TD 15E Serial - 74309 Model - 1318 This has the Cummins engine. The customer stated erratic use of engine oil. Could be a gallon low in less than 4 hours of running or some days the engine oil level stays steady. The radiator looks good. There are no signs of external leaks.The exhaust stack is dry. Could it be leaking oil into the converters? All the hydraulic fluids look clear like they have not been contaminated. Any help would be appreciated.
That might be operator error...............as in, the operator doesn't know how to check the oil consistently..........meaning no inclines and the engine shut off. Sometimes crank slosh will run up the dipstick. Have the operators' eyes checked. I have ran into this before, more than once. Take the dipstick and paint the last 10 inches flat black. It helps operators with bad vision.
If dirty engine oil is going into the transmission or torque, it will be visible on oil. Is the machine being parked in a level place each time for checking. Just a little tilt and you can be out 3/4 of an inch on the dipstick. Need to check it yourself in case of operator error as Vetech said. Simon
Erratic oil consumption may happen, but to my knowledge is always related to engine condition. I think is highly unprobable oil flows into converter, if it did trans oil would be black by now. Oil burn as u may know is usually the comon cause, and that may by blow by, some engines burn a lot when left to idle for extended periods, and do not burn under load, if its not a "eye" problem. N/A engines when subject to too much intake restriction do that. Ascertain engine health and then, take your conclusions and have the costumer aware of it. regards
Thanks for the replies.
Long shot, broken rings, moving around letting oil pass at times other times not.