cooking!

Had to replace the big water pump too. It decided to blow up too. We were chilling in the hot tub and bam, no more water flow. No more hot tub? What are we, peasants? While we didn't have a spare pump, I swapped in the water pump from under the sink to get us by temporarily. Yes, we sacrificed the indoor plumbing for the hot tub. I really have the worst luck with things breaking...