16qts [with new filter] to fill right??

I only recovered 6qts!

There is a leak, which I think I've narrowed down to the passenger side valve cover. I pressure washed engine this weekend and will be extra attentive next several hundred miles so I can spot it's origin(s).

None the less though. How does the engine allow itself to get that low, and not throw a light on the dash?

 

Once air is introduced the hpop losses pressure and you lose power saving your engine. It a good failsafe to protect the engine.

There isn't a low level sensor to indicate this. Only a dipstick you can check on a regular basis.

 

In order to find the leak, you could also utilize oil dye.

https://www.amazon.com/Tracerline-TP.../dp/B004IQ9IY6

 

That wouldn't be a leak it would be a gusher. I have no experience with it but from what I have read the engine should have shut down before it got that low. No?

 

Yup... our HEUI injectors are oil powered, so running too low on oil makes the truck stop before it can hurt itself.

When injector O-rings fail, the truck burns oil fast without making a lot of smoke. What color is your fuel filter?

 

When I had a valve cover leaking, it was dripping on the exhaust manifold and running down the back side of the block. I at first thought it was the oil plug on the back of the head. It turned out to be leaking where the bolts go that hold the VC on the head. They rusted out if you can believe that.

If only 6 qts came out when you drained it, you must have left some trails around!

 

1 to 2 in the filter, 1 in the HPOP res, still have some in the oil cooler and head rails. I never get a full 16 out.

 

There is nothing on your engine that monitors the oil level, like the others said it will just keep running until it gets low enough to lose pressure at which time the injectors will cease firing due to no oil to open them. This is not a low oil shutdown switch that IH designed out of the goodness of their hearts to save your engine, it's just the way the HEUI system works.

 

But he should still get more than 6 quarts out? That's a lot of oil to disappear somewhere, if you aren't blowing slur smoke then somewhere on your truck should be covered with oil?

 

How long since the last oil change? I don't think a 7.3 will run on six qts of oil. Sludgy .. Still in the engine/pan..

 

Sous - thanks for the suggestion but I only use dyes as an absolute last resort. Its almost impossible to remove it all once introduced to any system, and I don't know about any of you, but When I'm looking at a car to buy, a UV check for such dye is definitely something I do.

Tugly - fuel filter color? not sure, I know it (or they if there's multiple) where changed last time it was at dealer at @ ~115k.
I'm @ 125k now, but religiously use Opti-Lube XPD at with every tank.
Fuel filter change interval is ever 15k right?

CampSpringsJohn - Your valve cover bolts rusted out?! on your 2008!? That's outrageous! I hope not/doubt that's what I have, I'm second owner and its entire history was in Texas.
You'd think I'd be leaving trails, but I assure you I'm not. I have at both home and work, long white concrete driveways. Not a drop anywhere, not at cold starts when leaving or idling in after a 30min interstate drive when returning at either location.
Maybe it only leaks/gushes at WOT? Or somewhere up in the Rev's but just not at idle?

AllaboutMPG - yea, I know there will always be some left that can't be drained + just what lines all the inner crank parts and walls is prob another qt. None the less though, when filling, it takes 16 to land level appropriately on dipstick.

Rikster-7700 - there was a very considerable amount of caked on [oil based] road grime on the right side of engine bay, inner cooler plumbing, frame, a/c compressor and even on the hood insulation. Its mostly clean now thanks to 3000 psi of water
I've only driven maybe 15miles since cleaning it all, and don't notice any new oil anywhere yet.

schlepprock250 - last oil change was on point @120k, this one was actually a bit early @124,700 just cause I had the time now, and know I won't in the next few weeks. Couldn't tell you when chronologically off the rip, longer than average though, its not always someone's daily driver. Maybe 6-8 months ago?
Oil that came out was of expected viscosity, no sludgy characteristics

 

In my early OBS diesel days of ownership, I really didn't keep an eye of the stick too often but it did shut down right around the corner from home.
It was 4 qts down somehow and started right back up after I added oil. That's when I learned about the HEUI's from taking it in to a diesel mechanic. Never knew what happened. I don't know how your engine continued to run....

 

Usaman - yes, 4qts low was the number I was familiar with just in conversations with other 7.3 owners. I can leak, burn, otherwise ingest up to 4qts of its 16qt capacity before causing damage to itself...but hearing now it wouldnt even make it to the point of actually causing damage, it would turn itself off. Which is good to hear.

So, this must mean I have some super awesome internal parts right?

 

What he is referring to is the actual color of the filter media after removing from service. The filter media is white when it goes in. Diesel fuel will not drastically discolor the media. If you remove the fuel filter and the filter media is black or just really dark and any shade other than white/off-white is usually an indication of leaking injector orings.

 

maybe you have a new LPOP and were not winding out the motor. Higher RPMs slings the oil around a lot


Sometimes its a big power loss prior to engine shut down